All we need is more deviations from the norm of the language.

Even with all the other media, books still have an aura of authority around them. IMing their language is a not so tacit approval of this new deviation. And there are other ways to "zip" books.

imho, lol! cu :-)

Google had no explanation of IM English. What is it?

It's bad enough that Instant Messaging is degrading the already pathetic spelling and grammar abilities of American youths, but now you want to get rid of the best examples from which to learn these abilities? Also, I find it takes me longer to read "IM English" than regular English because I have to unzip it in my mind and unless it is something simple like "c u later" or "r u going 2nite?" then it usually is not worth compressing like that for me. I'm not an author, but if I had written a novel I would be extremely offended if someone wanted to translate it into this lowest common denominator "language." No, I say leave IM speak on the IM.

I assume this was put forward facetiously. It would be an amusing way to deconstruct various high-and-mighty "texts."