Hypotheses:

• There is a cultural divide between different groups of users of IM, namely the always-on’rs and the just-came-to-chat folks.
• The divide is due to a recognition of IM as a presence tool vs. just seeing it as a communication tool.
• The just-came-to-chat folks assert a power differential between peers by demanding that the always-on’rs pay attention to them when they appear.
• IM exacerbates power-differentials by implying that there is equality in participants, as though it is an equalizing context.

This is brought to you in synopsis of a brain candy rant on apophenia.