Instant Messaging

I work at a corporate setting where we get to use AIM instant messaging as one way of communicating to each other. People have become too dependent on it. I literally sit across from this woman, who I will call Debbie Downer and I can see that she is writing an IM to me. She will start the IM and then leave it and then go back to it, as if she is choosing her words wisely. Very frustrating - I mean really, you can't just tell me you are going to step outside? You really can't tell me verbally to have a nice weekend! I sit right across from you! And why oh why, does it have to take you 5 minutes to write that IM? I just don't get it.