Instant Messaging : Rules of Engagement.
// September 11th, 2009 // 9 Comments » // Uncategorized
More and more I see this happening. I am logged onto most of the IM networks, from Office, Mobile, Home, and several devices. Whatever status you wish to show – busy, online, available, paranoid don’t really matter no more. Some folks are just permanently affixiated with certain statuses and close friends would know. Others dont. And when the rules are not clear, chaos reigns high.
There is also an assumption that if someone is online also means they are available. Lets not talk about all those embarassing moments, when we forgot to go “offline” on chat, and had some very personal messages displayed on the projector in the middle of a meeting. Oh, am I the only person to whom this happened? Oh boy!
But coming back to the topic, the point is that even though Instant Messaging is supposed to be “always on”, it still might be common courtesy to follow some rules, especially in this day and age where everything and anything seems to be demanding attention, and the option to avoid will go a long way to ensure that your relationship doesnt snap.
This is a simple rule that I follow, and those around me by now have come to know. Whenever I do see someone online and do want to talk to them, I send them a simple “?”. If they are in the middle of something, they either say so, or just ignore, and I assume that they are unavailable. If they respond back, then we chat. If they arent there, they always get back when they see the ominous question mark waiting for them.
Simple, but you have no idea how easy it makes life sometimes. The option to opt-out and not have to pay attention in real-time, is a luxury and anyone you can give this option to, will eventually thank you for it.
