I maintain that AIM away messages were superior to modern Slack statuses.
By @hankforsure · Nostalgia
There was an art to it. Crafting the perfect away message to signal you were busy was a more definitive statement than a little yellow dot people just ignore anyway.
The full story
Honestly, today's 'availability' icons create more anxiety. A yellow status on Slack or Teams feels like a suggestion, not a rule. I miss the simple, universally understood finality of an away message. Whether it was just 'brb lunch' or some dramatic song lyric, it was a digital 'do not disturb' sign that people actually respected. There was no ambiguity. You were either there, or you were gone.
How people voted
- Facts — 30% (31 votes)
- Depends — 44% (46 votes)
- No Way — 27% (28 votes)
Readers say “Depends” (44%) — 105 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@edieagain — I'm pretty sure people ignored those away messages just as much.
@coleyk — yes i miss having to decode my crush's Dashboard Confessional lyrics.
@april — Just log off.
@jaredlately — Can't you just set a custom away message on Slack?
@codysorta — If they need you, they'll call you; this 'always online' culture is the real problem.
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