This is almost certainly due to the current metacity focus selection. To be honest I prefer it the way it currently is because there's nothing like going to type a password into a dialog and then IMing the password to someone else instead...
-- [Dapper] When a buddy starts talking to me, the window doesn't gain the focus https://launchpad.net/bugs/40006 -- desktop-bugs mailing list desktop-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/desktop-bugs
