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Instant messaging is kind of a no-man's-land where etiquette is concerned, inhabited by tweens and people who type like them. And yet most of us must use it — often even for work. Let's take a look at how we can do so in a less dickish fashion. More »
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A new study has found something that may upset those who do a lot of their catching up with loved ones over the internet: a mom's voice is less reassuring when it comes over IM. More »
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Writes Salon's Mary Elizabeth Williams, "Smart people, nay, brilliant ones use emoticons. Articulate, bright, funny people. Yet when I see a smiley, my first thought is, 'What are you, 12 years old?'" :-< More »
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Saturday night at a bar a friend and I were discussing his latest date. The date was running late and texted a few times, saying so. Eventually, the date just went ahead and canceled the date, saying he was sorry he wouldn't be able to make it. And he did so via text. Yesterday, I had an exchange with a friend in California, one that we both confessed made us laugh out loud. It took place via Facebook messages. The other day, my mom texted me to tell me she'd bought "the cutest thing" for me. I had to think about the complaint my friend made when relating the story of his canceled date: Why are people so reluctant to talk on the phone? More »
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Today's Times of London reports that if you're looking for love online you've got to choose your screen name carefully. According to study by Dr. Monica Whitty, a lecturer in cyber-psychology at Nottingham Trent University, playful and flirtatious names like "fun2bwith" or "imsweet" were ranked top by men and women as those they would most like to contact. Close behind were names that were physically descriptive, like "cutie" or "blueeyes." Less appealing? Money-grubbing names like "wealthyandwise," "lovemyporsche" amd "entrepreneur." "We know from other research that women are generally attracted by wealth, but it seems they are well aware people embellish themselves online and it makes them suspicious," Dr. Whitty says. As we all know, dating isn't the only place one uses a screen name: Monikers are also used for IMing and to comment on blogs. Ahem. More »
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