What service are you using?
I think in some protocols profiles can only be viewed by people on the person's contact list, but that doesn't explain why you can see it in a browser.
I think The-Tick wants to know:
1) What accounts are connected
2) What version
3) Does it freez at any other times
4) anything else unusual you've noticed
5) Operating system
The name for this is MSN Personal Message. There was a version of adium that did this, but the develepor had to halt progress for personal reasons and it is no longer available.
It was discussed here : http://forums.cocoaforge.com/viewtopic. ... al+message
You can create an Event (in preferences) for "message received (initial)" where Adium would send a message automaticaclly. Not sure how to do it for when you start a conversation.
For a background colour, when choosig a font theres an option at the top of that thingymajiggy (i dont know the name, but the thing where you choose the font) for choosing a background