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Q: AOL Buddy List ( Answered 4 out of 5 stars,   2 Comments )
Question  
Subject: AOL Buddy List
Category: Computers > Internet
Asked by: wasnt_me-ga
List Price: $4.00
Posted: 14 Nov 2003 11:35 PST
Expires: 14 Dec 2003 11:35 PST
Question ID: 275891
I had not used AOL for a few years, but I still use AIM. 

I put someone on my AIM Buddy List. I did not tell this person my ID,
but she was able to send me a message. Does AOL now show you who has
listed you in their Buddy List (on AOL or AIM)?

(I know Yahoo lets you know when someone adds you to their list.)
Answer  
Subject: Re: AOL Buddy List
Answered By: rainbow-ga on 17 Nov 2003 01:45 PST
Rated:4 out of 5 stars
 
Hi wasnt_me,

The short answer to your question is no, AIM does not show you who has
listed you in their buddy list. I was sure of this but tested it out
anyway.

I use AIM too and tested this with a friend of mine who has multiple
AIM accounts (some of which I'm not on their buddy list). When they
added me on their buddy list, I was not informed in any way that I was
added to their list.


There are a few ways to search for buddies and add them to your list.
The person in question could have searched for you by email address,
name and address or interests and added you to her list.


In the future if you want complete privacy go to My AIM in the top
menu > edit options > privacy. At the bottom of that screen you will
find "Allow users who know my e-mail address to find". Click "Nothing
about me".

Note that this will work only before a person has searched for you and
has added you to their buddy list.


I hope this helps. If you have any questions regarding my answer, or
anything is unclear, please don't hesitate to ask before rating.

Best regards,
rainbow-ga

Request for Answer Clarification by wasnt_me-ga on 17 Nov 2003 09:25 PST
What if you had an AIM account and the other had an AOL account?

Request for Answer Clarification by wasnt_me-ga on 17 Nov 2003 09:26 PST
I think what it may have been is that my AIM account is linked to my
Internet e-mail. She had received Internet e-mail from me. It's
starting to make sense. (maybe)

Clarification of Answer by rainbow-ga on 17 Nov 2003 10:57 PST
Hi wasnt_me,

If your email account was with aol, your screen name is automatically
the same as your email account. Unless you make a new name through
AIM. That could be the way she had your name. However, she would have
had to manually add you to her buddy list. It doesn't just appear.

I hope that helps.

Best regards, 
rainbow-ga

Request for Answer Clarification by wasnt_me-ga on 17 Nov 2003 19:44 PST
I thought that someone's AOL Buddy List keeps track of all of the
people you have sent messages to.  That used the internet e-mail
address. You don't think that is linked to my AIM account at all?

Clarification of Answer by rainbow-ga on 19 Nov 2003 09:33 PST
Hi wasnt_me,

I really don't think that the AOL buddy list keeps track of the people
you email and adds them automatically to your buddy list. However, I
have inquired about this to people who use AOL and will let you know
their response when I receive it.

Regards,
rainbow~

Clarification of Answer by rainbow-ga on 19 Nov 2003 13:27 PST
Hi  wasnt_me,

This may come as a surprise to you as it did to me.

Apparently if your friend has AOL Version 8, anyone who emails her,
will be added automatically to her AOL Buddy List under the category
"Recent Buddies". So this could explain the way she got your name on
her list.

This appears to be a new feature that only applies to the latest
version. I inquired if this ever happened before upgrading and the
reply was negative.

I apologize for the confusion. I hope this information is helpful and
gives you a better understanding how someone could have your name on
their buddy list without you having given it to them.

Best regards,
rainbow~
wasnt_me-ga rated this answer:4 out of 5 stars

Comments  
Subject: Re: AOL Buddy List
From: aedv-ga on 17 Nov 2003 00:55 PST
 
Why don't you ask her?
Subject: Re: AOL Buddy List
From: wasnt_me-ga on 17 Nov 2003 09:26 PST
 
I did. She said it just appeared on her Buddy List.

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