WhatsApp voice notes / voice messages

[Unicornsaregreat]

I have a couple of new(ish) friends & we communicate mainly via WhatsApp voice messages. I really like hearing their voices and a bit of banter. We keep the messages short but it really cheers me up to get their messages and I find it a nice way to communicate. (They do use written messages if they are just saying “yes, see you there” etc)

I’ve tried using voice notes with a couple of other friends and they just replied with a short written message. Fair enough. So I probably won’t try it again.

Then another friend was saying she finds voice notes awful, she absolutely hates them.

What’s your view on communicating via voice notes?

Hate them.

Can I ask why @Wallywobbles ?

I currently have about 30 unread what's app messages, so clearly not your target audience, but no, I would not use voice notes.

I hate them too. I can’t listen if I am out and about. They take me longer to listen to than to read. I’d prefer either a call or a text. I feel like they are a half way house.

I love receiving them but I usually type back, I prefer to think about what I am saying as I type

Also hate them. I'm often out and about, or on a work call, on a train etc. it means I cannot just read and reply - have to wait until I'm at home or something to hear the message. Why could t they just type the quick note that I could have replied to at the time. Also- people tend to ramble a bit which is annoying to listen to.

I wouldn't listen to one unless I was at home, alone in my car or had headphones on, so they're a very slow way to communicate.

One friend will sometimes send a longer 'catch up' type voice note that she records on her way to work on foot; easier to talk than type and we're in different time zones so easier to message than call. Those I don't mind, but they're not a back and forth conversation or something that requires an immediate answer.

Hate them too. You have to wait to be alone just in case the content isn't suitable/ private.

ANNOYING!!

My sister and I do this but we both like it, she is often multi-tasking so walking round work (not an office) and chats into the phone but hasn't got time for an actual call. I don't do it with anyone else though.

My mum sends them if she’s laughing too hard to type I love hearing her laugh so I love receiving them.

I hate them. People waffle on for ages about all sorts of crap. I can't listen to them - when I'm out I'd need to faff around with headphones and when I'm at home in the evening I want to watch TV or talk to my DH not listen to voice notes. If it's a written text I can multi-task, voice notes are just such an unnecessarily long process.

Hate them. So inconvenient. I'm usually either in an open-plan office, on public transport, or surrounded by children, so I can't listen to them without earphones in case the person says something private/sensitive, and I never have my earphones!

Hate them. But I also hate calls, in an ideal world I'd keep all my non-face-to-face communication text based!

It depends who from tbh. Voice notes from my husband and best friend - I love them. 5 minute voice notes out of the blue from friends, not so much

Only person I send or receive from is DP and I love them. Love hearing his voice. I would find it odd if any of my friends did it. It is just not how we communicate.

I ignore them. School WhatsApp often has them with long winded info. I just ignore. I think they're easier to send but harder to receive.

But I hate video content for how to guides. Would much rather read and then go back over a step I struggle with or missed.

I don’t listen to them. I don’t enjoy monologues. If someone needs to contact me there are 7 other ways on my phone, none of which involve me having to put headphones on and listen to a voice note.

Love them - especially if it’s a funny story or something like that. So much more convenient than actually speaking in the phone.

It annoys me when my boss sends them as sometimes they have important info I would like to refer back to and this would be much easier if written out. But apparently she's "too busy to type".

I end up having to type a reminder note for myself below her voice note so I can find the right one when scrolling back! Rather than having to listen to them all again. She thinks it's funny

Not a fan of doing them myself, as I'm much better at conveying what I want to say through writing rather than speech as I get time to think it through.I have a couple of friends who do it though and don't mind receiving them, nice to hear ones voice inparticular as she is a very sunny personality.
The only annoying thing is if I am out somewhere where I can't listen to them instantly like you could viewing a message.

You'll blow her mind then when you tell her Office let's you speak and it types it for then.

Hate them. I only know one person who sends them. I never listen to them.

I use them, in particular with one friend. They're not monologues, but brief little bits of catch up. Also use them with my daughter, and I can tell how she is just by the tone of her voice. It's very much personal preference.

Yes, this.