Voice usage

I am with a group of builders working on a quite big project. We usually use voice for our meetings and other communications. Some members of our group chose not to use it, so they listen and reply in chat. We fully accept their choice and there isn't a problem with that at all. They don't feel excluded or something like that. In fact, our main builder is a non-voicer. The same applies when a voicing member is temporarely unable to talk (noise at home, kid sleeping, headset broken, different PC...) - we just read their chat and answer. What is the big deal with that? I don't see a problem.

However we had issues with some people who refused to *listen* although there was no technical or medical reason for not listening and answering in chat. Sadly they eventually left the group.

Well might be like me could not listen on speakers due to others hearing. Headphones out as I would draw attention wearing them.
Love
June

There are many advantages to voice in SL. Performances (theatre , poetry and storytellers, comedy acts, classes to name just a few!) and well as small get-togethers with friends. Large groups are sometimes too confusing though, especially if there's music streaming.

But no one is forced to voice. I'm quite comfortable either way. I always have it activated, but I'm muted in crowds, or I mute voice myself (such as in clubs). I speak to my partner in voice while we are out and about, but either in private chat or through Skype instead. It's just handier that way.

There should be classes on how-tos and voice etiquette though. I have talked many people through voice problems through my work with Act Up Theatre Company. No one,,, I mean NO ONE should go around using voice through their SPEAKERS. All everyone else hears is echo. Of course the offender doesn't hear this part, so they think all is well. Please Please, invest in a headset with nice ear hugging earpieces.

And to the OP: The reason you didn't see anyone with voice activated is because you can't see the dots unless you are activated yourself.

I happen to not be a 'dot-head' its my choice, and I dont need to see other 'dot-heads' so I dont bother to activate voice.

Darned kids never listen. =^-^=

The last time I was in a "business meeting" where they insisted on my at least listening with Voice, here's what happened:

I don't do Voice. Too high an ambient noise level in the room, with my kid and/or my mate watching TV or playing music in the same room. Not to mention a barking dog and other distracting noises. I set myself up so I could hear their voice chat on my computer's speakers, and I typed my replies. Two others in the group were set up similarly, 4 others were trying to talk instead of type, but were reading typed chat and replying via voice.

One female at the meeting was outed by her attempt to use Voice as being male in real life, for no one's benefit. She had been quite believable before that as a female, and I haven't seen her again since that meeting. As far as I have been able to tell, she left SL shortly after that.

One user was consistently too loud or overmodulated, and therefore hard to hear.

One user was so soft voiced that she was almost always impossible to hear, unless you were standing right by her shoulder.

Two others were unintelligible, no mater what they did.

5 minutes into the meeting, we reverted to all typed chat, and abandoned using Voice for the rest of the meeting. We had to cover all the original talk all over again, because a lot of critical points in the first part were lost or garbled.

Net result? The first part of the meeting was a shambles, and one person was outed as cross-gender for no good reason.

Personally, I greatly prefer text chat for a meeting. Everyone has full transcripts of exactly what was said and by whom, and what was agreed to. No misunderstandings. In Voice, there's no way to record or transcribe the conversation, or to identify who is speaking.

OK, I will admit that I voice sometimes but I'm really shy about it. Its not a big deal, but when I was younger, I lost part of my hearing in one ear. So I think my voice is a bit different than most. I don't have a headset but I use a mic which means I'm at a bit of a disadvantage jumping into a conversation with people. So I don't walk around with the dot on.

Now comes the part that is going to draw a lot of critizim. I use it to prove I'm a girl. I find that in some situation I get treated better if I voice rather than not. Even if I say a few word, some guys feel comfortable treating me like a woman. I don't do it just to prove I'm a girl to everyone, thats not the point but as an example. When I started sometime back, I was asked to help manage a SIM. I found out by accident that peoples attitude towards me changed when I voiced. No more cursing or swearing at me about things. Even afterward, if someone is aware I was a girl, there manners elevated.

Sad I know, but true!

JulieAnne

What she said.

Or a housemate who doesn't want to listen to you talk into a mic while she's watching a movie.

Or maybe you stutter and don't want the world to know. Or hell, you might really hate your own voice. Whatever the reason, it's lame to force anyone into using voice if they're anti voice.

I have only used it twice since its inception.

1st..I was asked to and was greeted by a child's voice in reply to my question. Click off and ban.

2nd...I was asked to and was promptly told that I sounded like a "superannuated Prince Charles" not exactly like that but you get my drift.Click off and banned myself.

The technical difficulties are a matter of experience. Unless one person is absolutely unable to listen (a good headset that blocks outside noise is 5 bucks), why everyone should be forced to write, if talking is possible?

Oh cross-gender... In our group we have a guy with a female avatar as well who always uses voice. When we first heard him it was funny for a few minutes but soon everyone got used to it. Now I couldn't even imagine him with a male avatar anymore. That is him, and his character he chose, I can't see a problem with that. I am a cat and still I don't meow in the mic. Hey this is SL.



I heard that a gazillion times. People have held "voice meetings" since human language exists. Text has always been a replacement for sitations where talking was impossible, not the other way round.

About transcripts... Writing a summary is less time consuming than typing for an hour to get a meeting done that could be finished in half of the time if voice was used by at least some of the participants.

So... Where should we non-voicers go? (o.o)

I don't wanna go... I like it here. (>_<

I wont use voice - so there are two of us, Imnot. It's really a question of choice innit? I dont feel comfortable with other people's voices on my speaker system - it doesn't "work". Often I have music on (a mix of classical and rock) so headphones with stranger's voices in my intimacy and my house dont create an ambience I enjoy. I really came on to sl before the innvovation arrived and I don't miss it.

The second choice is one of preference with my partner. He is definitely a man but prefers NOT to use voice. This is for anonymity's sake. I understand why. It is the very same for me and I am a woman.

Some may doubt our claims but SOME of us in sl do have to shield our voices for our own sakes. Once a partnership is established, even for two years (like my own) the trust evolves from teh silence and the consistency of what we accept as "normal" for ourselves.
Our pre-nup also included NEVER meeting each other, never attempting to seek teh other's homes and work-related events.

I wont be bullied into using voice (or webcam) - let others doubt myself, my sex or my intentions. It is of no consequence to me. Sl's original silent world is more magical without the crassness of voice and interruptions by real humans. Humans always think they "know" better - avatars may LOOK human but we know our minds are made of different star dust.

Not only do I not like voice in SL.. I was here before it and don't need it... Also I am a local radio air talent.. We have a large coverage in the state so my voice would be recognized easily and then everyone would know my RL.. To me that's just not worth it. I have enough issues with people coming up to me wanting radio giveaways when I am out trying to enjoy a meal etc..

Taylor you said it and I didnt, but that is (obviously, I guess) the reason why I don't use voice - mine is also in your voice "category". Silence is golden in sl for me.

For someone that uses their Voice for a living and a community wide spread as SL it can be real intrusive on RL. Just a few weeks ago I met someone that lives maybe 5 miles from me. And this is someone I really wouldn't want in my RL.

There ya go!

I completely understand why many people can't/don't want to use voice. My endorsement of it and good experiences with it weren't intended to pressure anyone into rushing out and getting a headset ZOMGWTFBBQ right now. It's your SL; play how you will. It's just that for me, even the simple act of playing Greedy has been positively enhanced by voice.

I came into SL three years ago yesterday. I remember life before P2P teleporting, flexi, widespread camping, etc. I consider voice to be among the better additions to the virtual world. Just last night it helped me to plan a wedding.

Morgan I don't think it's an issue of why people "Do" use voice.. more of why People don't.. You get the oh it's really a man, woman, kid.. People assume all the wrong things when someone doesn't use it not when they do..

no one needs a reason, its a simple choice. If someone cant live with my choice, so be it, you wont change my mind.... this back and forth is rediculous.

Actually, there is truth to this. I've felt like I was a part of a witch hunt because I don't use voice. People HAVE pressured me inworld to use voice, especially as I'm a DJ at various venues.

I simply don't like voice. I talk all day at real life work. I don't want to talk all night on SL, too. Hell, I don't even like talking on the phone, so why would I enjoy talking on a headset in a "game" that is meant (for me) to be pure fantasy?

It's such a small issue in essence, and people on both sides blow it up into some sort of moral/philosophical debate, some of the threads we had when it was first introduced were monumental in their sense of righteousness and indignation, one person called non voicers "morally reprehensible".

"Morally reprehensible"? That's a tad freakish to say about something so small as voice. I wouldn't even call ad farmers "morally reprehensible."

QFT

Why make a big deal about it one way or the other? Type/Talk/Read/Listen either way the message gets across.

Just "morally bankrupt"