An annoying habit of some IMers is the propensity to give you a little bit of data without filling in all of the blanks. It can go a little bit something like this:
Janie80: Going to the bar tonight u wanna come?
Roboticous: Sure, when?
Janie80: Later. Gotta run C U 2 nite.
Janie80: Signed off
Annoying since you don’t know where or when. When the matter is personal this isn’t a big deal. Most of us could do without the expense and humiliation of drinking out.
If the matter is business it can be more of an issue. Missing an important meeting can be a career ender.