“I thought I’d voice note because it’s easier”

[crabsaremisunderstood]

More and more of my friends reply to my texts with a voice note and cite this exact phrase. Yes, it’s easier. But ONLY for the sender, not the recipient! I hate having to speed up the bastard things to get to the point of the message, when I could scan read a text in a matter of seconds.

Also, I don’t mind them when I’ve got a free day and can listen whilst pottering about with housework, but there’s no chance I can listen when I’m at work, so I have to leave them hanging for hours instead of seeing the text and quickly replying.

AIBU?

(light hearted…sort of )

Yeah, and just when we killed the damn things off...

Yanbu. Although I've never received one thank goodness.
If I'm really busy and dashing along I dictate my message to WhatsApp. The voice to text option seems to work pretty well for me.

These are the same people who teams call you at work instead of emailing you 'thought it was easier to give you a quick call' easier for you not me

I reply with. Sorry I can’t listen now as i’m
at work / in the gym / etc.
I’ll listen later on when I get a spare moment. Hope it’s not too urgent.

Seems like I'm a lone voice speaking up for voice notes! I think they are great.

My sight is not as good as it used to be, and I find voice notes can be much quicker than texting, both for me to send and receive. (I do agree that if they're so long you have to take notes, then the person isn't doing it right!)

Also, it's much easier to get the nuance of a message when you hear it, than when you read it.

(I do agree that being able to opt for having it as a voice note or a text transcript would be handy)

Voicenotes are easier when you have babies to look after/feed and trying to arrange something. They are annoying sometimes but they are useful I think it depends on the situation.

Simply send out a text to the whole group saying text or call only.

It really depends on who the sender is and what the voice note is all about. I adore the ones I receive from my best mate. A rambling one containing someone’s ridiculously complicated coffee order, on the other hand, seriously makes me reconsider my willingness to help them purchase drinks in the future!

Oh I love voice notes - don't send them to Everyone as aware not everyone likes them.
But they're like a podcast from my favourite people. But I like my friends and they make me laugh.

I listen to them while I'm cleaning/driving somewhere/in the bath/gardening.
Helps pass the time!

Arrangements though are easier by text or they get lost amongst the conversation.

I can't stand them either. They are popular with narcissists who only want to talk and not listen!

I think you'll very quickly find that people on here get more irritated with the reviving of old threads.
🧟‍♀️ 🧟‍♂️

Even worse still, when u send quick text and person responds with an hour long phone call. I avoid messaging them again for fear of the call!!!!

YANBU. I fckg hate voice notes with a passion. I just refuse to listen to them. I find it offensive that these people thibk my time is less valuable to me than them and they think I should waste my free time listening to people ramble on with no ability to interupt or reply.

😂

Why would you think that? It's always interesting to hear people's views no matter how old the thread is.

Completely agree, I hate them and mostly ignore

I quite like receiving them in a way because I get to hear the person's voice rather than just read a message.

But, I agree, it is more difficult to respond because you have to keep listening again and again.

My friend has a habit of sending them and asking about 10 questions, so I have to keep listening back as I am composing a response 😅

It's still an interesting topic to discuss though, why does it matter that the original post is a few months old?

Sorry sending this as a voice note coz it's easier
....
err yeah so hang on MAISIE! PUT THAT DOWN
right where was I I want to say I just kind of don't like them. Not hate hate but you get my drift.

I love voice notes from my friends!

I agree it's easier for the sender and I find them quite irritating/inconvenient but it's the only way my friends with young children (Under 5s) say they can stay in touch so it seems it's voice notes or being a hermit that are my options lol.

I can't stand voice notes. I have two repeated offenders in my friends group. They both know I'm hearing impaired.🙄

I love listening to a voice note.

If I’m home I’ll listen. If not I text back to say I won’t be able to listen for hours, so put it in writing if it’s urgent.

I hate people who make phone noise without headphones, so I’m not going to do it, & I only carry headphones if I’m going to the gym.

I also did not know what this was. Having read the first couple pages, it appears to be one of them there double edged swords. It's potentially lovely if you miss the voice of the sender/have limitations/etc. or a horror bestowed upon a victim by an entitled monopolising time thief.

As Stephen Fry once observed on QI, "a telephone is an incredibly rude thing, sitting there on a desk, going speak to me now, speak to me now". Not sure if that's 100% accurate but close enough. This voicenote thing seems to be somewhat of an advancement insofar as, "listen to me, listen to me. You don't speak, just listen to me". It may not be quite as rude, seeing as you can access it at will, but it seems a bit selfish.

I don’t even like voicemail. I can't be arsed with it and keep it switched off. I like reading. Reading is faster. More time for pissing about on MN and watching videos of cats.