I often find whilst conversing with my friends over an instant messenger programme that we end up discussing two or more topics at the same topic. One will perhaps be some recent news, whilst another will be a more mundane salutory dialogue. This usually necessitates either careful division of each message to respond to both points, or seperate messages to each. The first is hard work, the second can be confusing when answers that occur could apply to both. In addition, these become yet further muddled when one topic proceeds at a different rate to the other.

I propose that instant messenger programmes develop the facility to split a conversation, between the same pair of people, into two windows. The conversations are independent of one another, and can be easily produced by branching off from an existing conversation.

This would enable much more efficient and comfortable chat about a variety of topics, and would improve the conversational experience.
-- dbmag9, Jan 13 2009

You could do this with IRC, I think. I haven't used it in a long time.
-- Spacecoyote, Jan 14 2009


+

It'll help with multiple personalities as well.
-- DenholmRicshaw, Jan 14 2009


Fork off!
-- Jinbish, Jan 14 2009


I do RP over IM a lot. Always wind up typing half my stuff in parentheses to differentiate IC from OOC. This would be really handy. [+]
-- gisho, Jan 14 2009


What gisho said. [+]
-- imaginality, Jan 14 2009



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