Some obvious rules of messaging conduct

Posted by arlene

Sending someone an instant message is the online equivalent of walking up to someone on the street and starting a conversation. If it’s someone you know, it’s one thing; if not, it’s usually an intrusion.

Unless you have a compelling reason, don’t send instant messages to people you don’t know who haven’t invited you to do so. Don’t say anything that you wouldn’t say in an analogous situation on the street.

For some reason, AOL is plagued with childish users who now and then send rude instant messages to strangers or unwilling acquaintances, which is why AIM has its Warn and Block buttons. Not only is it rude to do that, it’s silly: AOL has chat rooms full of people eager to converse on all sorts of topics, rude or otherwise.

Most instant-message programs allow you to send and receive files. Leave the file feature off except when you have a specific file you need to send or receive. Unsolicited files from people you don’t know are generally spam, viruses, or both. Most virus-checkers don’t monitor file transfers via an IM program.

The messages that you send with AIM and other chat programs may appear to be ephemeral, but it’s easy for anyone in the conversation to store the messages. Most IM programs have a “log” feature that saves the series of messages in a text file, which may be embarrassing later.

Finally: If someone tells you to give a series of commands, or download and install a program, don’t do it. And never tell anyone any of your passwords.

Versions are available for Windows 95 and newer Windows versions, as well as for Macs. Unless all your friends use MSN Messenger there’s little reason to use it — but if they do (and you want to).

Yahoo Messenger

Yahoo, the popular Web site, has its own instant message program called Yahoo Messenger. It’s our favorite, because not only can you type messages and talk using a microphone, you can also see each other if you have web- cams. Better yet, more than three people can join in the conversation. We’ve held six-person voice-and-video conference calls using Yahoo Messenger for a total cost of $0.

To get the program, go to rnessenger . yahoo . com and follow the directions to download and install the program. Yahoo Messenger is available in many versions including versions for Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP, Macs, UNIX, Palm Pilots, and a version that runs as a Java applet in your Web browser — on any system that has a Java-enabled browser. It can also exchange messages with mobile phone users; see the sidebar “IM by phone.”

When you download the program, it installs automatically. To log in, you create a free Yahoo ID for yourself. Go to the messenger . yahoo . corn Web site and click the Sign In link if you already have a Yahoo ID, or click the Sign Up link if you don’t.

Adding Voices and Faces

If you don’t want to talk with or see people while you chat — that is, if you don’t mind being limited to typing back and forth with your friends — skip this section. If you do want the audiovisual goodies, read on.

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