Time Will Tell: Ambiguous Non-responses on Internet Relay Chat

The design of Internet Relay Chat (IRC) affords for, and itself produces, non-response situations that are not possible in FTF or telephone interaction. These system-occasioned non-responses produce almost isomorphic stimuli to participant non-responses. Situations thus arise in which nonresponses are interpersonally accountable despite agentive ambiguity. This study explores four intersections of participant-action and system-occasioned non-responses. An extension to Pomerantz's (1984b) 'pursuing a response' problems/solutions is proposed. The impact of IRC's design on its popularity is discussed in contrast to more recent chat systems. Suggestions are made for active and passive presence and non-response accounting features in future chat systems. When speakers perform actions that solicit responses, non-responses are meaningful to both participants (Pomerantz, 1984b). Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a computer-mediated communication (CMC) system with a sequential interaction environment similar to FTF or telephone interaction. However, IRC's design affords for, and itself produces, nonresponse situations that are not possible in FTF or telephone interaction. These system-occasioned non-responses produce almost isomorphic stimuli to participant non-responses. Situations thus arise in which non-responses are interpersonally accountable despite agentive ambiguity. This study explores four intersections of participant-action and system-occasioned non-responses: those arising from opening turn-coordination, presenting or determining user identity; transmission-reception; and IRC commands. After the findings, we briefly compare and contrast IRC to newer chat systems, arguing that differences in accounting for non-responses may be why newer systems are more popular than IRC. We conclude by suggesting that future chat systems include methods for displaying presence and accounting for non-responses.