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Original poster

Does anyone else find this new group family chat thing difficult?

24 replies

fartyface · 29/03/2020 22:31

I am not exactly the world best phone conversationalist which I am fine with, but this is a new circle of hell. My family no love a video call where everyone talks over each other and criticises how I hold my phone - too close, not close enough, I'm not looking at thr camera, am I watching telly?

All I want to do is watch telly and have a gin once my kids are in bed.

(I am perfectly capable at it for work BTW but the calls are structured and people much less critical)

Urg how am I going to get through months mor of this?

OP posts:

Fishcakey · 29/03/2020 22:32

It's hell.

Original poster

fartyface · 29/03/2020 22:34

Oh thank you fish.
Can we be family?
Of the non speaking variety. Just an occasional text?

OP posts:

Laurendelight · 29/03/2020 22:40

I feel your pain. It’s been a week just 7 days and I’ve had invites to party app, zoom and Skype. I’m sorry but I don’t want to join your dancing in the kitchen, club exercise, your super fun quiz night, singing or board games!!! Just leave us alone until we get so bored we might change our minds. I’m quite liking the peace from people.

Cherrysoup · 29/03/2020 22:43

I endured a 4 way family video call last night. One family member clearly could not be arsed. Nor could I, it was feeding time at the zoo, I was trying to feed the pets, help with dinner. I can only hope this isn’t regular! My phone is generally on silent so I missed her call the first time. I am going to pretend I didn’t see the call coming in.

Original poster

fartyface · 29/03/2020 22:44

Oh yes all of these things.
I don't want to do any of them.
I was even bored tonight and still no.
Bleugh.

OP posts:

OhNoNoNoNotThatOne · 29/03/2020 22:47

We're only used to it as my brother moved to the states 3 years ago so we've had weekly video calls to catch up etc.

It was really hard to start with, the first few calls, I'd probably say 2 months worth, we're hellish, but after that we kind of settled into a groove, also helps that we send messages back and forth throughout the week, so when it comes to the weekly call we've all got things we want to catch each other up on in more detail.

We also in the beginning did a "spirit stick" like in bring it on? Where one person gives an over view and no one else can interrupt, when they finish we comment, felt very formal but it worked.

Shockers · 29/03/2020 22:50

I hate FaceTime as it is. If they start doing it en masse, I might just drop my phone down the loo...

Talisin · 29/03/2020 23:01

Tape som

Talisin · 29/03/2020 23:02

Try that again... Tape something over the camera and tell them it’s broken - you can only do audio.

Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons · 29/03/2020 23:05

Fortunately I don’t have much family! Once a week scheduled with my mother is horrifying enough.
My kids love multi-way Skype with their friends though

Samtsirch · 29/03/2020 23:10

@Talisin
That is hilarious 😂

TurnTheScrew · 29/03/2020 23:41

Not FaceTiming, but every evening I’m phoning my 84yo DM who is isolating alone.
It is so boring. No one has been anywhere, no one has done anything so we’ve nothing to talk about but she’s been alone all day.and wants some contact.

CorianderLord · 30/03/2020 00:34

I hate video chats, I'm a great chatter in person but just HATE the phone. I have my family all calling me and friends now we're in lockdown. GO AWAY

DramaAlpaca · 30/03/2020 00:35

Oh god no, I couldn't be doing with video calls. We stick to WhatsApp chats.

MrsCastiel · 30/03/2020 00:47

So far I've only been facilitating video chats between my youngest and my neice (they adore each other and are really struggling with not seeing each other, he's 7 she's 3)

I have managed to avoid the group video chat so far, it has been mentioned in both my family chat groups.

I look hideous on the camera and once 6pm has gone my bra is off. I'm not at my most glam.

I wouldn't mind but I never phone people as it is, with the exception of my mum a few times a week and my nan a couple of times a month. Why on earth do I now need to do a conference call with my aunts, uncles and cousins ffs.

I'm apart from my OH, we life seperately and both have asthma so we are being super strict. We were due to be moving in together at the end of the year, but that all hangs on an extension being built in his place to accommodate us. I miss him terribly but even he isn't getting a video call from me. Sod that 😂

All I have to talk about is anything the pets have done and how much laundry I've done.

CtrlU · 30/03/2020 00:53

Thought it was just me. I HATE video calls and my work team insist on doing one every other day to see how we’re coping. I mean it’s nice but F*ck off...

Now my family have insisted on downloading video chat apps so we can all have group chats.

I don’t even like talking on the phone. I’m more a face to face person.

I can’t wait for lockdown to be over to start talking face to face.

AnyFucker · 30/03/2020 00:55

I have found my people

I wish folk would bloody leave it. I think if I had to be isolated, it should have been in the 1970's

OvaryBovary · 30/03/2020 00:56

My dad has discovered video chat. . Now instead of a no news, two line text each day I get to have a no news chat with his eyebrows and the feet on the painting on his wall. And I am quite happy with the current in law arrangement of half a day every six to eight weeks, thanks. I don't need a weekly family bingo club.

Furthermore, who are all these friends who want to set up a weekly catch up? I haven't heard from one lot in three years and now we're suddenly doing a house party. Fucking hell. I don't even want to do the weekly chat my two best friends have concocted. Thank God I have a job that means I can pretend to have evening work calls so I don't have to do all of them.

I can't wait until social distancing is over and I can go back to ignoring people.

givemeacall · 30/03/2020 00:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsCastiel · 30/03/2020 01:03

I can't wait until social distancing is over and I can go back to ignoring people.

Original poster

fartyface · 30/03/2020 08:08

The problem is that it is very hard to come up with reasons you can't do this as they know my kids are in bed at that point and don't care about my work. Arg.

OP posts:

DinosApple · 30/03/2020 08:35

I video called my mum yesterday.

She was weeble like and triangular thanks to holding the phone in front of her norks. I thought this was hilarious, until I realised that I looked like Ross Noble on a bad day when looking directly at the camera (even DH thought so), and a very chinny and nosey Sherlock Holmes when to the side.

Never again will I laugh at people posing for the best shot, filters or selfie sticks!

Once a week is more than enough!

Shinyfloors · 30/03/2020 08:45

This thread has made me laugh so much thank you, introverts unite! (quietly alone of course)

Blobby10 · 30/03/2020 09:16

Another one here hating it! I just 'accidentally' press the red button and 'forget' to call back . I hate video calls at the best of times and was quite happy only hearing from my family every few weeks. My issues are compounded as I'm the only one still working/not wfh so they assume I have oodles of time to 'chat' especially my mother!

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