When explaining computer usage and jargon to new or inexperienced users, I use analogies. Here's the one I used with my adorable mother, who calls instant messages 'yahoos'.

Imagine you are leaning over the fence, having a conversation with the neighbor in which you can speak and she can respond immediately. That's an instant message. It's usually one on one and is fairly real time if the person happens to be online (or next to the fence). Otherwise, you'll have to call your neighbor and leave a message on her answering machine.

Thus bringing me to email. Email can be compared to two things.

1. Leaving a message at the tone, or

2. Writing a note and leaving it on the neighbor's door. The neighbor will get it eventually and will hopefully respond in a timely manner.

Now imagine you're at a block party. Lots of neighbors are hanging out, and most of them like gardening, so a large cluster of folks are discussing the merits of compost piles, and the majority of them talking all at once, with the occasional reference to how good Susie looks while bending over to prune her roses. That's a chat room for you. You log into a room, with a username and password, and suddenly there's the visual equivalent of a cacophony on your screen. It's sometimes hard to keep up with the comings and goings of people and keeping track of a 'personal' conversation is sometimes difficult, but it is a great way to meet people and share ideas, opinions, or anything else conversational.

But what if you're shy? You don't like all of the on the spot attention of block parties, but there is a community bulletin board that you frequently stand in front of, reading posts about various events and concerns of the neighborhood. Occasionally you leave your own post in response to someone else's, or start your own topic, perhaps about whether or not to petition the city to repaint the hydrants. Thats a forum. It's a little bit slower and more detailed than a chat room, and gives the opportunity to elaborate further on thoughts.
And unlike chat rooms, if you don't care about a subject (such as Susie's rose pruning shorts), you don't have to pay attention to that conversation for fear you might miss part of your own.

Internet communication, much like 'real' world communication varies based on preference, time and availability, so it's really up to you to find the method that best works for you. I have to admit, though, I will miss my mom saying that she 'got yahooed' the other day...

Learn more about this author, Catlyn Clayton.
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