Is instant messaging dead?

i find there are just too many methods to choose from...some friends only use fb, some only use skype, some only use google....that's too many programs/apps to deal with...i tend to stick to the forum and for more personal communication the text messaging on my phone (sms)....nothing beats face to face communication though

Been using Slack with my peeps for over two months now, I've found it to be of immense help organizing discussions of various topics. It works across all platforms, mobile, pc, Mac, Lennox. The app has been a lifesaver regarding the exchange of ideas back and forth between team members...

I use skype for business, not so much for im'ing but like I have a phone number tied to my skype and I have windows everything/pc/laptop/phone all have it so I'm always accessible, but rarely IM. I've played with slack a little but for my 2 person operation it wasn't terribly useful. I remember the days of ICQ though! Can't remember my number to save my life but I was on it and msn and some other IM's for awhile, but always in a work capacity outside ICQ. That and MUD's. Who didn't enjoy a good mud...Hardcore Medievia Player here man!

I don't bother and make phone calls or send emails, the only true crossplatform and time-tested telecommunication technologies out there. Went through icq/msn/skype like everyone else in my generation, and eventually got tired of joining things than are significantly more annoying, less private and less secure than technologies which are older than me.

CryojenX wrote: I don't know about anyone else, but I did sign up for the unofficial Skype group, and found it to be not quite what I was looking for after all. I know we all have TotJO chat, but I was wondering if anyone even bothers with IM clients anymore, or am I just a dinosaur? This only came up because Facebook finally walled off their chat function from 3rd party clients (I use Pidgin) and I'm at a point where I'm just ready to leave Facebook altogether anyway. So, am I living in the past at this point? I'm a real fan of open standards, and therefore have a Jabber account, but with no friends who IM anymore it seems kind of pointless.

I use iMessage and my carrier's proprietary client. iMessage, because it's seamlessly integrated in all Apple devices and I don't have to do anything - it mostly just works. It's also safer than traditional SMS (end-to-end encrypted - I'm sure the government has access, but hopefully nobody else at least). I use my carrier's solution mainly for communicating with my wife - that one is also end-to-end encrypted and the data stays in Switzerland. We have very strict privacy laws here.

I don't really use email much - only for business. I also went through everything (started with ICQ then went to yahoo messenger, followed by whatsapp etc). But I don't really do Facebook, Twitter etc. I have accounts but only lurk.

V-Tog wrote: The TOTJO Skype group was really popular and active when it was first set up, but that was a number of years ago now and over time people have drifted away, or made more personal friendships that they concentrate on. Novelty value wears off, I guess...

I sometimes feel as though IM isn't nearly such a big thing as it used to be, but I don't know if that's maybe just because I (and my friends) are older now and so personally don't use it as much as I used to in my teenage days...

The youth nowadays go a lot more in for phone apps, I believe...still IM of a sort, but more of the Whatsapp and Snapchat variety than Skype, FacebookChat, etc. These things move more quickly than we realize sometimes...I mean, remember MSN Messenger? A decade ago absolutely everyone had it, since then it died a slow death and was recently closed down for good, I seem to recall.

With regards to TOTJO, I know that plenty of us are quite active on IM clients (namely Skype and G+) but often more on a one-to-one or small group basis. If there's someone you particularly want to get to know, send them a message and ask for their IM username, the majority of people here will be happy to add you to their contacts...

I liked MSN.. had a great koi carp background on MSN.. It was that I was forced to use skype, if not I still would be on MSN.. These days I do not use skype much.. only if people like to skype with me hehe, not as good with inviting other unknown people I guess.. never was.. :blush: somehow MSN did give me an more warm feeling, weird to say maybe :blink:

RyuJin wrote: i find there are just too many methods to choose from...some friends only use fb, some only use skype, some only use google....that's too many programs/apps to deal with...

I completely agree. I work with a lot of college aged people (though I'm not too far past that myself) and listening to them talk is rediculous. "Did you see so-and-so's tweet?" "No, I only have them on instagram" "Oh, you should add me on SnapChat" "Do you use [insert more communication things I don't know about]"

What I really don't get is that none of those programs really do anything that's all that different from just texting someone. You can send videos, photos, and text to individuals or groups via text. They all have subtle differences and I get that, it's just weird to me.

As far as IMing. I did that a lot in my youth. My sister practically burnt our computer out with how often she did it. :laugh: I think it's less popular now because of all these different apps. There's simply too many ways to communicate with people. Oddly, I feel like we've gotten worse at it though. Too much communication has actually ruined it, in a way.

instant gratification + reduced attention span = piss poor communication skills....

it's unreal how many kids these days lack verbal communication skills and written communication skills....for them everything is an abbreviation...or abrv8shin...

RyuJin wrote: instant gratification + reduced attention span = piss poor communication skills....

it's unreal how many kids these days lack verbal communication skills and written communication skills....for them everything is an abbreviation...or abrv8shin...

While this is more a symptom of SMS text messaging and twitter, you make a good point about instant gratification.