How common is it to not use Skype because of feeling awkward?

[Ross MwcFan]

It's strange because I'd feel way less awkward/anxious about using the phone or even meeting in person.

[Forever Learning]

i am an old school nerd so I don't even know much about Skype. I've heard of it vaguely, but never learned much more about it. I know it is very popular though.

 

I know that texting and emails are no substitute for actually talking on the phone or meeting in person. Learned that the hard way.

[denise_xo]

I don't like video skyping, not even with people I'm very close to. But when I don't use video, it just feels like a normal phone call.

[madjac74]

My girlfriend and I can talk on the phone or face to face for hours upon hours yet we never use skype or webcams. Its very common in LDR's but we just find it to be a very awkward situation. I have no idea why because I would love to see her as much as possible. Ive joked that it reminds me of talking to someone in one of those prison visitation booths through glass and you have to speak into the phone (not that ive experienced that or anything haha). However it is comforting to know that she has the same opinion about skype.

 

* oh i wanted to add that you have to be sitting at your computer whereas a phone call you can be outside or running errands, just going about our daily lives which makes you feel more apart of their world...it just seems more natural

Edited July 6, 2011 by madjac74
additional thought

[crazylove]

Same here! Skype makes me feel awkward too. Glad to hear i'm not the only one!

[HeavenOrHell]

It's pretty common to feel awkward, my partner feels a bit awkward, so we don't go on webcam too much. I felt very awkward/shy at first but it got easier the more we used it.

[Audrina]

I'm in a long distance relationship and we don't use Skype. Never have and probably never will. We text, talk on the phone and use AIM and it works for us.

[Taucher]

Me and my SO have different views about video chat. She loves it, I have mixed feeling. However, I usually really love using once I get over my reluctance but for some reason the idea doesn't appeal.

 

Also, sometimes we can have a chat and can see each other and when we say bye and switch off, it makes me feel sadder. Seeing someone but not being able to touch them and everythng can feel a bit weird. I dont have the same feelings about seeing people on TV though, I'm not totally mad.

 

T

[Dorie]

I don't think it's uncommon. We use Skype at work. I've noticed some shy away from it. Are you able to identify and articulate what makes you feel awkward about using it?

[wild_urge]

We use it all the time and it feels perfectly natural. Thank God someone invented video chatting. I don't understand what all these people are saying, what is there to be shy about? Do you miss the person? Yeah, well guess what you can see and talk to him at the same time, it is so great, I can't imagine just talking on the phone, that way we can play game, we can watch movies together and still see the other persons reaction all the time! Body language is very important! You can have cyber sex, which certainly is better than phone sex. You can show each other things, things you just bought or changes you made around the house or even the weather outside your window, you can eat together, you can sleep together, you can do something else but still take a look at your loved one from once in a while. It's a great feeling to know that he/she is there. And you feel sad when you hung up, but if you do it daily I don't see why it should be different than phone calls. Skype is the best!!!

[Ross MwcFan]

I don't think it's uncommon. We use Skype at work. I've noticed some shy away from it. Are you able to identify and articulate what makes you feel awkward about using it?

 

I've honestley got no idea Dorie.

 

I did try it once, only one time, it just felt awkward and unatural. And it felt like that was showing in how I came across, I felt like I wasn't really coming across like my natural self, and less appealing than how I actually am in real life. So that puts me off even more.

Edited July 6, 2011 by Ross MwcFan

[blugirl]

I've honestley got no idea Dorie.

 

I did try it once, only one time, it just felt awkward and unatural. And it felt like that was showing in how I came across, I felt like I wasn't really coming across like my natural self, and less appealing than how I actually am in real life. So that puts me off even more.

Welcome in the club, I know what you're talking about >< I somehow feel awkward and very unnatural when on webcam, I automatically stiffen up and check every 10 seconds if I look good in the cam and if the angle is good (LOL), I feel as if I swallowed a stick, just can't be myself and do my stuff while on webcam >< My SO, on the other hand, is very natural and I envy him that because for me it's very stressful situation. Any cure for that?

Edited July 7, 2011 by blugirl

[HeavenOrHell]

We get that you love it, but like some of us have said we feel a little (or very) shy or awkward about it, some people feel confident being on video and some don't, same as some people hate having their photo taken and will avoid it. Some people feel the need to go on video and some don't, which is fair enough.

 

We use it all the time and it feels perfectly natural. Thank God someone invented video chatting. I don't understand what all these people are saying, what is there to be shy about? Do you miss the person? Yeah, well guess what you can see and talk to him at the same time, it is so great, I can't imagine just talking on the phone, that way we can play game, we can watch movies together and still see the other persons reaction all the time! Body language is very important! You can have cyber sex, which certainly is better than phone sex. You can show each other things, things you just bought or changes you made around the house or even the weather outside your window, you can eat together, you can sleep together, you can do something else but still take a look at your loved one from once in a while. It's a great feeling to know that he/she is there. And you feel sad when you hung up, but if you do it daily I don't see why it should be different than phone calls. Skype is the best!!!

[madjac74]

Do you miss the person?!

 

Just because we don't Skype doesnt mean we dont miss our loved one or care about them any less than people who Skype.

 

Besides neither me or my GF have the time to sit in front of a web cam which is why calls and texting work great for us. Acually seeing her on a cam might frustrate the heck out of me, seeing her and not being able to touch her. I get that just looking at her photos.

[cerridwen]

We use it all the time and it feels perfectly natural. Thank God someone invented video chatting. I don't understand what all these people are saying, what is there to be shy about? Do you miss the person? Yeah, well guess what you can see and talk to him at the same time, it is so great, I can't imagine just talking on the phone, that way we can play game, we can watch movies together and still see the other persons reaction all the time! Body language is very important! You can have cyber sex, which certainly is better than phone sex. You can show each other things, things you just bought or changes you made around the house or even the weather outside your window, you can eat together, you can sleep together, you can do something else but still take a look at your loved one from once in a while. It's a great feeling to know that he/she is there. And you feel sad when you hung up, but if you do it daily I don't see why it should be different than phone calls. Skype is the best!!!

 

This is a super cute post. I never thought about doing all those things!

 

Still, I get not everyone is comfortable on video. I personally hate seeing myself on those store video cameras, but have no problem using Skype.

[JadedAmore]

We recently experienced our first 'Skype date' and I have mixed feelings about it. I did love it, being able to see him and his reactions and just have a face-to-face conversation (so to speak) ... however I hated not being able to touch him or smell him, which are two things I long to do while he's gone. And yeah, definitely not a big fan of the camera and being confined to my computer. It's probably something we might do once a week.

 

Maybe once you try it out a few more times you'll get used to it, but if not I don't see the harm in keeping in touch through text/email/phone.

[Dorie]

I've honestley got no idea Dorie.

 

I did try it once, only one time, it just felt awkward and unatural. And it felt like that was showing in how I came across, I felt like I wasn't really coming across like my natural self, and less appealing than how I actually am in real life. So that puts me off even more.

 

It may be worthwhile to attempt it again, Ross. Similar to pushing yourself to drive distances not previously comfortable, speaking on Skype in an effort to gain comfort may be worth it. You can at least have a go at it once. Perhaps because different parties are involved, the outcome would be different.

[JadedAmore]

It may be worthwhile to attempt it again, Ross. Similar to pushing yourself to drive distances not previously comfortable, speaking on Skype in an effort to gain comfort may be worth it. You can at least have a go at it once. Perhaps because different parties are involved, the outcome would be different.

 

Oooh, I learned last night that if you don't want to look at yourself there's a way to hide your own video!

[HeavenOrHell]

I only see myself if I click on the video icon, so you really don't have to see yourself at all unless you click on it.

 

 

Oooh, I learned last night that if you don't want to look at yourself there's a way to hide your own video!

[wild_urge]

Just because we don't Skype doesnt mean we dont miss our loved one or care about them any less than people who Skype.

 

Besides neither me or my GF have the time to sit in front of a web cam which is why calls and texting work great for us. Actually seeing her on a cam might frustrate the heck out of me, seeing her and not being able to touch her. I get that just looking at her photos.

 

 

Look, you are taking it all wrong. But as I said, there's a hundred things you can do while skyping, just last week he was sweeping and moping while video chatting with me. I have washed dishes while talking to him and he often cooks while we talk.

 

I don't see how seeing someone will make you more frustrated, I see it as more fulfilling in the long run. Also, you associate a person not only you their face but also to their voice, so calling should make you as frustrated.

 

I personally love video chat, it's going to be six months that we haven't seen each other next week, when I'm actually going there. I cannot imagine not seeing him at all for six months.

 

I see how someone could feel shy if it was showing your face in public for example, but it's the person that knows you best, if you feel comfortable naked in front of that person, then you shouldn't really feel shy on video chat.

 

Anyways, I was just trying to encourage people; because I really do thinks it's great that we actually have the opportunity to video chat unlike a few years ago. I do hope that somebody will read my post and start video chatting, because I believe that it would make their LDR easier and more fun

[wild_urge]

This is a super cute post. I never thought about doing all those things!

 

Still, I get not everyone is comfortable on video. I personally hate seeing myself on those store video cameras, but have no problem using Skype.

 

Thank God, someone actually understood me This is like . . . let's say water parks you are afraid in the beginning, but you just don't know how much fun your missing

[HeavenOrHell]

No-one was saying skype isn't a wonderful thing, however-we're all different and some people will never feel comfortable using it, no matter how close or at ease they are with their partner face to face.

 

 

 

Thank God, someone actually understood me This is like . . . let's say water parks you are afraid in the beginning, but you just don't know how much fun your missing

[madjac74]

Thank God, someone actually understood me This is like . . . let's say water parks you are afraid in the beginning, but you just don't know how much fun your missing

 

Well Skype is obviously one of those things that you either love it or you hate it. There are plenty of people who have tried water parks and still dont like them. Im not too favorable of them myself. Crowded, annoying kids everywhere, long lines, fatties in swimsuits, etc...

 

Its great that you and your SO love skype so much but to me it just reminds me of one of those adult sights where you watch them do things. I'd rather be outside sitting on the patio while the kids play talking to her on the phone and visualizing what she is doing. Kinda more like reading a really good book I guess. But thats just my opinion and thats just what works for us. We dont feel like we are missing anything with skype

[cerridwen]

Well Skype is obviously one of those things that you either love it or you hate it. There are plenty of people who have tried water parks and still dont like them. Im not too favorable of them myself. Crowded, annoying kids everywhere, long lines, fatties in swimsuits, etc...

 

Its great that you and your SO love skype so much but to me it just reminds me of one of those adult sights where you watch them do things. I'd rather be outside sitting on the patio while the kids play talking to her on the phone and visualizing what she is doing. Kinda more like reading a really good book I guess. But thats just my opinion and thats just what works for us. We dont feel like we are missing anything with skype

 

It's really the urine in the water that scares me most.

 

Even though I'm camera shy, it suddenly occurred to me why Skype appeals to me.

I have a very animated face.

I also gesture wildly with my hands.

Every single emotion I have crosses my face, rendering me a hopeless poker player.

Also, when I think or when someone is describing something to me, I look off and up to the side, picturing it. My eyes go wide. My mouth falls open. It's almost like a thought bubble appears over my head and you can actively see me cogitating about what's being said.

When I'm excited, I slam down my hand on the table.

I'm very close to looking like a mad woman.

 

All this makes me feel very self-conscious.

To bite the bullet and let my SO see how animated I am, to "get it out there" and give him a heads up, to FOREWARN him, would make me feel great.

[madjac74]

Well your picture creeps me out so I suggest you not go on cam! haha jk jk! I am also very animated and people have told me my facial expressions alone make them laugh. Also I can't sit still when I talk to my GF on the phone. I pace around and flail my arms around as i talk so Skype would be difficult for me as I would have to sit still.

 

And I've been told that I'm very good looking and Im very confident with my appearance and I have an extremely beautiful GF but something about seeing myself in pictures or on cam just makes me say Ugh!