i am glad that there is no way, in aol instant messenger, for people to tell how many times i’ve checked their away messages. if there were, i’m sure at least 10 would think i’m a stalker.
really, it’s a little game i play called “hit the close button!”. here’s how it works:
1. right click on a buddy’s screen name
2. click the button labelled “close” on the away message that pops up
the trick is to try and click on the close button in the very instant it becomes visible (meaning of course, that you told your finger to press down on the mouse even before the close button is visible. this requires knowing exactly where it pops up–a skill i’ve honed to a very fine degree).