I came here because SL DID NOT have voice

LOL. Boys, meet Matron Linden. She will be knocking on your door very soon to help verify your um, credentials.

First off, get down off the cross, we need the wood. Secondly, how is preventing everybody from using a feature because you're disabled make it fair?

I honestly do not think that voice will become the standard for SL. I wrote about it on my Journal a while ago, and honestly, I have not heard anything to change my mind since then. There are

- too many people for whom it would be a show-stopper (roleplayers, the deaf, the shy, people whose English isn't very good);

- even more for whom it would be just not the best option (can't log chat, can't step away from the computer in case you miss something, can't carry on multiple conversations at once, annoying cats and kids and partners in the background);

- even more people than that who might think it's a good idea now but once voice spam and griefing appears will just not bother outside of a close circle of friends.

you of course have a valid point - However Liden Labs decided your concerns as well as any other concerns as worth ignoring to bring Voice to the grid.

I guess they have decided the Benefit outweighs you losing some or all of your SL enjoyment.

It is true some people who cant type will come along and "balance" your loss out - course that doesnt help you any.

If There became a no text wasteland theres some evidence that SL will become a similair place.

We will see.

But its pretty clear voice is coming, like it or not.

Hopefully it isnt as bad for you as you fear.

I think there will be enough of us non voice users that the feared death of texting will not come to be. A little rough road ahead, definitley. But to some extent, things affect us negatively because we let them.

Don't worry. There are still plenty of us who have no desire to use voice, for whatever reason. I can still hear and speak but I won't be using voice except for occasional novelty moments.

No doubt we'll find communities of people who use mostly voice and don't bother with typed chat, and communities of people who use mostly chat and can't or won't use voice to speak, and either can't or won't listen to others. I'll generally be in the latter category.

This is not much different from communities of people who speak different languages.

I hope it doesn't ruin your SL experience. My guess is that occasionally you'll feel left out on something you'd otherwise enjoy. Just as I've been in places where things were great fun only I don't speak Swedish (or whatever). And some kind souls were willing to translate some bits for me, but overall it was too much work to try to keep up, so I'm out.

In SL, deaf-mutes are far better off, in terms of the number of people they can communicate with, than folks who only speak obscure languages.

i agree. it's a good accessibility option for those who cannot type for more than a few seconds (if at all) for whatever reason (RSI, arthritis, etc.). disability options work both ways. at least SL is accessible to more people now, whatever the cultural ramifications in-world.

you only have to get Paltalk to realise that people choose to type even in communication software based upon voice. you generally get 2 or 3 people speaking while everybody else in the room types..stepping up to the mic when they have considerably more to say about what's being discussed. i don't think SL will be much different.

That's a fair point actually. Unreal Tournament 2004, which is the only game I have with voice-chat, has very few people using voice. Only really clans for whom voice is an advantage will tend to use it (likened to the businesses and classes in SL to whom it could be an advantage), the exception are minors who go around screaming obscenities they only dictionary definitions to and don't really understand, in annoyingly high-pitched voices while they try to team-kill on a no friendly-fire server. I just wish that feature weren't so buggy that turning it off doesn't seem to fully work.

One of the appeals of SL is how relatively un-chaotic it is when it comes to sound, as you only get a few places that really use it much beyond the odd wind-chime, running water or birds and such. Which is partly why people get so upset over players that use gestures too much, or use particularly loud ones. I like my peace-and-quiet, even in a club, all I want is the music feed and DJ comments, not the noise of everyone chatting (which coincidentally is something you can't do in a RL club anyway, a bonus for SL!)

Conundrum, there's another side of this to consider. There are intelligent people who simply can't communicate effectively in text. My son, for example -- when he was in 8th grade, he had a college level vocabulary but written skills of a 4th grader. Decoding text out of context, he had 1st grade ability, and comprehension of paragraphs, when given untimed tests, was upper high school level. In other words, he could compensate somewhat, but it was very fatiguing for him. And his spelling is still so bad that it's often hard to figure out what his notes mean.

And yet people who talk with him assume he's a college grad.

Why should SL discriminate against those who have disabilities using text?

SL shouldn't be in the game of deciding which mode of communications we prefer. It should preset us with options and allow us to choose.

I still feel that you will not be in the minority, using only chat. We'll see, though. If so, I'll be in that minority with you.

I went over "There" a little while ago. I watched that insipid intro video, and ran from my computer screaming. If there is even tha smallest chance Second life becomes that banal and juvenile, we are all doomed.

*Mind if I use that one?*

By all means

....I'm perfectly happy for you to exercise your vocal chords anywhere in SL that you wish to. I shall be quite smug in the knowledge that I, for one, have chosen not to hear them.

If you want to be as magnanimous as make a reciprocal and equivalent gesture of goodwill, how about disabling your fingers for a bit, so that you stop bothering our friends here who don't have my choice in such matters?

I'm sure that they can do without you, as much as you seem content to do without them

I'm actually starting to look forward to voice. I've gotten the voice software set just the way I like it. A perfect pixie voice.. high pitched enough that my dog howls, and it tends to change tember randomly also... will have great fun using it when people want me to verify I'm a pixie!!

Can't even complain I'm greifing, since I'm not making it too loud or saying nasty things.. it's just my voice! *giggles* *rubs hands together in glee*

I would reciprocate, but much like voice chat, typing is optional. And so I exercise my right to type here. So here is my retort.


No. And how am I as the OP bothering your friends? Because I don't think it fair that just because some people can't hear means the rest of us should be denied voice chat? That I pointed out that such a stance isn't fair to those who can not type, who have problems reading, or who have other disabilities which may cause them to have a hard time converting what they want to say into the written word? But maybe that's not it; maybe they're bothered because somebody spoke out against your "friends" from having carte blanche with the entitlements just because they chose to play the disability card? Yeah maybe that's what bothered them. Now then, what is bothering you? Did what I sense bruise your sense of political correctness? Or did it strike a nerve somewhere else? Or maybe, just maybe you thought you'd earn some brownie points by dropping on in to the thread picking the guy with a strong opinion and try dropping some big words to make yourself look cool? Is that it? I think so.

Like I had written on the first page, I'm not looking forward to voice. I'm deaf as well and I just love the idea that I can be in this community and not have to rely on being able to hear everyone. So now to make things worse, I'm just afraid I'm going to have to explain over and over again why I can't join in with everybody else at my favorite spots.

I'm not against it, I just *wish* that it wasn't coming out. If it gets to the point that everyone is using voice, I will most likely opt to leave SL.

It's not what you said, it was the way that you said it......or, if you will, typed it...

and i said 'our' friends.....

if i may reword that...

you of course have a valid point - However Lidne Labs decided (any member, or collective group of members) concerns as well as any other concerns as worth ignoring to bring (anything we generally dont want) to the grid (while doing whatever LL pleases, as long as its code fits on a post-it-note)

People seem to have coped with the existance of streaming audio as a feature in SL - even though people who aren't listening to the stream at a location might feel excluded if people are chatting about the music.

Voice is going to be a huge pain in the arse for groups - text chat is much better suited to busy locations. If the experience is generally lame, people won't use it. If you think people are using it to exclude you (intentionally, or through thougtlessness), then either say so, or find new people to hang out with.

I think the decision to add the voice component to Second Life is a no brainer. Despite the opposition, there are a great many who welcome it, for a variety of reasons. Aside from the potential for corporate use, I think it might also provide options for live music performers who for whatever reason can't use the traditional streaming methods.

I believe, with all due respect to the OP, that the idea that there shouldn't be voice in Second Life because there are hearing impaired folks who can't use it is silly. Just a tad south of saying "we have blind people in the world who can't use Second Life at all, so we should just shut the platform down".

The community will adapt and accomodate, of this I'm sure.

And hey, anything that sticks it to the big telcos is a good thing in my opinion. Pretty soon, I won't be using my telephone to talk to my dad in Ohio. The distance between California and Ohio will simply vanish, and my long distance company won't get a dime.

I've been reading these forums for quite a while, and find them very informative in most respects....and sometimes amusing. This is my first post, though. I would like to add my "voice" to the voice debate. I personally will very rarely, if ever, use voice to communicate in SL. I'm in-world, usually, with RL husband who is my SL partner, so can hear his voice anytime. We also have children, and I don't feel as though talking into the computer is a good idea when they're around. I don't think voice is a bad idea, and has tons of uses, but I have no plans to use it anytime soon. I'm hoping that doesn't mean I'm left out of things, but I can't see if working very well at my favorite places, anyway.

LOL considering the amount of tech issues SL has already introducing yet more tech can't be a good thing.

Ya. That is about the most insensitive thing you could have said about this subject, so kudos to you for being honest with everyone. Newsflash: there still is no voice, and never has been. You can't give up what you never had in the first place, genius.

BTW: The sensitivity you've displayed here works wonders to convince the people you are so arrogantly turning your nose up to that they will not be alienated for not using voice. Keep it up. There's something to be said about someone who knew he was a idiot early enough to warn others and yet still failed to prevent himself from being one.

I can only hope that one day you're in the minority somewhere and being relegated to a predesignated corner because everyone else was too selfish to compromise. But can you answer a question for me please? Will you be heard (in voice chat) three months from now whining about how LL has sold out you and the rest of it's core audience to cater to the whims and needs of big business? I just might buy a headset after all. I'd like to be there for that.

If you had a problem not being able to run your mouth in an audio chat room all this time, that's your problem. Because there was an easy fix. Don't play SL. Now how's about you run back to the principals office and see if he got your lunch money back from that big kid at school, cause "Internet Tough Guy Hour" is over.

Hey glad to see you could hop off your pole long enough to join the conversation. Don't know if you've actually been keeping up with the conversation but voice is in beta now. Will be here in theory at the end of the month. But hey, you must be busy working in the clubs and what not.





I'm going to ignore most of this once since you obviously didn't read the whole thread. But hey that's cool. Oh and by the way (see how I'm not lazy by typing out all three words), it is "an idiot". When calling somebody an idiot you may want to get that grammar part down or else you look like a tool. Also, I may have been an asshole in my posts but I didn't have to resort to name calling. But since you started it.




Most of the time I am in the minority but I guess I'll just let you continue making those cute little assumptions. Also, I encourage big business to come in. It might cull the number of strippers and hookers.....but hey....that may be why you're against it.





No, never had a problem running my mouth anywhere but thanks for asking. Here is an easy fix for you though, don't like what I am saying? Don't read it. Not entirely too hard is it? Much like voice in SL, it's optional. The Internet Tough Guy line was cute though, are you the new E-Police? Gonna come on down and bust my chops with some unorginal name calling and posturing? Color me impressed. </yawn>

Kascha:

Such a brilliant display of humanity on your part, I felt inclined to return your dazzling and witty commentaries, personally. Your concern for the future of Second Life was heartwarming, and ever so gallant. It is a rare, precious, moment when someone is so gracious as to feel the need for a grandiose extension of compassion towards the other people around them.

This is a fine moment indeed, showing me in vast amounts what sort of person you really are. To complain about someone's level of "sensitivity" and then to call names? This is America. Tybalt has the right to feel/think/believe however he chooses. Everyone does. It brings a light of humbleness to mine heart knowing that your kind really do exist, and are alive and well in the world. No one else cared to the multitudinal degree you have, to come forth with such an wondrous solutions to the engaging situation. Bah!

By the way, what IS your solution? Telling someone to "leave" a game for their opinion? If everyone with an opinion were to leave Second Life the only thing left would be you, a pole and a handful of people with little or no comprehension of what actually IS going on. Enjoy. I hope they are excellent tippers.

Envision: a game. A game that is fun and enjoyable for those that play in it. It is a game, isn't it?

I wonder, because I am friends with a deaf person, if you would like to "hear" from them? Why would Second Life be LESS enjoyable for deaf individuals if we have chat on a GAME? What happens in a movie theater? In life? Are you the elected advocate for the hearing impaired? Just like when you buy/rent a DVD you have options. Options to have closed captioning, or to turn it off.

I exercise my right to my alloted options.