Am I the only one who hasn't done social Zoom calls

[HallFloor]

Or face time or any of the other ways to "see" people?

I've spoken to my parents and my sister. I have a good friend, who lives away, I've called and shared a few drinks with, but we haven't felt the need for video calls, we've just used the phone!

In meetings I turn the camera off unless I really can't avoid it, what do you gain from "seeing" people you can't be with over talking to them?

I did one at the height of lockdown for a relatives "big" birthday.

I hate talking on the phone. I hate seeing myself on screen.

I only use them as a continuation after the Brownies session to continue a group conversation with the other leaders.
One of the leaders did a murder mystery party which wirjed quite well. It functions where there is some kind of structure. It's shit for general conversation.

DM doesn't even have a mobile phone since her 2005 clamshell died.

The only times I’ve used zoom are for school parents evening,one quiz with my husband’s work, and to see my therapist 😂 went out for dinner with two old friends over the summer and they were going on about how they were sick of zooming ALLLLL the time and I was like, I would just have liked to have someone to zoom 😁

I have to use Zoom / Teams for work. I hate them. I have absolutely no desire to use them for any other purpose.

I bloody hate all video calls, but it's now impossible to avoid them! I'm not currently working, so don't have to suffer endless zoom meetings, but DH and his family have gone mad with them over lockdown.

He has weekly video calls with his sister, vwhich go on for over 2 hours, most weeks with his brother (separate calls) and last night he had a call with both of them from 9.30 until 11.45. Sometimes calls with his brother and nieces too. It's been a hard year, as we've obviously not been able to see his family in Ireland, but I don't understand why the calls have to to take up the whole evening, on a weekly basis. I'm starting to worry that Christmas day will consist of hours of video calls, with us having to stare at a laptop screen all day....don't get me wrong, I love my in-laws, but not staring at them for 2 hours at a time.

I hate video calls
Can’t bear seeing my face, I know you can flip it
Actually haven’t called anyone, video or otherwise

Not the only one OP. Granted I am out of work due to serious illness so no requirement for work zoom meetings etc if that's a factor. I've literally never used zoom, and have never had a video call of any kind in my life, during the pandemic or otherwise. I would be actively displeased if I had to and would seek to avoid it.

I use Teams for work (zoom rarely) and I actually like using it but we often turn videos off so it's just a group telephone call.

Don't use them personally. I talk to my mum and kids the old fashioned way, and other friends mainly on social media or by email.

It's not that I want to be able to 'see' people, but the advantage of zoom compared to the phone is that you can involve more people. So for example if DH and I do a zoom call with friends, all of us can take part in the same conversation together, rather than passing the phone from person to person.

My family and few friends are all in Sweden. No Zooming going on at all. My friends and I are all (slightly awkward) introverts who keep in touch with texts or WhatsApp messages rather than calls or Zoom. Neither of us use FB either.

DM and DF don't have computers or smart phones so DM and I speak using a traditional good old landline every day.

I haven’t. My mum keeps asking me too but I can’t bear it.

Nope, we have used zoom (or similar) purely for work/medical reasons.

Dd1 had the option to take part in social groups (specialized youth groups that she would normally attend in person) but she hasn't bothered as she doesn't like video chats.

Nope. I did briefly attend one for a friend's birthday but my connection was awful for some reason and it was unbearable. Couldn't tell if other people could hear/see me or not half the time and it really triggered all my anxieties about myself and my social skills. All those terrible pauses after you've said something and nobody is reacting.

No, phone calls only for me and then only to family. I meet a friend outside or in a coffee shop. Another friend refuses to meet me at all and asks for zoom or a call but I need face to face interactions. Really don't need any more calls.

I have my weekly music lesson via Zoom. It's not ideal as my teacher needs to be able to hear clearly what I'm playing and the sound quality isn't that good. Picture quality isn't much better either but, overall, it's better than no lesson at all. That's all I use Zoom for.

No, phone calls to family and friends who live further away, daily F2F with parents, outside meetings with friends for walks.
I have enough of Teams at work, and usually switch my camera off, as I don’t think my masked mug is adding much.
I’m sorry to say that I do get weirdly distracted during Teams meeting, by people scratching or touching their faces. My personal view is that I pay more attention when I’m listening on the phone. It’s different if you’re F2F.

I haven't done any either; I see my Mum; live with dh and ds, and phone or email my friends.

I don't do it and I won't do it. I cannot see myself on screen.

I've done a few now with different groups of friends and family. Was a bit strange at first but have really enjoyed it. Like having people over without having to tidy up before and after. Not that its a substitute for the real thing but I definitely have felt more connected.

We have teams for work but I only put camera on if I have to. I don't know anything about zoom.

I find it an extraordinary struggle to socialise Zoom, and, like others, hate seeing myself.

But I do teach using Zoom, and there the experience is completely different. Partly because I am in control and partly because I forget myself so much that, if I do catch sight of myself, I feel I look entirely normal and much more like myself, IYKWIM.

Ive actually found them really helpful really missed seeing friends , did a whatapp video cocktail night with friend and having a whatapp video call movie night tomorrow night

I haven’t. I dint want to see them.

Even in work im “busy” on my teams.

At the start of the first lockdown, in one of my friendship groups, one of us was just beginning chemo, 2 of us were single and feeling very isolate,1 of us was stuck a long way away from other people. So we had a regular weekly zoom, particularly to support the friend having chemo.

Then we've got a very good friend who has been shielding since the end of February, so three of us tried to have a regular catch up with him and his wife.

it's not ideal and I much prefer seeing people in the flesh, but when you can't do that, thank god for technology.

With a couple of other friends we've done zoom cocktail nights