A Futuristic Vision

As of right now, MSN and IM are extremely popular ways of communicating in our society. If is my prediction, that in the future, Instant Messaging will continue growing in popularity, and will become a vital form of communication in our lives.

I expect that if people use MSN etiquette and good protocol, that this safe technological use will impact how we use IM greatly, for the better. Using MSN etiquette, will benefit our society greatly, and make us more sensitive to others feelings, while using a form of communication with which you are not speaking straight to the person.

The proper use of MSN Messenger will launch us further into the “Online Age” and if we know how to use it properly, we will have nothing to loose using this program.

MSN Messenger was first released on July 22nd 1999, the newest versions is entitled “Windows Live Messenger” and it was released on January 29, 2007. I expect that this method of communication will one day become what the phone meant back in the 1870’s.

Strategies to Safeguard users on MSN

These negative aspects of MSN, are easily avoided by simply being aware of the way you should act and present yourself on IM. The following are a few things that you should be aware of while using MSN, as it may help you steer clear of any errors.

Beginning with things as basic as your display name, you should keep it short, to allow your contacts to be able to find you more easily. Keeping inn mind that if you have a display name such as “,.-~*´¨¯¨`*·~-.¸-(_©ûTìÉ_)-,.-~*´¨¯¨`*·~-.¸” someone with you on their contact list, may not know who you are.

From there it spans to using general politeness, things you wouldn’t say to someone in person, you shouldn’t say over MSN, and things you would say to be polite, should still be taken into consideration. Things as simple as saying please and thank you can make a persons day on or off MSN.

You should never be sarcastic while using MSN, unless you can make it perfectly clear that you are not being serious. You can use emoticons to convey the expression you wish to express.

When you use MSN, whatever you say can be kept, for this reason, and the fact that it simply is not nice, you should never say anything demeaning to anyone, because it can be kept for proof at a later date.

Use an appropriate display picture; no one wants to see a picture that is unpleasant, or rude.

When in a pubic place, do not turn on the sound alerts, as it may disrupt other people in the area.

When starting a conversation, you should make sure that the person is available, especially if their status is set to “away” or “busy”.

When you use capitals, the person on the other side of the conversation will assume that you are trying to convey yelling. For this reason, if you do not wish to express this message, don’t use capitals. If someone thinks you are yelling, they may take what you are saying offensively.

If you are leaving a conversation for any reason, be sure to tell the person that you are, or that you will be back. If you just leave, the person will expect a reply.

By following these general guidelines, you are sure to have an enjoyable MSN experience, without conflict or miss-interpretation. These rules can allow you to avoid things such as hurting someone’s feelings, causing a misunderstanding between people, starting an argument, or insulting a person unintentionally.