1. A method comprising: a computer creating a plurality of topics; the computer assigning a statement classification method to each of the plurality of topics; the computer submitting a plurality of instant messaging statements to an instant messaging channel; the computer associating each of the plurality of instant messaging statements with one of the plurality of topics in accordance with an assigned statement classification method; the computer grouping together each of the plurality of instant messaging statements having a common topic into a plurality of topic groups; the computer displaying each of the plurality of topic groups in a separate window on a computer display; wherein each of the topics comprises a topic name; wherein the topic name of each of the topics is negotiable, thereby allowing any participant to propose a change to the topic name; and wherein the change is subject to an approval by a group leader.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: wherein the statement classification method is by an author of an instant messaging statement, the author being one of a plurality of participants in an instant messaging session; the computer associating the instant messaging statement with a first topic by inserting a first topic tag into the instant messaging statement; the computer associating a plurality of subsequent instant messaging statements with the first topic; and the computer ending an association of the plurality of subsequent instant messaging statements with the first topic by inserting a second topic tag into one of the plurality of subsequent instant messaging statements.