a video game although shown separately it will be appreciated that computer network 102 and television compatible network 112 could be one and the same in the illustrated implementation multi user computer 100 is sometimes referred to as a u201c home u201d personal computer and has a central processing unit cpu 114 that is connected to display 110 and includes a processor memory data storage drives etc as is known in the art as one example multi user computer 100 could operate a media capable e g audio video television etc operating system that accommodates both conventional personal computer functionality and media functionality such as the windows u00ae xp media center edition operating system available from microsoft corporation it will be appreciated however that other operating systems are also capable of providing personal computer functionality and media functionality and that such systems may be employed by multiple users whether located in a home or a work location one of numerous personal computer type applications or features available on multi user computer 100 is instant messaging instant messaging is a computer communication format in which two users communicate with each other privately in real time over a computer network successive messages in the sequence of communications between the users are displayed automatically when received at each user 39 s computer a user will commonly have a list of u201c friends u201d or u201c buddies u201d who are other users with whom the user exchanges instant messages when a user logs in an instant messaging system will typically notify the user of which u201c friends u201d or u201c.