Bonjour problems

Can I use bonjour to message iChat users? If so, how do I make it work on my Macbook pro OSX 10.8? I can get the Bonjour window to pop up but the buddies list on menu bar is completely grey, as are the icons at the bottom of the Bonjour window. I have no trouble with my iMessage, just with Bonjour. I have read online about local networks but do not understand what this means. And I have been in and out of Preferences with no joy. If anyone can give me a basic how-to guide for Bonjour that would be great. As in… how to get the thing going! These images show what I am getting… or not as the case may be. Thanks.