oddball poll re:AIM

Not actually making this an LJ-poll because I'd rather have comment-answers (assuming anyone answers at all):

AIM/other messengers: are they more like:

1) Like calling someone -- something you'd only send to close friends/people you've know a long time.
2) Like chatting with someone at a party -- something you'd just do with anyone you run into there
3) Something else.

Behind the cut I'll say why I'm asking.
( it's more than just that I'm shy )

also, memesheep

That usericon meme, made more entertaining to do by the fact that when I post to LJ from work, I can't see images. Image, then keywords, credits, explanation, and let's see if I can get them lined up when working just from the source of allpics.bml
( usericon explanations are long )