Is IM making us dumb?

http://encarta.msn.com/column_imshorthandmain_marthahome/Does_IM_Make_U_Dum.html This is an article about the short hand writing people use while chatting online called "internetisms". The gist of the article says that short hand is vital to communicating online for reasons of saving time and clarity. I chose to post this article because I think it follows along the lines of our discussion about the technology alienating or empowering us. One could make the argument that these "internetisms" could be teaching generations poor grammar and writing skills. But this article seems to have the point that the abbreviations seem to be staying limited to internet chats, but to make sure not to use that type of language outside of it.