CHATS
Chat it up!
Once online, you might find someone else in the realm of cyberspace
to talk with (well, actually to type to). Chats offer simultaneous
one-to-one conversation.
Some chats are conducted in an impromptu fashion. Others are
scheduled, such as conversations, such as our dialogues
about the environmental impact of transportation, on ECOCLUB.
Chat is rewarding when there's a shared objective and it remains
fun for both parties.
If you are scheduling a real-time chat, confirm the time for
both parties. It may be difficult to coordinate across time
zones. For conversations with colleagues we have found it helpful
to stay off the computer for the previous hour and to log on
to the chat 10-15 minutes beforehand.
This is not always the case, but on many occasions this has
helped focus the discussion.
The downside of chats is that with a lot of participants,
the discussion becomes v e r y s l o w. Slow
travel is great. Slow chat is awful!
Chats favor those who can type quickly ... and that's not many
of us! Also, some people find it difficult to focus or they
focus so much that the spontaneity of the chat is lost.
In these cases, it's better to use a forum or bulletin board
to encourage a more meaningful discussion.
REALITY CHECK
I have had mixed success with chats. Software such as MSN
Messenger are not always compatible with the Mac.
Outside of technical considerations, the social use of chat
needs to be explained, particularly with new users. Chat 'rookies'
are baffled by emoticons!
Then there are technical glitches where party or the other
does not have electricity or internet service. If your computer
is a bit slow, reboot it before the chat.
TOOLS
The following sites provide software for real-time chats.
Yahoo Messenger
MSN Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger
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