Note to everyone:

[thepeopleseason]

I work.

I go to my job in the morning, and I get on the computer. While I sign on to all my various communication services, I do not closely monitor them all the time.

Where am I going with this?

1. If you ask me what's going on, I'm going to tell you that I'm working. This is not an invitation to tell me everything that's going on with your day, your weekend, your life. While I am genuinely interested in what you would like to tell me, the middle of the workday is not necessarily the appropriate time, as it's more than likely that I'm either in the middle of creating code for my job or speaking with my co-workers about creating code for my job.
2. If we have a conversation, and I stop responding for an extended period of time, there is a high probability that I have been distracted with work-related subjects. This is in no way out of any disinterest to communicate with you. It is work.
3. If I don't answer you immediately after you message me, it's more than likely because I'm doing something work-related (such as creating code or having a meeting). If you're interested in talking to me, please don't just message me and then log off. That is akin to calling someone, hearing them pick up, saying something, and then hanging up.
4. I have this nasty tendency to leave myself logged in to my messaging clients around the clock. If you message me and I do not respond at all, it's likely because it's after hours. Send me a note on Twitter or Facebook, and I'll more than likely get back to you in a more timely fashion than if you wait for me to see your instant message when I come back to my computer at work.

Comments

[cee-m.livejournal.com]

I have a lot of comments... that I could make. Most of them involve me laughing about how...

Why are you upset because you're so popular?

[thepeopleseason.livejournal.com]

Because:

a) I am a misanthrope,
b) concentration is hard to come by when I'm coding, and
c) many of these messages come with expectations.

[cee-m.livejournal.com]

a) That always makes me think of dazed & confused, the movie, not the song.
Mike: I just want to be honest with you guys about being a misanthrope.
Tony: You mean you're not gonna go to law school. What're you gonna do?
Mike: I wanna dance!
b) concentration... what's that? Oh look! A little plastic castle.
c) Is one of the expectations free cake?

[truexena.livejournal.com]

a) that word always reminds me of Sara talking to Gil on CSI about a crossword puzzle. *sigh* I miss Sara & Gil!
b) concentrating on code would give me a headache, you must have a high tolerance to pains in the neck!
c) that is the name of the book Vincent reads to Cathrine in the Pilot episode ("Once Upon a Time in the City of New York") of Beauty and the Beast right? Oh no wait, that was Great Expectations, never mind.

[thepeopleseason.livejournal.com]

Oh, and some people have taken personal offense when I don't message them back in a timely fashion. Hence the need to post this.

[cee-m.livejournal.com]

I figure if I message you and you don't talk back that you've left your sign in up at work again.

[thepeopleseason.livejournal.com]

Yep--you understand. Not everyone does, though.

[h0stile17.livejournal.com]

I completely understand as I could have easily posted the exact same thing. I know that I never set myself as busy in Gtalk. That does not mean I am sitting there though.

Oh yes, horrible offense.

[http://claimid.com/ejr (from livejournal.com)]

I'm also offended when cashiers don't want to listen to my entire life story before serving others, when people who obviously are exhausted want a seat, when traffic makes someone late, when...

Oh, wait, no, I'm not.

I suppose it's the word "instant" in instant messaging that sets up the bizarre expectations. Dunno.

BTW, you're still not posting your story to identi.ca. ;)

Re: Oh yes, horrible offense.

[thepeopleseason.livejournal.com]

Which story? I posted one this morning.