A few minutes, usually.

I had my first instant messenger conversation today! Here it is:

Ali: omg
Megan: LOL!!!!


I think that went quite well.


OK, it isn't really my first ever instant messenger conversation. My ex used to leave his IM window up and I would chat with his friends until they realized that he hadn't really started thinking that the labels we put on ourselves don't mean anything, and that he wasn't really inviting them to go camping at this lake where it is totally private and the guys could go skinnydipping on a hot summer night.