Ever been to a birthday party? Love em or hate em, birthday parties are something most of us have experienced at one time or another.

The invitations go out announcing theres going to be a party at such and such an address. You dont have to go if you dont want. You can show up early, or late, or leave halfway through. You can play with the others, then go off on your own, then join in later if you want. Its all pretty free and easy, really.

Thats what a Chat Room is like.

Someone makes it known that if you use your browser to go to a specific URL address on the Web youll find yourself in a Chat Room. You might need a special invitation to get in, or know a special password, or it might be open to everyone.

You can jump in anytime you want and be as active or passive as you want. If theres something you want to say, you just type it in and hit a button. Instantly, everyone else in the Chat Room sees that youve said something (they really only see what you typed). Then they respond by typing in what they want to say. And so the chat continues just as quickly as everyone can type and read.

And if you dont like where the chat is going, you can pick up your keyboard and go home.

And thats why a Chat Room is like a birthday party.