What’s your take on Instant messaging (IM)? Is it Synchronous or Asynchronous?
Synchronous: You treat an IM session like a face-to-face conversation. Take turns and get a response before continuing. Interactive.
Asynchronous: You treat an IM session like an email exchange. Share your thoughts, respond as you can or have time. Or not at all.
Me? I reckon I am in the async camp. I might mix in a bit of sync, but I’m OK if you don’t respond immediately. I always thought most people were the same, but lately I’ve noticed a lot of IM conversations starting with a “Hi” or “How are you?” and then nothing else until a reply is sent. So now I’m curious — am I truly in the minority on the async thing?
I personally will start an IM convo cutting straight to the chase. Greetings and salutations can come later if necessary, but I’ll start the thing with the reason that I’m contacting you. Why waste time?
Comments?
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