the LW chat service needs to have more than just a single global mode - all on or all off - so that users can selectively send/recieve messages.

if it is too difficult to support greater granularity for live chat, then pls enhance the robustness of the offline messaging system via the limewire bbs/post-office.

as long as there is an notification mechanism in the gui, users will have the chance to examine the query when their schedule permits.

obviously this facility would need to be refined so that it respects the privacy of message service - LW users dont want to feel spied upon, but they also shouldnt have to face such a drastic either/or choice just in order to exclude unwelcome inquiries.

however, if the logistics of a centralized messaging service are too great (even if confined only to paying, Pro members - who sign a declaration that they are not associated with law enforcement etc) - then at least consider an intermediate solution in which pre-defined messages can be sent to another user even if they have turned off chatting globally (eg 'how long can you keep your system up?' or 'when will you resume a network connection?', or 'can you keep LW up just until i finish file-set X?', etc etc).

how do-able is this?