I like to read about the internet when broadband is discussed. (In a nutshell, I have a bug up my butt about “broadband” not being defined.)
But here’s an interesting graph about how Boomers like to communicate with friends.
If you can’t read the numbers, that’s not important just look at the bars. The top two represent ages 35-135.
Nancy and I are IM’ing a lot more because we both are using Google ™ Gmail (hi Sergey and Brin.) So when she’s in the back of the house computing and I’m on the laptop computing, we IM each other.
If more of our friends would change to Gmail, we would IM them a lot more too. I wish Google would get larger so they could innovate more for stuff we do on the web.
If you feel like ferreting out some more factoids, check it out.
Grab yourself a copy of the Progress and Freedom Foundation’s annual Digital Economy Fact Book. 2007′s version just came out last Friday, and PFF was good enough to provide it in a pdf format that you can download here.
I can’t stand IM. I like to “talk” with my online friends at my leisure, not have them pop up while I’m right in the middle of something and chat with me about nothing for an hour. Shit, that’s as bad as my kids bugging me all the time (they have all mastered the trick of hanging on my mouse arm to get my attention).
So, for once, I fit the demographic.
Excellent point. And the major distinction between those of us who have a life (you) and those of us who don’t (me.)
Kids on your mouse arm – I’ll be a lot could identify with that picture.
I have no kids or similar distractions, but I hate IM. I think I agree with Gretchen: I want to share my ideas when I want, and I don’t like being interruptedd. Besides, I like to take a bit of time to think about what I say. What I blurt out on the spur of the moment may not really represent what I think or want to say.
I don’t know the netiquette of not responding to an IM. I probably would feel differently if I was IM’d more!
Don’t know about netiquette, but I tend to just ignore them, pretending I’m away from my computer. Or, I guess most IM systems have things where you can make yourself “invisible”.
Me, I just never turn it on. Don’t call me, I’ll call you.
Heh. I may sign up for a yahoo account just to harass your little self.
Ohhhhh I love IM. It helps me keep closer to our large family. I love getting a quick hello from a grandchild or one of my own children. I don’t have anyone on my list but family and I would be lost without it!
Grandma Henke´s last blog post..Booby Traps … No pICTURES
@Grandma Henke: Now that’s cool – family only.