[Zimahl]

I don't install non-work IM programs on my desktops anymore because I found that an 'online' status typically denoted to people that I'm available to talk. It got to a point where my wife was even pinging me too often. Then I just put it on unavailable/offline all the time and then what's the point of having it in the first place?

I think the younger generation doesn't have an expectation of non-invasiveness yet. They just aren't doing anything important enough to be bothered when interrupted. I think that changes when you get a little older.

[graeme]

"I think the younger generation doesn't have an expectation of non-invasiveness yet. They just aren't doing anything important enough to be bothered when interrupted. I think that changes when you get a little older."

I'm 27 and this rings true for me. I use to have IM enabled all the time, and work on some things in the background.

That's no good for things I'm doing now, and I rarely chat idly on IM.

[Macha]

> I don't install non-work IM programs on my desktops anymore because I found that an 'online' status typically denoted to people that I'm available to talk.

With the exception of Facebook Chat, that is the purpose of the Online status. There's (busy/your client's name for it) for "I'm here, but may not be able to reply". And offline for when you're actually not available. If it wasn't for Skype's terrible offline messaging implementation, I'd have said that 90% of the time offline or busy implies you should probably close the IM client.

(Facebook is different because afaict, there's no way to manually put it into the away state, it just does it if you haven't interacted with Facebook in a while)