How do I always appear "off line"?

[Rod]

Windows Messenger is a great program, but I am finding that my family
members, all of whom are in my Contacts list, are beginning to instantly
send messages to me the moment I log onto Windows. At first it was OK, but
now I cannot get anything done (like pay bills, etc) without them
immediately attempting to strike up a conversation.

So this leads me to ask, how do I stop this? I could: (a) uninstall Windows
Messenger, (b) find some way to have Windows XP Messenger to automatically
come up with me appearing as being "off line", (c) I could block all of my
relatives.

If I choose (c), then I am not sure if that means I it will prevent me from
seeing them being online and they seeing me online, or does it just mean
that they won't see me online? Or does it mean something else?

Bottom line is this: what do I do so that I won't appear to them as being
online and available, but I can, at my discretion, chat with them via
Windows XP Messenger?

Rod

[Steve]

You can block them, they will not see you on line, you will see them on line


Steve

[Rod]

Thanks, Steve.

Rod

"Steve" > wrote in message
...
> You can block them, they will not see you on line, you will see them on
line
>
>
> Steve
>
>