Today's technology enables us to combine the casualness of conversation with the formality of the written word. These modes of communication, once separate performances, have united to become one of the world's fastest growing social outlets. Now we can sit at our computers and "chat" with people all over the world. Internet access is required.
On-line chatting is a great way to socialize with others who have like interests. Cooks can exchange recipes, movie lovers can discuss the latest releases, and gardeners can tout their prized begonia. Whatever the subject, there is a "room" designed for people to meet and talk, talk, talk. Or, to be more precise, type, type, type.
Electronic chatting has rapidly progressed to keep up with people's demands for faster and fancier programs. There are still a few surviving sites that offer text only, but today's world wants visuals. "Virtual Places" is a good program for those who want to view while they converse. It allows the user to make his or her web page the room where others join in, and everybody is represented by an "avatar". When an individual "speaks" a balloon appears above them with their words in it.
My personal favorite chat site remains "World's Chat", a 3-D program that no longer exists. The setting was a space station that slowly rotated among the stars. The people there were friendly and eager to help me learn the amenities. It was a fast program too, for whatever I said appeared in the text box immediately. "World's Chat" let me carry on multiple private conversations, and I made a lot of "cyber" friends. I talked to people from all over planet Earth, via my keyboard.
It doesn't take long to learn the acronyms that express everyday actions taken for granted when talking face to face. When someone says something funny it's common to respond with "LOL" (Laughing Out Loud). If their statement is uproariously funny, then "ROFLOL" is a better suited reply (Rolling On Floor Laughing Out Loud). BRB means "Be Right Back", for those times a brief absence from the keyboard is required.
There are rules of etiquette one must follow when chatting. Say "Hi" when entering the room and "Bye" when leaving (or the equivalent thereof). Don't type in capital letters, as it represents shouting. Don't hog the screen with inane text. And in general, be nice. However, not everybody is congenial; there are people who are obnoxious by nature, and this trait shows in their writing behavior. It helps to possess good typing skills, lest some pompous snot will point out every mistake and make the correction. The seasoned chatter instantly recognizes and simply overlooks minor typographical errors or misspellings.
On-line chatting can be quite addictive, the thrill of talking, writing, and reading at the same time is a heady experience. Many a user has found themselves suffering an "IRC hangover" after spending long hours in front of their computers talking, only to find themselves back at the same place for more the next night. It is wise to have an Internet Service Provider that does not charge by the amount of time spent on line, as the time tends to pass quickly when engaged in invigorating conversation.
People like interaction, and the Internet has provided humanity with a new form of communicating. Actually, it took two very old forms, talking and writing, and combined them into one. It's called "chatting".