Downsides to Intrafamily IM?

Frisky070802 writes "The NY Times has run a column on how many families now use instant messaging within a household, for instance to ask what someone wants for dinner. This is especially popular as whole houses get wired (or wireless) and computers are scattered throughout the house. This is the case at my house but I tend to be the only one who stays on AIM reliably. Can Slashdotters offer some personal experience, pro/con, with being instantly and constantly accessible to one's spouse and children? Does this tend to break down your 'personal time'?"

Comments

Re:this is stupid

[gears5665]

is that really the kind of home you want to live in?

Decadent opulence

[Anonymous Coward]

If your house is too big to shout to your family members then, quite simply, your house is too big. In certain parts of the world, people live in huts and here we are worrying about using 21st century technology to help mommy tell little billy that dinner is ready... if he could only make it as far as the east wing. And for all those Bel Air mentalities out there, let me remind you that it is quite possible to live in comfort and show off your wealth to your heart's content without simultaneously showing off your ignorance.

</rant>

Re:Cons?

[Anonymous Coward]

Everyone in your family should be lined up and shot.

They are anti-social freaks who must be purged from society.

"reliably online?" not a good idea.

[immel]

I find it extremely annoying when my each family member hogs 20-25 threads on our system when all they are doing is being on AIM, broadcasting an away message. This makes it impossible for me to do any decent graphical calculations (or play ArmyOps). "reliably being on AIM" merely causes fights over CPU time between family members.