So, you’ve decided to get an Instant Messenger account.Congratulations, and welcome to the club. You’ll now be ableto get in touch with friends from all over the world, instantly andwithout an expensive phone bills.

Now that you’ve decided to make the leap into instantconnectivity and computerized communication, you must make sure toproperly maintain your account and screen name.

First off, create a profile. What’s the purpose of thisquestion-and-answer, describe yourself process? Just as in the realworld, we all want to be individuals in cyberspace, and yourprofile will let other people see you for the person you are.

Favorite quotes, little jokes, and links to favorite Web sitescan all be included in the profile. Remember, this is supposed toreflect you and your personality, so run with it.

Along with your profile, you’re also going to need someaway messages. With the advent of high-speed Internet, it’snow fairly common to be logged on to your IM account all the time,but are you always in front of your computer? No, of course not,and it is your responsibility to let friends know whereyou’ve gone. It’s only polite.

In class? Try, “Did you ever notice how class and assrhyme?” or “Off getting my learn on.”

Are you at work? Perhaps, “At work, getting paid to playminesweeper” is the perfect way to let friends knowwhat’s up.

Now, once you have the requisite profile and away messages toprove that you’re a legit IM user, it’s time to getdown to it and chat with people.

You can talk to your friends all you want, but can’t youdo that anytime? The best part of talking on the Internet is theability to meet new people with similar interests from allover.

Search through other profiles to find people who love to goboating as much as you do, or who love their Volvo as much as youlove yours. The Internet, and AOL Time Warner, has made your dreamsof incessantly chatting about your cat to others finally cometrue.

Remember, the way you meet people in the real world can be veryrandom, so give random messages a chance, you never know whoyou’ll find.

Be careful though, anonymity is the name of the game on IM, andjust because the person on the other computer claims to be a totalhottie who happens to think you’re totally awesome,it’s entirely possible that they’re really 40 years oldand have a carpet growing on their back.

Many people have used the Internet as a source of drawing invictims for all sorts of nefarious things. So, unless the person onthe other end is someone whose face you have seen, be happy withwhat you have in cyberspace and don’t try to bring it intothe real world.

IM is a lot of fun and a great way to keep in touch with peoplewhile you’re in college, but what about that mythical”life after college?” Do people IM there?

Sure, in fact, the roots of Instant Messaging can be traced tobored employees looking for some way to slyly tell a friend on theother end of their cubicle world about the creepy guy in theaccounting department.

So you know how to IM now, it looks like you’re set forlife. Now its time to get out there and start meeting people,especially that little hottie who just sent you a picture.