When does mail contact show as 'online' in chat or contact list?

[jssweetpea78]

I'm confused..one of my yahoo contacts shows as available in mail chat, but doesn't show online in the contact list. Another contact shows as online in the list, yet doesn't show up as available in mail chat. What's the difference? When the one contact shows as 'available' in mail chat, does that mean he is chatting or just online on yahool? If he is chatting with messenger, will he show as online in the yahoo contact list? Thank you for clearing this up.

[yeahdog345]

Just a glitch... Happened to me earlier today...

[Britknee]

I believe it is about their settings. If they are showing online in your e-mail, they may be "invisible" on messenger (not sure- just a guess) and if they are online on messenger and not on your e-mail it may be because they chose on their preferences to not appear online in other programs besides messenger...