Voice chat...I refuse to use it...am I a terrible person?
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Royce Boa
RAGE: President
Join date: 1 Apr 2007
Posts: 260
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09-14-2007 08:55
Firstly, I want to say that I think voice chat is a great feature for those of us that want to use it. I know a lot of people come into Second Life exclusively to sit around in thier favorite place and voice chat all night long with their friends, and this is wonderful. I also know a few close friends who have found real world love in Second Life, and voice chat has been a god send for them. I happen to be someone who never uses voice chat, and I probably never will. This is because I am in Second Life mainly to role play. I did not create my avatar in my image at all. I came into Second Life wanting to create a character that I would "play" in the Metaverse. Royce is a strong girl. She's what I am inside, but lack the self confidence to show in real life. She's also what I find attractive in women and men wrapped up into one. She's basically a fantasy character even to me. I could never properly portray Royce as this character using my voice and my way of talking. I sound like Mini Mouse with a stutter, and I'm also intimidated by microphones, so my delivery would be horrendous.  To me, this was what attracted me to Second Life. The imagination and pretend element of it. Obviously, when I get to know someone, I open up a bit about my real life. But I try to keep it in IM's and not as a part of my Second Life persona. My question is, does this somehow make me a bad and shady person in Second Life? I sometimes feel like I am the odd one out when everyone is standing around voice chatting, and I'm not even listening to them. I really don't like turning voice on, because it ruins the mood that I'm trying to create for myself (and for other people too). I turned it on once just to listen in, and it was the weirdest thing to hear "ordinary" person voices attached to these "extra-ordinary" characters I'd been interacting with for months. I had created voices for these people in my head, like when you read a book, and I was disappointed when their real voices were nothing like the ones I had made for them. I also think that voice has no place in official role play sims. It just becomes too tempting to sit around and talk out of character, and there's nothing sillier than hearing someone explaining what they are doing with you in context to the game with their "normal person" voice, especially in a fantasy scenario. It just becomes silly. Anyways...I know I just ranted a bit here, but I want to know what some of you think about this. Specifically... 1. How do you feel about people who flat out refuse to use voice chat? Does it raise questions of trust with you? 2. Do you think voice chat should be kept out of role play sims, or do you think it can add to the experience? Thanks everyone!
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Oryx Tempel
Registered User
Join date: 8 Nov 2006
Posts: 7,663
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09-14-2007 08:58
I think you're preaching to the converted for the most part here. From what I've seen, or think I can see, most of the people that hang out in the forums are pretty anti-voice. Obviously that's not to say that voice is bad, or wrong, but many people agree with you and choose to keep SL a place of the imagination. Besides, I'd rather listen to the streaming music. 
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Colette Meiji
Registered User
Join date: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 15,556
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09-14-2007 09:00
Im still using the pre-voice client.
So I guess I wont judge you for not wanting to voice.
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Denise Bonetto
Registered User
Join date: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 705
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09-14-2007 09:07
From: Colette Meiji Im still using the pre-voice client.
So I guess I wont judge you for not wanting to voice. Same here, I haven't updated my client. I also don't even own a microphone.
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Cristalle Karami
Lady of the House
Join date: 4 Dec 2006
Posts: 6,222
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09-14-2007 09:09
I smell glue...
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Natalie Paderborn
Registered User
Join date: 25 Dec 2006
Posts: 17
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09-14-2007 09:11
I don't use voice because it's not supported under the Linux client. It hasn't really effected my SL experience, though, as most people seem to be using voice for one-to-one chats, and it's just easier to carry on multiple IMs via text. I do miss the old tabbed IM window, though...
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Mereille Despres
Registered User
Join date: 5 Sep 2007
Posts: 79
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09-14-2007 09:12
I won't voice chat either. It isn't for RP or anything. But I do imagine a voice based on the avatar. I don't want the real voice ruining my image.  Plus, a good friend of mine is a paul bunyon looking 6-2, 290 lbs, and always uses female avatars in online games. I played WoW while using ventrilo, and just couldn't do it. His gravelly voice coming out of a female elf avatar...too funny! I haven't used voice since.
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Colette Meiji
Registered User
Join date: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 15,556
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09-14-2007 09:14
From: Cristalle Karami I smell glue... I think the glue has been sold, and even used already. Thats phantom Glue you are smelling.
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Sunni Jewell
Who said so?
Join date: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 748
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09-14-2007 09:18
People use voice chat in SL?...j/k I've downloaded the new viewer, but never ran through the voice wizard and don't even have a headset or microphone. It just has no place in what I'm in SL to do. I don't know whether or not people can tell that I do or don't have the voice wizard downloaded, and don't really care. No one has said anything, so I just assume that the "majority" of avatars aren't using it. So, I don't feel as though I'm missing anything and truthfully, I forget it even exists in SL most of the time.
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Bodie Bosch
Mad Mad Mad Science!
Join date: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 56
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09-14-2007 09:21
From: Royce Boa 1. How do you feel about people who flat out refuse to use voice chat? Does it raise questions of trust with you? 2. Do you think voice chat should be kept out of role play sims, or do you think it can add to the experience?
1) Not at all. It is a choice like any other and it's silly to argue them when they are intristically personal. It's how you fly. I fly with voice but will slow down to chat in text to the "voiceless" out of courtesy and fun. :3 2)It can add to the experience. I am a bunny that walks on two legs. As such? I have a perfect voice mod (technically, Audio DSP that does realtime work before recorded and transmitted into SL) that allows me to pull off the act of looking *and* sounding like....well, a bunny. Your mileage may vary depending on computer power/hardware prowess, etc. Again, subjective and to each their own in this regard. Cheers, and good luck!
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Oryx Tempel
Registered User
Join date: 8 Nov 2006
Posts: 7,663
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09-14-2007 09:21
From: Sunni Jewell I forget it even exists in SL most of the time. Hehe me too! I deleted my entire cache folder last night after I logged out, and when I relogged this morning briefly, I was sort of startled to be asked about voice setup. I was like, "oh yeah, I forgot about voice!"
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Elora Lunasea
Mrs. Llama
Join date: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 4,828
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09-14-2007 09:26
I'm not fond of it either. Last night, I went to a lecture. It was pretty annoying actually. Between having to wait for each person to log into voice, figure out how to use it (myself included), having to listen to the stuttering of the person giving the lecture (voice clearing, etc.) I just found it to be something I can do without. Plus, I couldn't hear The Daily Show 
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Brenda Connolly
Un United Avatar
Join date: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 25,000
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09-14-2007 09:27
i finally had my first experience with being asked to voice the othernight. It was in an RP scene, where it sometimes can lead to "Adult" behavior. It turns out the person really was more interested in the cybering rather than the RP, and kept preaching the virtues of voice, as I continually told him i wasn't interested. We finished up, he asked if we met again that I have voice installed. I chuckled and left. Fat Chance buddy.
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Brenda Connolly
Un United Avatar
Join date: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 25,000
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09-14-2007 09:27
From: Elora Lunasea I'm not fond of it either. Last night, I went to a lecture. It was pretty annoying actually. Between having to wait for each person to log into voice, figure out how to use it (myself included), having to listen to the stuttering of the person giving the lecture (voice clearing, etc.) I just found it to be something I can do without. Plus, I couldn't hear The Daily Show  /me loves Jon Stewart
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Finora Kuncoro
Impish Stoic
Join date: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 213
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09-14-2007 09:27
1. I respect a persons choice to use not use voice. It does not raise any issues of trust for me.
2. I think that choice should be up to the organizers of the RP. Some RP may be better placed to use voice, some not.
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Kalderi Tomsen
Nomad Extraordinaire!
Join date: 10 May 2007
Posts: 888
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09-14-2007 09:28
Like the OP I have decided not to do voice, for similar sorts of reasons. I thought that when voice came onto the main grid I would have people constantly pressuring me to use it, but I am pleased to say that with one notable exception, they have completely respected my wishes.
I hope it continues this way, and that there will always remain a niche in SL for the "playing a different role"-type citizen.
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Royce Boa
RAGE: President
Join date: 1 Apr 2007
Posts: 260
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09-14-2007 09:30
From: Bodie Bosch 1) Not at all. It is a choice like any other and it's silly to argue them when they are intristically personal. It's how you fly. I fly with voice but will slow down to chat in text to the "voiceless" out of courtesy and fun. :3 2)It can add to the experience. I am a bunny that walks on two legs. As such? I have a perfect voice mod (technically, Audio DSP that does realtime work before recorded and transmitted into SL) that allows me to pull off the act of looking *and* sounding like....well, a bunny. Your mileage may vary depending on computer power/hardware prowess, etc. Again, subjective and to each their own in this regard. Cheers, and good luck! I would love to hear that actually.  That's pretty creative. I was wondering how my animal friends were handling voice chat if they wanted to use it.
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Wulfric Chevalier
Give me a Fish!!!!
Join date: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 947
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09-14-2007 09:34
I use voice, although not very much. I cannot think of any reason why someone who cannot, or chooses not, to use voice should in any way be seen as "a terrible person". It is entirely up to you how you choose to play, and if other people don't like that, then don't play with them.
The one thing that can cause difficulties is when some people are on voice and others don't even have it enabled, which I think means they don't even hear the voices? (it was certainly that way in early versions of voice). The problem then is it forces the voicers to use the keyboard, which is the same situation but the other way round.
In RP, it can both help and hinder. I know someone who DJs at a tiny club, using a voice changer that makes him sound high pitched and it fits his AV. On the other hand if your AV is a different gender/species voice could ruin the illusion.
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Bodie Bosch
Mad Mad Mad Science!
Join date: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 56
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09-14-2007 10:00
From: Royce Boa I would love to hear that actually.  That's pretty creative. I was wondering how my animal friends were handling voice chat if they wanted to use it. Creative indeed since I am male IRL. ;3 Spooks alot of people out apparently...
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Victorria Paine
Sleepless in Wherever
Join date: 13 Jul 2007
Posts: 1,110
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09-14-2007 10:08
From: Royce Boa
1. How do you feel about people who flat out refuse to use voice chat? Does it raise questions of trust with you?
2. Do you think voice chat should be kept out of role play sims, or do you think it can add to the experience?
Thanks everyone!
To each her own is my view. I do not use voice, primarily because it pierces the veil between RL and SL by (1) injecting the RL voices (and background chatter like TVs, screaming kids and the like) into my SL experience and (2) injecting my SL interactions (which are otherwise silent to anyone else in my vicinity in the house) into my RL environment, which I do not want most of the time. I do not think voice is an issue of trust at all -- that mainly comes up with men who are interested in picking up female AVs for sex but are terrified at the thought of a male typist being behind the avatar. I personally think that text-based roleplaying is a step forward from face-to-face or voice-based roleplaying, because text allows for (1) more studied, prepared responses, (2) creation of more atmosphere and (3) people to RP who have so-so or worse voice acting skills. I also prefer text based communication because it is inherently better for multitasking. Ever try to have two voice conversations going on at the same time? I would think not. However, in text you can have many simultaneous conversations at the same time, if you are adept at juggling a bit. Again, I think text is a pretty advanced communication medium and is very well suited to an environment like SL, but I know that the voicers will disagree with that due to the time that it takes to type.
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Travis Lambert
White dog, red collar
Join date: 3 Jun 2004
Posts: 2,819
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09-14-2007 10:24
From: Royce Boa I sometimes feel like I am the odd one out when everyone is standing around voice chatting, and I'm not even listening to them. This is the exact reason why I was concerned about voice when it was first implemented, and why we've restricted voice chat at the Shelter to sub-parcels only. While in theory its possible to multitask, and pay attention to both voice & text chat - in practice, this isn't what happens. Text chat is & should be the lingua franca of SL, because you can always guarantee that everyone has it enabled at the minimum.
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Lindal Kidd
Dances With Noobs
Join date: 26 Jun 2007
Posts: 8,371
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09-14-2007 10:30
I've got a new text-to-speech tool that I'm experimenting with. Can't wait to see how the voicers react to that one. 
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Chaffro Schoonmaker
Funny Bunny
Join date: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 137
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09-14-2007 10:36
I don't use Voice in SL and I work as a broadcaster in RL!
I don't know my reasons for not using it. Maybe I get so sick of the sound of my own voice every day that I wouldn't want anyone else to have to suffer. However, sometimes my sharp wit and quick thinking of punchlines to conversations and questions is let down by inability to quickly write a sentence without making a typo.
Personally, I think that since its introduction, SL has performed a hell of a lot worse since Voice came about. Whether its related, I don't know, nor am I pinning general SL-performance issues on the introduction of the service...just a personal observation. And a hell of a coincidence, I'm sure.
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Avion Raymaker
Palacio del Emperador!
Join date: 18 Jun 2007
Posts: 980
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09-14-2007 10:39
From: Royce Boa
2. Do you think voice chat should be kept out of role play sims, or do you think it can add to the experience?
Thanks everyone!
I believe it can add to the experience: you sort of get to know the other avatars better. But in my opinion, the roleplay itself all goes completely to hell. People are so fixated on being cool, or not being uncool, that the focus of the roleplay gets totally lost. The avatars, looking so deadly serious in their costumes, become ridiculous with all the "clever" banter going on. So, as others have said, it's up to the roleplayer. There's no real "should" here. -Avion
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Cristalle Karami
Lady of the House
Join date: 4 Dec 2006
Posts: 6,222
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09-14-2007 10:42
I like voice, but I don't use it very much. Ruins music in clubs to hear people talking over it. As such, I disabled voice in my club. Good for helping to explain things faster. It puts more of a "human face" on a person to hear their voice, makes me a little less judgmental about them.  It is annoying when people don't know how to use it - taking the time to set up and explain is a pain in the ass.
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