bit-tech :: I think, therefore IM
This is actually a really good article on the state of instant messaging today… He makes a lot of really good points, especially the fact that it’s simply easier now to IM someone than to pick up the phone and call them. I’ve noticed one of the same things that he has in that when I talk to someone on the phone that I’ve only exchanged instant messages with, the phone conversation is rather awkward with far too many long silences. See, with an IM, a long pause is no big deal and you’re not really under any pressure to respond immediately. You can be doing 10 million other things and IM’ing someone at the same time and it’s no big deal. But in a phone conversation, if there’s a long pause or all your attention is not focused on the converstion at hand, it makes things very awkward.