[tonyarkles]

Texting and chat applications being instant is a downside sometimes, in that people have questions that they want an answer to, but won’t send an email because of the reasons you listed. Instead they send you an instant message, and the expectation is generally an instant response.

I’m trying really hard to get people to use email again for questions that they need answered but not immediately. But I seem to be losing that battle.

[stjohnswarts]

This is why I treat IM at work the same as email. I show up as unavailable and check a few times a day. If someone really needs me instantly they can come to my cube.