Why Instant Messenger Rocks
Catherine R. Sproul ’05
Since the eighth grade, Instant Messenger has been the centerpiece of my social existence. Where else can you find a free way to communicate with friends around the world? And how else can you carry on seven or eight conversations simultaneously? During my junior year of high school, I gave up Instant Messenger for Lent in hopes of proving to myself that I didn’t need AOL Instant Messenger to communicate with my friends. I found, however, that life without AIM is slow at best. In the age of communication and technology, why not revel in our ability to keep in touch with friends—without having to deal with the hassle of long distance fees?
Why Instant Messenger Sucks
Elizabeth H. Hagan ’02–’03
The other day I opened up an old copy of the New Yorker and came across a cartoon titled “The IMs of Romeo & Juliet.” Mocking our generation of IM-users, the cartoon had Romeo start out saying “yo wassup” and “scool sucked 2day.” Overall, I have to agree with the magazine’s message. There’s something wrong when “talking to friends” means staring at your computer screen and typing, while not gesturing or making any noise. An online smiley face is not a facial expression, an exclamation point is not a tone of voice, and sitting in front of your computer screen for four hours is not the same as leaving your dorm and talking to real people that are really standing right there beside you.
