The main difference is that there is no direct human contact and the conversation is asynchronous. I'm way better at communication if I have some time to think

The main difference is that there is no direct human contact and the conversation is asynchronous. I'm way better at communication if I have some time to think over my answers and I don't have to come up with them up the spot. Basically, when I do not have to spend so many CPU cycles on all the non-verbal stuff (eye contact, posture, reading their face) I can actually focus on the content. If someone wants to actually get close to me, IM would be the way to do it.