inadvertent rudeness

[jay]

Sigh... I need to simply break off IM conversations later in the evening, if I'm sitting here in this recliner, warm, starting to drift, sleepily likely to say anything, then... nothing, seen on the other end. Until I wake up 45 minutes later and discover that the other person has given up and left. Better to announce my departure than to just rudely stop responding... (shakes head). Defining boundaries.

Now I'm awake, of course... everyone else has gone to bed. Pat's asleep. Time... for kitchen cleaning, I think.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

There are all sorts of valid reasons for stopping responding on IM -- computers freeze up, power goes off, I've done it when DJ's slipped out and I've gone to catch her, when Casey's gotten home and needed immediate help and I didn't have time to say goodbye. (I try to say something like "Gotta go, sorry," and vanish, but I haven't always been able to.

I think folks know that the weirdness of online communication means that sometimes stuff like that gets missed.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Strangely, I'd feel better about it if it was one of the kids being sick, or a power failure.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Well, okay, though it still wasn't an intentional slight. Feeling bad might work better for you.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, because of the nature of IM, I (and, I think, most people I chat with) am fine with it if someone just "disappears" -- we all know they could've been booted, or fallen asleep, or life could've intruded. It's "instant", which means it's subject to whatever's going on in life, unlike email or usenet.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(nods) thanks. It also grates because... well, I was enjoying some of the IMs ;-).

[dangerpudding.livejournal.com]

Especially late at night, I assume people have fallen asleep or gotten distracted. Real world comes first, and all that.. :)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[who-is-she.livejournal.com]

I know your set up, comfy chair, tendency to relax and drift off after midnight...... so I never take it personally.
dont' sweat it.
:)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I wonder if I seem coherent... my spelling certainly fails as I become drowsy ;-).