Talking online

Consider these questions as you review the examples below. Try the quiz from the left menu: What Have You Learned? after you’ve spent some time with this section.

Oh sure, there are forums and chatrooms aplenty for gardening, for gaming, and for cooking… but how about these unexpected topics? Yes… if any of these topics apply to you, you are not alone! Help and support are only a few mouse clicks away.

• Adult Picky Eaters
• Duct Tape Art
• Fish Posters
• Public Transit Enthusiasts
• Bavarian Mountain Hounds
• Anagrams and Palidromes
• Furries (people who dress up as animal alter-egos)

Many people enjoy having online discussions – for example, using an Instant Messenger or in an online forum. This mode of communication is fun and more immediate than e-mail. It’s like a live conversation with your friends… only using a keyboard instead of your voice. It’s perfect for those times when you can’t get to a phone, just need some quick information, or simply are bored!

For the most part, the people you IM with are people you know in real life, however, some new random sites like Roulette, offer people a chance to interact with complete strangers – buyer beware. Keep in mind that someone else can easily use a friend’s account, or your friend might be using IM in a public place. That means that what you tell them could be seen by someone else.

Forums are a great place to ask questions or give advice to others, and it’s common to develop a true sense of community among regular users. Most forums are moderated by their members to ensure that users are following the rules. However, some forums are better moderated than others, and you might come across conversations that are offensive, unproductive or just plain off-topic – you might want to “lurk” on a few forums before taking the plunge and joining.

Remember that it can be hard to get subtle meaning across in typed conversations. Make yourself clear and use emoticons to convey what you mean and beware of capitals!