IM'ing is here, and apparently here to stay. It's great to get answers to questions at the press of a button. No more thinking through problems, no more wondering about possible answers, just press in a number and someone is there to answer your problem.
I can't help but think the IM factor is just one more brick in the ever-growing wall of the suppression of creativity and critical thinking. Thinking thoughts takes more than just remembering a phone number - the thought process is a learned navigational tool that helps humans understand new problems and develop possible answers because of previously learned information roads, detours, and road blocks. How is a person to learn thinking through probems and finding various solutions if finding the answer is as simple as calling someone?
I see this trend of needing instant gratification with my children when they do their homework. They aren't prepared to sit and work problems for an hour the way I used to when I was doing math homework. The problem was there until you either solved it or you consulted your friends or teacher the next school day. Now my children spend less than a minute on a question and if they don't know the answer immediately they want an answer from me - now.
I know from speaking with other parents that this is not an issue only at my house - it is an issue being dealt with on a generational level. I think the IM is a fun toy, but it is the current tip of the iceburg of "I want it now" attitude that is pervading our society. I can't help but see it as virtually "mind numbing."
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