More than a few people have looked at the popularity of chatting, texting and instant messaging and prophesied the downfall of civilization. “No one will know how to talk to each other anymore!” “We’re raising a generation of kids with no social skills!” “Darn kids, get off my lawn!”

I agree. Not only do the neighbor kids play on my lawn (darn kids), but I think we lose a little something by firing up the instant messanger instead of picking up the phone. Not that I’m going to do anything about it. If anything, I’m texting on my phone and using IM more than I ever have before. Chatting on the computer is easier, cheaper, and a lot less threatening than having to make a call.

That’s exactly why a lot of service-based websites have launched live chat. Black Hills Central Reservations is the latest to jump on the chat bandwagon, having launched instant messanging on www.blackhillsvacations.com about… oh, two minutes ago.

If you’re researching a Black Hills Vacation and have a question about a particular hotel or something to do, you can click the Live Chat button and start typing away. Or maybe you get stuck during the booking process and have a technical question. Click, type. One of their agents will respond right away.

A harbringer of the collapse of civilization as we know it? Probably not. And it’ll be an awfully handy feature in the meantime.