Confessions of an AIM Addict
By: Samantha Webster
Admitting you have a problem is the first step to overcoming an addiction, so I’ll take a deep breath and be the first to admit that I am an instant messaging addict. Not a day goes by when I do not log onto AIM, but not very many of those days actually have me sitting in front of the computer, typing out novels to half of my buddy list. In fact, I don’t even know who half of my buddy list is, and I’m willing to bet that all of you readers out there in AIM Addicts Anonymous can say the same.
The truth is instant messengers are taking over our lives. They have quickly moved in as our main source of communication, leaving telephones high and dry. Constant away messages are put up, informing your friends of your whereabouts and leaving any alternate contact information while you are temporarily detached from the computer. Even now, you can carry your screen name with you on your cellular phone, if you are willing to shell out a pretty penny or have an incredible cell phone service provider to support your habit. Not only are we guilty of 101 away messages, but it seems as if we cannot minimize the AIM buddy list window until we have read all the away messages of our friends. We even find ourselves constantly clicking on that little info button, reading and re-reading the song lyrics, shout-outs, and sub profiles, and this all can be a tedious task since the majority of our friends lists easily max out at 200. I cannot count how many times I’ve had to do random clean ups just to put a few new people onto my buddy list, only to never actually talk to them – I just read their profiles when I get bored online.
Entering college, I believe I have reached a new level in my AIM obsession. Without a parent constantly over your back making sure you get enough sleep, you don’t feel as compelled to end your online “convos” and hit the sack a little early for that eight o’clock class the next morning. Even if you do try to put up one of your away messages or log off, it seems as if you can’t do so without someone new popping up and keeping you from your rest.
Though it detracts us from real life, we depend on AIM for constant communication with our peers and even our parents in everyday life, but if you have more AIM programs, screen names, sub profiles, and buddies then you can count, I’m thinking of starting a 12-step program. IM me about it sometime.
