I mentioned this over at livejournal, but I think it bears repeating here. One of the things I like about RinkChat is I come in and there's a group of people there. People show up, ready for a conversation and it doesn't matter what the conversation is about. I drop by and there's Mousie, Ticia, and Leen. I drop by and there's Stephen and Nyperold and Grishny. I drop by and there's always someone new.

Mostly, we talk about whatever we want. The conversations don't seem to begin and they don't seem to end. We just jump right in. If we have to leave, it's no problem. It's like I get to drop by a hang-out after work where all my friends are. If my friends are there, they're there to relax and be with their friends.

I can also contact most of my friends by other means: AIM, posting on this forum, replying to a livejournal post, calling them on the phone, just dropping by their houses. Forum and journal postings don't feel like natural conversations. AIM, phone calls, and dropping by a house all mean (to me, at least) I'm interrupting someone to make myself heard.

When we visit a chat room, it's like visiting that after-work hang-out. We come in, we can discuss Forever Knight, translucent shoes, movies, food, whatever. We're there for conversation. With AIM, it's like a telephone. I contact you and want to blather on about why Captain America hasn't been promoted, but you're busy with work or discussing something with someone else. I'm interrupting you, imposing on your time.

That's what I'm sad about. Issachar doesn't come by that often. When he does, it's nice -- I get to talk to an old friend about everything and nothing, just like we used to. And it's not just Iss and me talking, it's Iss and me and Liface and Darien and Cynthia and flyingcats and BurgerKing and Stephen and Travholt talking. That's fun.

I guess what I'm trying to say is when I go to the chat room and see someone I like there, it's reassuring. Time to have some fun with my friends. But now, one of my friends isn't going to be there any more.

-FP