A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for enabling users to view a plurality of instant messaging chat conversations and respond quickly and easily a selected conversation, while minimizing the impact on the users' other activities. Users are also provided with the option of choosing which instant messaging conversations to monitor and which responses from particular people or topics to display. Multiple instant messaging chat conversations are provided to a user via a scrolling chat window, wherein the scrolling chat window allows the user to scroll through and monitor the multiple instant messaging chat conversations. When user input is received for a selected instant messaging chat conversation, the selected instant messaging chat conversation is loaded and displayed into an instant messaging chat window to allow the user to respond to the selected instant messaging chat conversation.