To hate WhatsApp voice notes?

[MattCauthon]

I don't mind a quick one because someone is running to meet you and wants to let you know they are on the way or whatever. But the 2-10 minute ones from SIL drive me mad. Long ramble ones. Either call me to discuss or summarise in a quick text. I am lucky that she is the only one. Dh has a couple.of colleagues who do it on their team whatsapp for scheduling and if drives him.mad too.

It's just so entitled. Like I have 4 minutes to listen to it all?! Argh!!! (And yes, I concede that this is probably aggravated by ongoing issues of SIL being kind and generous on one hand but hugely self absorbed and selfish on the other (kind and generous... on her terms!)

I don’t mind if it’s a birthday message or something special like that. But I have a friend who will use voice notes to recount a whole anecdote and will do it over 3 or 4 consecutive voicemail! Aaaaarghhhhh! The story is always fkin boring after all that too!

However, I’d rather have a voicemail that I can listen to at my own convenience rather than someone calling me up “for a chat”. I bloody hate the assumption that I am currently available and free to listen to your jibber-jabber just because you feel like it. I very rarely call anyone for a general chat, but if I do, I will always text them first and ask “are you free now?”

That's definitely not a voice note. That's a voice lecture!

The problem with voice notes is if you want your listener to absorb and remember some of the info you've given them.

I have an appalling memory and often refer back to the past message when I eventually make my typed reply. I'm not going to keep replaying the whole bloody diatribe in order to make sure I acknowledge all the points in your ramble.

A minute or so is OK - I play them at double speed.

Totally agree- when do I have time to listen, in a private space, with head phones etc. They are always so much longer with unnecessary details than a text, which speaker cannot be bothered to type!

There are exceptions- my elderly mom who struggles to type for example and certain circumstances where a voice is needed.

But in general as standard practice, no thanks

I don't understand them a text or WhatsApp message must be quicker.although we had 1 in a family group chat about the progress of an elderly relative which was useful, but in general they are just irritating.

I love voice notes, you can convey much more, much quicker than a typed one. You can also speed them up 1.5x or 2.0 times if you find them too long.

Sounds like effort if you.need to speed up talking. honestly just text or better still phone the person .

I listen to, and record them in the car while driving mainly, and when walking the dog when typing or reading is hard. I have certain friends I do it with and others that I don’t. I’m aware some people hate them - I had one friend tell me ‘I’m not listening to that’ - which I respect and won’t do again.

I find it a nice thing to keep me company on a journey, I like to hear their voice, tone and laughter, and their responses to things I have said. It’s not always convenient to have a phone convo and it replaces this. My sister actually sends me notes of made up songs and raps and this is a cherished habit that even though I’m too shit to reciprocate in kind, is full of love!

I also had an awkward situation recently where a neighbour kid had done something a bit inappropriate and I didn’t know the mum too well - I chose to send a voice note and explained in it I was doing this so she could hear my tone as I think text can come over all wrong.

Overall I think it’s a great communication tool but it’s fine that not everyone shares this view!

I hate them. I don’t have the concentration for 14 minutes of a podcast I didn’t sign up to. If it’s someone I really care for I’ll transcribe them but otherwise I just ignore them - the sender can either call me and I’ll choose whether to answer and have a conversation or they can summarise in a text if it’s an important message.

I use them as im dyslexic, mostly with family and friends. They can be sped up. Though I do ask with anyone new if I can do voice notes. No one has said no.

Is it just me or does anyone else not really know what a voice note is? We still use telephones in my life and call people or send a text/whatsapp message where more appropriate. I hear about voice notes but never experienced one!

I dont like them at all. At least with texts you can read them at work with others in the room and they remain private and easy to access.

With voice notes you either have to wait until you are alone or find headphones which is a PITA.

It is just an audio text, so they speak at you instead of messaging, I don't get that many tbf,

I hate voice notes too! I’ll be honest I just use the transcript option to read what they’ve rambled on about 😂

My WhatsApp status states ‘I don’t do voice notes’. I’ll listen to them once in a while if it’s a juicy story but most people know not to. I can read faster than you can talk. How can I turn them into text?

I hate voice notes with a passion. I very often don’t even listen to them

I prefer either a text message or an actual conversation

Me and my friends use them in our group chats. We don't want a group phone call but we want a conversation so voice notes work. We all have kids so VN are easier than typing out messages when we are busy

Thankfully I don't communicate with anyone who uses them, but have received a couple over the years.

It's rude to monologue at anyone, and it's a chore to have to listen to one. I'm not listening to being talked at and then remember parts, and replying by text. Just no.

If someone wants to speak to me for more than about a minute they need to call me. Otherwise type what you want to say.

Love them. A very ill friend had the idea of doing a waffle. Short. Now that she has died I can listen to her voice anytime. Wonderful, wonderful voice notes.

I'm in 2 hobby groups where occasionally a less techno-savvy member will accidentally start a group phone call while faffing about with their fat fingers trying to read messages. There then ensues half an hour of to-and-fro while everyone else panics and tries to find out what's going on, or if anyone is in trouble, plus erroneous explanations as to how to use WhatsApp, followed by corrections, misunderstandings etc 🤯
Otherwise it's very useful, so I keep it, but some people shouldn't be allowed to use technology 😂😂

One of my friends loves them - I don’t. She apologises when she sends me one 😂

Maybe that’s the difference as I am v rarely in a car on my own (usually on public transport or in car with kids) nor am I out walking a dog or really doing anything else on my own. I can read and respond to a message while picking up the kids from school, waiting for a bus, half watching tv etc.

If i'm not worth enough to you to listen to my voice notes, then I don't want you as a friend.

I'm not talking every message, but sometimes it's warranted.

I think it's equally entitled to refuse to listen to them.

I also think if you aren’t used to doing it, it feels really unnatural. I am used to writing without expecting an immediate reply, I’ve been doing that since I had pen pals as a child. But monologuing verbally just feels totally weird. Ok for a voicemail “hi it’s X, calling about Y you can reach me on….” but I can’t imagine sharing a funny story on a voice note or something!