# ready.... steady.... AIM? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 2, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046 "2001-01-02T02:32:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/1 "2001-01-02T02:32:39Z")
Well, I finally got AIM… now what? How many dopers use it, and why? I’m at work, so I’m unable to go to #straightdope. I know my brother and a few friends use it, so I sent them e-mail, but I would think it would be odd to try to start up a conversation with a total stranger. Hmmmmmm… what do you guys think? ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/2 "2001-01-02T02:52:20Z")
Is a great way to stay in touch. Most of my family are online, some have aohell and some don’t. All have AIM as it is free as you know. No, don’t just talk to strangers. Make a buddy list with those you WANT to talk with who have it and then do so. Proceed slowly. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/3 "2001-01-02T03:06:31Z")
I use it mostly because 3/4 of the people I know and talk to on a regular basis either have AIM or AOL. ---
**Author:** ![Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fairy_Princess_Kitty)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/4 "2001-01-02T04:13:42Z")
I have it mainly because AOL gets tempermental at times so I use msn or anything else and AIM so it’s just like still using my screen name. Besides, all my friends live too far away to go visit on a regular basis, so we use AIM and AOL to keep in touch. Good luck, again I wouldn’t advise talking to strangers. Kitty ---
**Author:** ![Welfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e56c9b/32.png) [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/5 "2001-01-02T04:40:10Z")
I met one of my best friends through AOL (well, it was a chat room on AOL, but still). He lives 5-6 hours away and we keep in contact, even visit each other at times. However, I think it’s better to just put on people you want to talk to, people you know. ---
**Author:** ![Rally\_Vincent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c37758/32.png) [@Rally\_Vincent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rally_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/6 "2001-01-02T05:05:10Z")
I have AIM and ICQ. And yes, stick with people you know, at least at first. ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/7 "2001-01-02T05:07:58Z")
I actually prefer the AIM-9 over the AIM-7. Yes, I know the AIM-7 has BVR capability, but less face it, the AIM-9 has a lot more dogfight kills and that’s what counts. The AIM-7 doesn’t have the range of AMRAAM or the economy of AIM-9; there’s just no room for it any more. Okay I give up. What’s AIM? ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/8 "2001-01-02T05:12:33Z")
“less face it”? How in Pucki’s name did “let’s face it” get typed in as “less face it”? Who is hacking my posts? Someone trying to tease for not even knowing what AIM is? (All grammatical errors in the above post have been put in by evil hackers.) ---
**Author:** ![blur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dbc845/32.png) [@blur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blur)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/9 "2001-01-02T05:17:09Z")
I love my AIM. I work at night and most of my friends are working when I’m home, so its a great way to keep in touch with them. I have only met one stranger, and that was through a mutual friend. I don’t know how I kept in touch before I had it. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/10 "2001-01-02T06:01:41Z")
Well, Boris, you’re Airforce nerd humor has damn near killed me. AIM is Aol Instant Messenger… it’s sort of a personal little do-dad that let’s you chat with folks. I usually use Yahoo Messenger, and that works ok, but most all of my friends use AIM, so here I am… _ **visions of chatting with Welfy drift quickly by** _ Sorry, I got distracted. Now then, since one can’t get into IRC here at work(not event the Java Applet) what are the odds of getting a SDAIM room going?? ---
**Author:** ![hypergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/49beb7/32.png) [@hypergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hypergirl)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/11 "2001-01-02T08:10:38Z")
I use AIM too. IMHO, it is one of the greatest inventions ever. Second to Napster maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Rally\_Vincent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c37758/32.png) [@Rally\_Vincent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rally_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/12 "2001-01-02T15:05:21Z")
There are a number of instant messenging services out there - AIM (AOL instant messenger) is but one. You sign up, add people’s usernames to your list and you can send messages back and forth while online. Many instant messaging services also allow you to send files or images to someone. You can also create a chat room and invite people on your list to talk. I also like ICQ because it also allows to leave a message (much like leaving an answering machine message). ---
**Author:** ![Kyberneticist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kyberneticist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyberneticist)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/13 "2001-01-02T19:32:55Z")
I use AOL, ICQ, and Yahoo. I don’t use MSN since they have yet to create a client for Linux. 🙂 If people want, I can create a small database and web interface to return a list of board names to ICQ/AIM/Yahoo names. You could then just add your names to the DB. Could probably get it to output valid config files for the various clients to save time. Does the windows AIM client allow reading from a new config file, or would users have to cut n paste the appropriate lines into their standard config? ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/14 "2001-01-03T01:20:11Z")
After careful review, and studying the post above mine, I have concluded that I am no longer allowed to call myself “Computer Geek”. I am a mainframe dweeb, with hopes of grandeur. Whatinhell you talkin’ about?? ---
**Author:** ![Rally\_Vincent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c37758/32.png) [@Rally\_Vincent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rally_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/15 "2001-01-03T01:25:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tristan \* > \*\*After careful review, and studying the post above mine, I have concluded that I am no longer allowed to call myself “Computer Geek”. > > I am a mainframe dweeb, with hopes of grandeur. > > Whatinhell you talkin’ about?? \*\* Ok - AIM, ICQ, MSN messenger, Yahoo messenger (and others) are all programs that allow you to talk with people online in real time. It’s like chat, only you send message to each other back and forth (there are chatroom options as well). Say I have AIM on, and I see that you come online. I can highlight your name and type “what’s up?” and you can respond. If you have a lot of people that live far away, it’s a great way to talk without racking up that phone bill. However, you need to be aware that technically anyone with too much time on their hands can figure out a way to view your conversations, so you don’t want to give out personal information on them. You can also transfer files - say I wanted to send you a picture of me, I could do so instantly. all the instant messenging programs have their pros and cons, it’s a matter of preference. ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/16 "2001-01-03T02:19:13Z")
Thanks for the info, Tristan and Rally. I’ve heard of ICQ but I didn’t really know there was anything else like it. I assume AIM people can only talk to AIM people, and not ICQ people or vice versa. (Although Rally Vincent proves that CZ-75 people can be AIM people as well.) ---
**Author:** ![Kyberneticist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kyberneticist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyberneticist)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/17 "2001-01-03T04:21:08Z")
Not true, if AIM people want to talk to ICQ people, all that is needed is a central server to mediate visit [http://www.Jabber.org](http://www.Jabber.org) - still under development, but it isn’t the only universal chat protocol/server combo available. As for a central directory of SDMB people, is it worth it? Would you really want to suddenly have several hundred to several thousand more people in your AIM list? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/18 "2001-01-03T05:38:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Does the windows AIM client allow reading from a new config file, or would users have to cut n paste the appropriate lines into their standard config? When you import a \*.blt file into Windows AIM it gives you the option to merge it with your current list. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2001, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ready-steady-aim/48046/19 "2001-01-03T16:44:40Z")
I used to use AIM, but now I switch between Crest and AquaFresh. They have better tartar-control ingredients.