# Facebook chat icons **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2012, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446 "2012-08-14T06:26:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/1 "2012-08-14T06:26:05Z")
I know the green dot means available for chat, what does the rectangle outline mean? ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/2 "2012-08-14T06:27:35Z")
It means they’re on their phone using the mobile chat. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/3 "2012-08-14T06:28:41Z")
It’s a phone and it means they have their facebook account set up to send ims to their phone. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/4 "2012-08-14T06:30:43Z")
Thanks guys. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/5 "2012-08-14T06:51:52Z")
No problem. I’d hate to think you’re wasting time hovering your mouse over things when you could be asking other people for the answer. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/6 "2012-08-15T18:23:12Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > No problem. I’d hate to think you’re wasting time hovering your mouse over things when you could be asking other people for the answer. And I’d hate to think you were making fun of someone for not knowing something and thus asking a question about it. Or arrogant enough to think that, just because you know that hovering over pictures often produces something to tell you about things, that everyone does. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/7 "2012-08-15T18:26:14Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And I’d hate to think you were making fun of someone for not knowing something and thus asking a question about it. Or arrogant enough to think that, just because you know that hovering over pictures often produces something to tell you about things, that everyone does. And I’d hate you to think somebody was upset in the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/8 "2012-08-15T18:28:59Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I know the green dot means available for chat, what does the rectangle outline mean? It means don’t bother her. She’ll either respond or not but get on with your life. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/9 "2012-08-15T18:58:16Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And I’d hate to think you were making fun of someone for not knowing something and thus asking a question about it. Or arrogant enough to think that, just because you know that hovering over pictures often produces something to tell you about things, that everyone does. I don’t think of you at all. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/10 "2012-08-15T19:09:41Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And I’d hate to think you were making fun of someone for not knowing something and thus asking a question about it. Or arrogant enough to think that, just because you know that hovering over pictures often produces something to tell you about things, that everyone does. And I’d hate to think you were not around anymore to police us all into be nice wittle puppies and kittens. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/11 "2012-08-15T19:44:03Z")
I hate to think, too. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/12 "2012-08-15T20:01:41Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I don’t think of you at all. BigT just got Drapered. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/13 "2012-08-15T20:07:52Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > No problem. I’d hate to think you’re wasting time hovering your mouse over things when you could be asking other people for the answer. I just tested it (Chrome, Mac OS, Social Fixer plugin enabled for Facebook) and got no mouseover text for people in my chat window. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-chat-icons/631446/14 "2012-08-15T20:12:23Z")
Chrome, Windows 7 and Social Fixer and it works so I guess this is a black eye for macs…? Irrevelant anyway as if you click on the name of someone with a phone icon, the chat window displays text that says the message will be sent to their phone.