Back to Internet 101

Question: What is chatting?

Answer: Chatting is similar to a telephone conversation - except it's text over the internet. When you chat with someone over a network you type into the computer instead of speaking into the telephone.

Chatting is a method of talking to someone over a network in real time. Chatting is different than e-mail in that the messages are synchronous or being sent at the same time. Remember e-mail is sent and stored on a mail server to be read by the recipient at a later time - which could be a minute, hour, day or even a week or more.

Chatting software usually splits your screen into two (one for you and the other for whoever you are chatting with).

Lets say that I misplaced my information on a meeting tomorrow and I know that Bob is still on his computer but he is also on his phone. I can't get him on the phone and it's time to go home. If I can just catch him before he leaves the office I can find out what I need to know. Remember if you ask someone a question in e-mail you may not get your answer in time. At least in a chat session you know there is someone at the other end and their response will be immediate.

Answer: If John Doe doesn't know you he probably figures he has better things to do with his time. Remember, when you initiate a request to chat, your name is sent along with the request. Another possibility is that even though the user appears to be online they may have chat turned off.

Answer: If you wouldn't pick up the phone and call someone - you probably shouldn't chat with them. Sometimes people think they can hide their identity behind the computer screen but there are ways to tie that contact to a person.

11076

Back to Internet 101