> To go off on a slight tangent, I hope Miss Manners never DOES have a section about online communication, because that would only add weight to the ever-growing belief that etiquette online somehow should have different standards from etiquette in ANY OTHER FREAKING CONVERSATION IN THE WORLD like not shouting at people or randomly bursting into a conversation between several complete strangers to tell them something random, or abruptly saying "this is boring goodbye" instead of leaving quietly and politely, or -deep breath- all right, I'm back to normal now.

I think that online etiquette should differ from normal etiquette. Courtesy changes with the environment, doesn't it? Some things are perfectly acceptable at a football game that would be appalling at an opera. Online, especially in instant messaging, it is impossible for you to interrupt someone, so it is all right to be constantly typing. In real life, if you never shut up during a serious conversation you should be slapped. I agree that the specific examples you stated are rude both in real life and online, but there are some things acceptable in real life and not online, and vice versa. For instance, in real life it is perfectly acceptable to walk up to a stranger in a room, introduce yourself, and ask them where they are from. Online, that is becoming taboo quickly. I am editing this post, because it is considered polite online to attempt to avoid spelling and grammar errors. In real life, if you misspeak nobody cares. I'm not trying to say that there is no etiquette for online interactions, but there is a difference between online etiquette and other kinds of etiquette.