Facebook question for the experts:

[InvisibleTouch]

Some of my Facebook friends routinely open chat sessions with me when I pop in at the site. I swear they must lurk in wait, and have nothing else to do all day. They are friends, though, so I'd feel bad just ignoring a chat request - so I end up BSing for a few minutes and then finding some excuse to extricate myself.

My question is, is there a way to set yourself so that you can go to your wall and read and catch up, but not show up as being "logged in" - that is, that others don't realize you're there, and so won't send you a chat request?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear InvisibleTouch...

I don't know of any way to do that.

I think your best bet is to tell them that you don't have time, and sorry...

Or you could ignore the chat box...

That's not easy, though...

Good luck!

:hi:

[flvegan]

2. Go to Chat down in the corner.

Click Options.

Click "go offline"

That should work for you.

[Suich]

3. Huh!

I did not know that!

Thanks!

:)

[flvegan]

5. You're welcome.

Happy to help.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Thank you!

I didn't know that either.

[flvegan]

6. You're also welcome.

It doesn't "hide" that you're online, but it keeps the chat thing closed. I turn it off now and then just because it lags the computer if you have a bunch of tabs open.

[InvisibleTouch]

8. Thanks, I will try that!

Sounds like people will still know I'm there, and will see that I'm not accepting chat requests ... so I'll still imagine they're grumbling "Gee, she's here, but won't talk to us" - but it's better than having to think of diplomatic ways to leave the chat all the time. :)

[flvegan]

9. You're welcome. And yeah

but it could be that you're also working, and anyone that knows Facebook chat causes the whole shebang to freeze up with every new message if you're also on other pages.

[targetpractice]

11. No... "Go offline" makes you invisible.

So... They can't initiate a chat for you to decline.

[Sugarcoated]

18. Right

and "go offline" makes you invisible not just on Facebook, but invisible on the internet. There's nothing there to indicate you are online at all.

[tilsammans]

12. The answer . . .

. . . I've been looking for! Thanks! :yourock:

[madmom]

17. Thanks so much for this, I was wondering the same thing.

[Lisa D]

7. I'm so glad they have that option

I hate chatting on Facebook and always felt guilty if I didn't respond. Now I'm guilt-free! Well, almost anyway O8)

[applegrove]

10. Just be honest and say you are not into chat as part of facebook. That you'd rather

chat face to face with people in your life and keep in touch with facebook friends on the wall only. Nothing wrong with saying that.

[RandomThoughts]

13. I agree with that, I would rather be around people then chat online

I only post here because some methods of interaction of people has not been corrected yet, but it will be corrected.


Although there is a comment on censorship in one of the posts in the thread.

[Chan790]

14. "...but it will be corrected."

I too await with baited-breath the awakening of our telepathic powers.

[RandomThoughts]

16. heh, that is funny.

However telepathic powers do not correct that situation, unless you steal free will, something I would not choose to do in that situation.

But I am not giving up on the correction that I believe will occur. It makes sense and is just.

Beer and travel money, and experiences.

[applegrove]

19. I'm trying to follow you but I just can't seem to. I'm sure it is me.

[InvisibleTouch]

15. Every one of my friends...

...would know I was lying, or got replaced by a pod person, if I said I'd "rather chat face to face." Truth is, my preferred method of communication is over the net (I've had entire interpersonal dramas, intense friendships, and even romantic relationships with people I've never physically met), but I just don't have time to be roped into a daily chat session over small-talk. Maybe that's why I hate the phone, too - people can intrude into your solitude and commandeer your time when you're trying to be focused on something else. When I do want to talk in "real time," chat is great - it's just been too much of a good thing. So I will try the solution offered here, and thanks to everyone who weighed in and replied! :)

[Lindsey]

20. When I first got on FB, ( just a few months ago), one of the

first things I wanted to do was to find the option for no one to ever know when I'm online. Fortunately, a friend walked me through. I think you've gotten the advice in previous posts regarding exactly how to do it. Mine shows me offline all of the time. I get where you are about having to reply to folks when all you probably want to do is just kind of check things out. Good luck.