Lift blog

How do you sign-off from an instant message chat?

What is the acceptable way to stop an instant message conversation? I am quite new to IM. I have been using iChat for about 18 months, but only to talk with Clare and some friends. Recently I have been talking to work colleagues about projects and I like the immediacy of it.

Yet I find it difficult to end a conversation! Often there is a long pause, with no conversation as both people involved sit there deciding how to end it. After a while one of us will say they have to go, and try and end the chat. Often I am that person as I get twitchy with the chat window open and nothing going on. Does the other person think I am ignoring them? Or do not want to talk to them?

So I end with a 'got to go. bye'. Which seems just as rude...