Yesterday, my friend told me why she never goes on AIM anymore. In high school, she was a very avid user (much like how I am today). Like all high schoolers, she had a crush on a particular boy. But he submitted to the informality, unseriousness of AIM. He admitted to her online that the feelings were not mutual and he didn\’t like her anymore than a friend. Cowardness.

And that basically drove her off AIM. She hasn\’t returned since and as a result lost touch with all her high school friends.

I have done such cowardly acts online, although I prefer saying all my serious thoughts in person (although ultimately the majority of them fail to get accross as vividly and articulately as I do online). I would push my thoughts out on the keyboard, waiting for someone to respond back. I could wait 10 minutes before I had to read it. Let my computer go idle. But when will the moment happen that I don\’t click on that little orange man to load up that oh so familiar screen…suddenly populated by 40 screennames that don\’t im me? Just how long.