Many things bother me about AIM. I actually think AIM is a terrible program but since everyone was lazy back when they had AOL it just kind of caught on. But that’s not the point here. I have numerous problems with people’s away messages, etiquette, and a few other issues. I do my best to avoid these pitfalls but everyone falls into them on occasion.

I heart whatever. Now this seemed creative the first time I saw it, but it got out of hand really quickly. Bad news, I can’t take it. I don’t mind I love or <3, I’m a big fan of the less than 3 combo.

‘Gotta love’ and ‘nothing better than’ have been overused quite a bit recently. The problem is that nothing any of these people say I have to love or that there is nothing better than aren’t really that special. I don’t know why it bothers me so much, but just say these away messages out loud. Do they not sound incredibly annoying?

If you ever used an AIM expression, I probably avoided talking to you at all costs while you had one. If you still have one, guess why you haven’t heard from me in a while.

Not going idle is a very big undertaking. I really really hate when people use this option. They have their reasons and some of them are valid. However, in order to do it properly you have to use the away message to its’ full potential. Meaning, putting it up when you aren’t there and having it detailed telling at least when you will return and, if you feel like it, what you are doing. If you don’t, then most likely I’m not going to send a message unless absolutely necessary because I don’t know whether I’m going to get a response or not. While writing this I’m realizing how much it really bothers me. So I’m going to stop driving my self nuts for now.

Some other thoughts about AIM …

What do athletes put up as away messages when they have games. They are college kids so they are signed on all the time. Those spoiled athletes probably are signed on all night too because they see no reason to turn off their computer and doubling its’ life span. But what do they say? ‘Playing football’ ‘Big game today’ ‘Let’s go State’ or do they sign off. I think I would have to sign off. Everyone who cares would know where I’m at. I’ll be doing some research into this topic.

What about after graduation? What type of away messages and profile will you have then? How often will you sign on at home? My answers are all pretty easy in that it probably won’t be much different than now except that I will always be signed on with some sort of device that I will just about always have with me. Plus at my job I will probably be lucky enough to sit in front of a computer all day. But what about away messages like ‘Driving the kids to school.’ I bet they won’t seem that weird when it happens.

10/22/03