IM 'new message' feedback.

When we receive an IM, we get a useful indication to help direct our attention. This feedback comes in at least two forms: a popup button a the bottom of the screen, and a flashing tab in the IM window. I will call these "alerts".

There are at least two cases where we get alerts and it isn't helpful.

First, when someone is typing but hasn't yet sent text, we get an alert but should not. They usually divert our attention uselessly; we think there is a new message but there is not. Often, a new message never arrives, either because the other person either reconsidered, or they realized they were typing in the wrong window or tab.

Second, a "John Smith has left this session" message should not cause an alert. These tend to make people disconnect from message groups unnecessarily.

Tangential to the post but related to the second point: when we close a group IM tab, we should get two options. One, to simply make the tab go away (because we have too many tabs open and are trying to communicate with several people), and the other, to disconnect from group messages because the chatter does not interest us at this time.

These features would cause fewer group disconnects and would reduce annoyance concerning IM groups.

I thought the 1st one was supposed to be fixed. Would have sworn that I saw it in some recent release notes.

The 2nd one I totally agree with you on. I sometimes get the "...has left the session" IM even when I wasn't logged in for any of the session. I wouldn't mind seeing it if I had participated in the session - entered some text - but if somebody that didn't participate in it leaves, it shouldn't notify others.

Hi, I'm trying to regroup all "Second Life: John Doe has left this session." related requests and point them to the below proposal, that already have 200 votes/58 voters.
Prop: 2557 - "Joe Sombody, has left this session" needs to go

Good proposal, Simil. "left this session" messages should not pop the tab up, nor should they cause your IM indicator to signal if you do happen to have that tab open.

In a related issue (probably needs its own feature request), a group tab should have two options, close and disconnect from the group, or simply close the tab without disconnecting. Right click on the tab should be sufficient for the latter, with the default to be the current behavior (since folks are used to it).

And Meade is right, my first issue does seem to be fixed.