Chat etiquette: how not to be *that* person

Nobody teaches chat manners, yet everyone gets judged on them. The good news: the bar is low, because half the internet behaves terribly.

The classic mistakes

• Interview mode. Five questions in a row is an interrogation. Share something about yourself between questions.
• One-word replies. "lol", "nice", "ok" — conversation killers. If you want the chat to live, give the other person something to grab onto.
• Disappearing mid-conversation. Life happens — but a quick "gotta run, talk later" costs three seconds and earns more goodwill than any opener.
• Instant essays. Three paragraphs to a stranger’s "hi" is a lot of pressure. Build up gradually.

The one habit that beats all tricks

Reply to what the person actually said. Most people skim, wait for their turn, and talk about themselves. The rare person who picks up details — "wait, you hitchhiked WHERE?" — is unforgettable.

On Lusya the game gives you the topic, so half of this work is done. Your job is just to be someone worth answering.