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Instant Mess, You Mean
I was reading a blog the other day and the copywriter was talking about how he and one of his client’s “IM” (Instant Message) each other.
Now, I would never, ever work with anyone who insisted that part of the professional channel of communication between us would be instant messaging.
Nope. Nada. Not in this life. And if they did, I’d suggest instead using some 20-something moonlighter who’s never sold anything in his (or her) life, has used electronic shortcuts so often he really thinks “quick” is spelled “qik,” and doesn’t know Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings.
Why? Number one, I don’t have instant messaging software on any machine.
I’m a professional. I have work to do.
And I’m not going to be at the beck-and-call of anyone (paying or otherwise), who’s using their thumbs to tap out a series of abbreviations that scarcely resembles English, on a Blackberry standing in the middle of the subway or waiting their turn to incomprensiblely spew commands that passes for ordering coffee these days.
Heck, if I’m going to do that, I might as well remove my voicemail and take every call from anyone who wants to talk and “just run some copy by you for a minute.”
If I did that, I wouldn’t be getting any client work done on time.
Multiply that one person who ‘just needs a minute’ by between 10 and 20 people wanting to do that every single day.
So I hold ”IM’ing” in the same regard as realizing that I stepped in something and need to scrape it off my shoe.
That is to say, eeewwwww.
By Walter |
Topics: Here's Your Sign, Pet Peeves |
August 18th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
I like instant messaging, because it helps me stay close with my colleagues and friends. Being close is important to me. It’s important for my work.
I like being interrupted, because interruptions stimulate me. I want to be at the beck and call of my friends, because I like feeling needed. I like most of all when my wife or son interrupts me.
Sometimes I need to focus. And when I do, I turn off my instant messenger program, or tell folks I can’t talk.
It’s not a very efficient, nor even a very effective way to communicate, but somehow it can be easier than a phone call or an email. In other words, it costs less. Lower value, but lower cost, too.