Voice Chat, Pros And Cons

[P50]

TMF members desdemona and P50 have been collaborating on this idea and would like to get individual members' feedback on why a given individual will (or will not) participate in one-on-one voice chat across the internet.

We would like to know...

(A) your gender

and then...

(B) how you feel about doing voice chat across the internet with acquaintences met via the TMF.


We are specifically <B><I> NOT </I></B> discussing a personal telephone call.

This is a thread limited to, and focused on, internet voice chat only. We are not discussing conversations that require telephone numbers, or any obvious personal info (e.g., area codes) that would easily identify an individual's location. We are asking about anonymous internet voice chat only.

 

[Limeoutsider]

Female
Computer wont support it
My parents are usually home, and they're obtrusive

 

[TKpervert]

Voice chat, "chat rooms" is not the real world.
Never was, never will be.

 

[desdemona]

I've been online since 1997 and a member of this site since 2001. I've had several occasions where I've been asked to voice chat with someone. Some I've declined, others I've taken up on the offer. Why chose some and not others? For me, there is often an instinct that tells me whether or not I want to puruse anything beyond a merely superficial "typing" relationship. First, the person must be polite and show some degree of intellect. Also, we must share some other common point of interest, otherwise conversation quickly lags (there's nothing like dead silence to "kill" a chat).

During my first live voice chat, I was admittedly nervous. I confess, I hate the sound of my voice (especially with the distortion of computer hardware). It's abrasive to my ears. So I don't naturally want to share this with others whom I've just met. But I've encountered considerate people with whom I've genuinely enjoyed chatting through the wee hours of the night. While this may not be to everyone's tsate (or sleep schedule), I have found a real sense of camaraderie that the web allows me to enjoy despite the geographical challenges.

I've never had a problem with voice chat other than hardware failure. I know there are probably some warnings/dangers of viruses/trojans or some other nastiness. But I guess I (naively) trust my antivirus software. As far as people go, I haven't had a bad encounter to date.

Things I don't like about people who ask to voice chat: Too pushy or too imposing/demanding right off the bat. Just like being bombarded with PC's can be too overwhelming, so can the requests for a live chat. And I don't necessarily want to voice chat with every single person who asks. But some just don't want to take no for an answer. And those who continue to ask after being told "not now" or "some other time" - well, it's bordering on being rude.

So, this is my two cents from the female side. How about other ladies? Good things/bad things? Warnings? Do you fit into one of the following categories:

1. hardware/software - no microphone or program necessary for voice?
2. surroundings - using a not so private computer?
3. personal reasons - too nervous/shy? don't trust the anonymity factor? spouse?
4. auditory vs. visual - prefer the written to the spoken word?
5. Others?

Ok...any response is greatly appreciated.

 

[TKpervert]

Chat rooms are a magnet for abberant personalities.
If that's what you want, go for it.

 

[CzyStv]

Gender: Male and loving it.

How do I feel about it? Whatever works for ya, but there's no way I'm going to spend three weeks re-writing drivers and IM protocols to talk to someone online. Plus I hate my voice, why let that be the impression I leave with someone?

 

[P50]

TKpervert wrote...
<I> Chat rooms are a magnet for abberant personalities. </I>

Yeah, I agree, aberrant personalities.

P50 wrote (in the first post)...
<I>"...participate in one-on-one voice chat..."</I>

This brings up a very good advantage of One-On-One voice chat; it has a very strong tendency to screen out various types of aberrants which one is likely to meet on the internet. Juxtaposing spoken and written verbal skills together with each other can give an individual a much better idea of the person on the other side.

For women especially, this is a useful screening tool. Reading the man's written sentences and then hearing his spoken voice in casual conversation, allows her to better identify an internet golden nutzo right off the bat.

 

[TKpervert]

Good thread P50.
ladies beware.

 

[Limeoutsider]

There are a few certain people in the chat room that, in their chat mannerisms, I would never consider pc'ing with, let alone voice chat.

 

[CzyStv]

There are a few certain people in the chat room that, in their chat mannerisms, I would never consider pc'ing with, let alone voice chat.

Damn, guess I came across a little to strongly then. Granted there are several regulars in the chat room and even more irregulars (on more than one level) that manage to creep me out, but not all of us are crazy. I think.

 

[TKpervert]

chat rooms blow period. end of discussion.

 

[P50]

Has anyone here actually participated in more than one instance of one-on-one voice chat across the internet (i.e., with two or more different individuals at two or more different times) and would you care to report your feelings and results that occured due to your experiences with voice-chat across your computer ?


Wait,,, that's confusing, let me try it like this,,,

If you have,,,

-1-
Done internet voice chat in a one-on-one event (for more than 5 minutes) with a single other individual, and,,,

-2-
Done number -1- more than just one time with one other person, then,,,,

-3-
Will you please report your experiences for us ?


Have they been good ? Bad ? Mixed ? Did you learn about the other person ? Did his/her spoken phrases tip you off to something you missed in writing ?