Thoughts

What is it about the "away message" that is tantalizing to so many people? What secrets does one keep there? Might the mysteries of the ages unfold in front of you for reading them? What would happen if one day you missed one? Could you ever forgive yourself?

Either you or someone you know has been known to spend significant amounts of time reading away message after away message. Often times the screen names you check are people you don't even talk to! All I want to know is why?

I can admit that from time to time even I have reduced myself to seeing why my friends were not at their computers to entertain me through my fits of boredom, though I do not make practice of it.

Have you ever sat down at someone else's computer and checked their friends' away messages? These people exist, I have witnessed it. You know who you are. You are sick.

Do you have "buddies" on your list and you're not quite sure as to who they are? But you won't delete them because you read their away messages?

Do you have "buddies" you have not talked to nor seen in years though you will not delete because you read their away messages?

Do you have "buddies" on your list that were placed their by a friend? Why won't you delete them? Oh, right...you read their away messages, how could I forget?

No conversation should ever begin, "Hey, did you see my away message today?" Yes, this is an entirely plausible scenario under the correct circumstances, though it does encourage the act of actively seeking out away messages.

If you are legitimately concerned about the location of an individual, by all means, check the away message. If you do happen to attempt to leave a message for someone while they are "away" and get the message as an auto-reply, by all means, read it. We need to loosen AIM's grip on your attention span. You need a hobby...and don't say that reading people's away messages is a HOBBY!!!

Yes I am bitter. Yes I have put significant time and thought into this matter. No, there is not a good reason for me to harbor such feelings towards this issue. I'm glad we were able to clear that up.