if this is like trying to prod you with a large stick...?

A big stick marked "THE PERSON HOLDING THIS STICK IS DAFT".

puts on a sweater to ward off the daft.

just called to say I love you. just called to say how much I caaaaaaaaare. And I mean it from the bottom of myyyyyy heart.

well cuz they want to be able to say that You IM'd them

puts on her tinfoil hat to ward off The Daft

it is one of life's great mysteries. Like belly button lint and the size of avocado seeds.

most of the time i have a hard time mustering the motivation to respond to plain old 'hi'. if they can't be bothered to explain themselves,

I can't be bothered to answer.

Hi isn't so bad. Today I got "I cannot remove my undergarments since they belong to you.." from a stranger.

I probably get "Hi" about a hundred times per day. Followed by people being unhappy if I take longer than ten seconds to respond.

to Tateru

How about when they IM you and say hi, and you say hi back and then they get distracted and that is the end of it.... happens often

Hi!

says how about people who ask 'can I ask you a question?' ...

I say other than that question? Sure. And see if they get it. If they do better, if they don't I'm likely to not be interested in them.

IantheFarshore That's waaay up there on the "only in SL" type statements I've ever heard of!

I think the "Hi" might be an improper radio check. I am more apt to "Hallo, have a moment for a question?" before dropping the note-card.

Personally, I'm tired of the random. "How are you?" IM's.

Oh I'm fine CeejayWriter, thanks for asking!

It bugs me when people say "How are you" and really don't want to hear the answer.

Which is most of the time.

Oho. I always give a real answer to that question. Usually they get a TMI expression when they're forced to pay attention.

it is probably the intro to some more text, but then they get the "offline" message and give up

<--- optimist

Yes, very likely, but it is still ridiculous. Like saying "hi" on somebody's Answering Machine and then hanging up.