[AMJones]

This is probably the #1 question in these forums, so I thought I'd post a quick FAQ.

I have AIM and I want to check someone's profile, but they are an AOL user. How can I do it?

You can't. Checking AOL profiles is something that requires and AOL account and AOL software. AOL has taken steps to ensure that it remains this way.

Isn't there a website somewhere?

There was, it was shut down - presumably by AOL. Other websites might pop up now and then, but AOL will / would likely shut those down as well.

Why doesn't TheIdeaWeb offer this?

Read the above question. We've no desire to be shut down.

But that stinks! AOL can't do that! They stink. They should give us access to AOL profiles, they have no right to block them.

Yes, it does stink. I wish AOL would allow this myself, but they don't. They haven't given a reason why not, so there is hope that someday they'll enable this feature. Want to make that happen? Send them feedback. NICE feedback, asking for the feature. If you tell them they stink in the feedback, or use non-words like 'u betta giv us AOL profile cuz udderwiz u suck' you won't get anywhere.

They can, however, block the profiles, and do have a right to do so. They have the right to do anything they wish with their own services. AIM users, who don't pay any fees whatsoever.. don't really have much of a say in what they can or cannot do.

It's regrettable, but that's the short of it.