[Fire-core] online but saying offline

[The J. R. <the...@ea...>]

i have at least 3 people that have IM'd me (from AOL) that are actually 
online and available but are in "offline buddies" in Fire - why would 
that be - they say they have not changed anything from their end - also 
when i first put them in my buddy list they worked, but now they dont - 
any solution - thank you etan g