Comments on: How to finish an Instant Message conversation

By: aravind

aravind — Sat, 15 May 2010 19:54:45 +0000

when i need to end a conversation what i do is use smilies as a reply for everything. basically, i fill up my end of the conversation with them. once u start doin that the other person kinda gets the hint(hopefully). even if he or she doesn’t, no conversation can last long without two active participants.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:50:03 +0000

I encounter this at work all the time. I like to use no closing whatsoever, wait a few minutes until I’m pretty sure that the person is engaged in something else, and they say, “Well, Okay then – bye.”

By: Henry

Henry — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:43:42 +0000

Maybe using just using “bye” within the converstation to signal that you are ready to finish the chat.

E.g.

A : “Hi – I heard you might be able to help me find x”
B : “Sure – it’s here : http://jonmell.co.uk/. Once you’ve filled it in send it to person@company.com.
A : “Many thanks for your help. Bye”
B : “Sure don’t worry about it. Bye”

By: Zac

Zac — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:58:17 +0000

A good post with a good point

When i have to end a conversation at work i normally (lie) and say “ok great thanks for your help, ive got to get back to work now”

that seems polite, professional and fairly quick

By: Jon Mell

Jon Mell — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:08:00 +0000

Thanks guys – a new smilie perhaps?

By: rux

rux — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:48:00 +0000

Or perhaps start with it – a little businesslike codeword to say that the communication is purely for business and doesn’t need to get overly cordial (reasonable manners and politeness permitting), as it’s an information exchange.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:57:00 +0000

LOL!!!

True True.

We need to invent a universal instant message sign-off. Polite, but short. Maybe using symbols?

Dr J