I suppose I am too old for this caper. I use instant messaging, not very intensively, but I find it a satisfactory way to exchange quick remarks with others. From time to time people I don’t know turn up and ask who I am. I’m getting used to it. There are, after all, any number of Tom Ropers in the world: a quick Google finds a square dance caller, a lecturer at Leeds, an Australian politician and a schooner. No doubt there are many more. The other day [email protected] turned up on IM, and asked me to add them as a contact. I did and he addressed me in IM patois. I don’t have the chatlog, but the discussion went something like this:
Over-familiar young person: Yo!
Me: Hi. Do I know you?
O-FYP: LOL you know Lisa rite?
Me: I have known, indeed loved, many Lisas in my time, which one?
O-FYP: how old u?
Me: 52
O-FYP: you too old for MSN
I quickly deleted the impudent young pup, but reflected that perhaps I should stop using young people’s things, like computers.
See this discussion on Ancient Geeks on What do students use the internet for?, which confirms what we have known for some time, that “students regard email as a formal communication channel, for keeping in touch with “older people” such as tutors and parents. For communicating with each other, they use instant messaging”
