A Few Social Etiquette Rules for Instant Messenger Use
If you’re going to be away for a long time, either leave a descriptive away message or sign off. It’s annoying when some is “Away” for 7 hours. Descriptive messages like, “Out of the office for the day” or “At the movies” give people an easy way to decide how they might contact you depending on urgency. If you sign off, then people will use non-IM methods if necessary, instead of sending you four messages, waiting an hour and then using those other methods.
Don’t want to talk to anyone? Don’t sign on. Or sign on in invisible mode. If you’re online and available and you don’t answer messages after an hour, it’s annoying.
It’s okay to be terse if you’re busy. Just answer the question, or say “I can’t talk right now” (or both) and mark yourself as away or sign off. There’s nothing worse than seeing the “X is typing…” icon and then waiting for 20 minutes to see a two word answer. And then waiting another 20 for another two words. If you’re busy, it’s cool. Just make it clear.
Don’t initiate a file sending request without first messaging the intended receiver.
Unless you’re being purposefully funny or ironic or strange, use emoticons extremely sparingly.
If you’re actually laughing out loud, it’s okay to write “LOL,” but if you write it at the end of every sentence, you’re an idiot. This is especially true if you’re talking to a colleague.
