IM Tutorial and Etiquette

We will be using the chat function inside of Drupal, but here is some general information on Chat/IM.

Some key terms:

• IM – stands for Instant Messaging. IM allows you to “talk” to someone else over the internet on your computer.
• Buddy Icon – the picture you use to represent yourself on IM
• Buddy List – your contact list. Each individual contacts is called a buddy
• IM Client – the company or tool you are using, for example Yahoo, AIM, MSN Messenger
• Third Party Client – an IM client that allows you to sign into multiple clients at once. This is useful if you have accounts with different clients and you want to be signed into all or some of them at the same time and on the same page
• Desktop tool – this must be downloaded to your computer and can only be used on that particular machine
• Web based tool – a tool that you access via the internet. They require no download and you can sign into them from any machine with an Internet connection.

Popular IM Clients

Once you have an account with one of the services below, you can access them via the web without downloading the software.

AIM

http://www.aim.com

Yahoo Messenger

http://messenger.yahoo.com

Windows Live Messenger (formally MSN Messenger)

http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home

Google Talk

http://www.google.com/talk

Popular Third Party Clients

Meebo – Web based

http://meebo.com

Trillian – must be downloaded

http://www.trillian.cc

Pidgin – must be downloaded

http://pidgin.im

Adium - for MAC only, must be downloaded

http://www.adiumx.com

Etiquette to Remember

• You may have the default set to automatically sign you on whenever you are online. Please check and make sure this is not your default if you do not want it to be. If you are set to automatically sign in, whenever your computer is on the internet, people will think you are "on".
• Being "on" mean people will feel free to IM you and will expect an answer.
• If you are signed into your account and you leave your desk, always put up an away message so that people will not message you and expect you to answer.
• It is ok if you do not type fast.
• It is ok if you misspell things. IM is very informal and no one expects you to have perfect typing or grammar in IM.
• If you are IMing someone for the first time, tell them who you are so they do not think you are a random person bothering them. If you do accidentally accept an IM from a bothersome person (or someone you do not know) you can always remove or block them from your buddy list.