Could using skype help your social problems?

[johnny196775]

Could using skype make you more able to be social in real life? It seems it might. I'm sorry if this sounds idiotic.

Thank you everybody and have a wonderful day.

 

[TheRealCallie]

Yes, I suppose it could. As could any intimate conversation online. Chatrooms, one on one PMs, skype, whatever.

To be social IRL, you need to feel comfortable talking to other people. Anything that gives you the experience will be of help. I suppose if you do voice chat, it will be better, because you have the more personal option of actually talking and hearing another voice, but in the end, any conversation will help in the long run.

That said....Skype is EVIL! :club: (you all knew it was coming )

 

[Nicolelt]

Skype has helped me.

When I am working, after work, I am exhausted. I don't want to go out, but it is nice to talk to people about my day. So I Skype! Plus I can just sit at home and work on stuff for the next day.

I will say now that I am on summer vacation, I do want more social interaction with people.

 

[AmytheTemperamental]

I have found skype nice. But I can't do groups.

 

[VeganAtheist]

I think for some people it works wonders. I think it could be a huge step towards social improvement.
For myself, it doesn't have that effect. While I am shown in video, I still feel as though I am partially anonymous and thus don't feel the same pressure as in normal social situations. Its use hasn't helped me in that regard.

 

[dawningday]

I've never used Skype, but I do have it installed....figuring someday I might use it. So, I don't know too much about it. But I think it could be helpful.
I got use to online chat, and it doesn't seem to take me to long to get comfortable on it (not like it was when I first started). When I use to play online games (mmo's) we had voice chat (vent etc), it took me forever to even try it. I use to only type in the chat window. The character I had, I gave it a name that I could you could take as either male or female (but I had a male character), and when I did start to talk on the voice chat thing, everyone laughted.....they thought I was a girl for all the time that I played the game. I guess it was that I was so polite .....lol

But with voice chat, I never could get comfortable with it.......I usually was very quite on it....found it so awkward, like in real life.

 

[ladyforsaken]

I freakin hate Skype.

 

[Outcast]

I find it easier to talk to people in person. I've always been hesitant to talk to people on Skype, especially with people I don't know very well. Maybe it's because I cant read their body language or facial expressions so I cant tell what they're thinking which makes me hesitant to say anything at all. Usually if I end up in Skype with people I'm not familiar with, mainly larger groups, I keep quiet.

Face to face is much better .

 

[hazel_flagg]

Could using skype make you more able to be social in real life? It seems it might. I'm sorry if this sounds idiotic.

Thank you everybody and have a wonderful day.

It might work that way for some people. If it works for you, then that's great. However, as insular and avoidant I am, I would rather talk to someone in person (and then need bed rest for exhaustion after) then have anyone see my face in a video chat. I've seen my own face on video and it does me NO favours.

That's just me being vain, I realise, but I have enough worry ping-ponging around in my head without fretting about grossing out the person on the other end with my washed-out, grainy face.

 

[Lowlander]

I speak from my own experience when I say that skype has helped me a lot in my life and it still does. I make contacts all over the world (most of them are A.L.L forum members), there's always someone online to talk. I suggest you give it a shot, you need to discover for yourself if it is what you want. I would suggest you go to the A.L.L chat room, and from there, you could join a few people (including me) who have made a group on skype, consisting of around 20 members, all from this forum.


You're always welcome, I hope you will consider my advice. You could ofcourse always PM me or talk more to others if you have any more questions.

 

[WallflowerGirl83]

Yes I think it could. Give people a chance; I've actually given it a chance and started talking to people lately on there. However I don't like doing cam all that much cause I get quite nervous from time to time but than again I do it sometimes once I get to know the person better. Chatting to people could help you shyness and you're social skills. =)

 

[dawningday]

I'm game for skype, if anyone wants to chat. This would be a new adventure for me....but i don't have a cam thingy.

 

[raincloud]

Maybe? I would never use Skype. You couldn't pay me to go on any kind of video chat. I'd be more comfortable in person. If I'm at home or something, why would I want to worry about what I look like? Pretty much everything I like about the internet is that I DON'T have to worry about that.

If it works for you, that's great, but my #1 issue is my appearance, so voluntarily being seen is pretty much my worst nightmare and NOPE, not for me.

 

[xaero]

What kind of Skype chat? Voice or text? I find voice chat much more effective and enjoyable.

 

[Lowlander]

Voice chat is definitely more convenient.

 

[Case]

Maybe? I would never use Skype. You couldn't pay me to go on any kind of video chat. I'd be more comfortable in person. If I'm at home or something, why would I want to worry about what I look like? Pretty much everything I like about the internet is that I DON'T have to worry about that.

If it works for you, that's great, but my #1 issue is my appearance, so voluntarily being seen is pretty much my worst nightmare and NOPE, not for me.

I'm sure you know that you can turn the camera off on Skype and go audio only. I've never actually used the video function because my webcam is crap. lol Also, I have a pretty good audio setup, so it works better for me.

The audio only feature is great because it's just like talking on the phone. Appearance doesn't need to be a barrier.

That being said, it's still not for everyone.

 

[Cucuboth]

I've spoken to 3 people on voice-chat (using Skype, and other, now out of date IMs). At the time I think it helped with my confidence. It is like talking on a phone. I think it also opens up for a more emotional connection that just plain text-chat does. Of course, the other side of the sword is that once it's gone ... the person you takes to is gone ... it tends to feel like a bigger hole in your life.

But I guess it's not for everyone. I always found that text-chatting for a while. Before going to voice-chat, helped. Rather than just jumping straight in to voice-chat with a stranger. I always find that I can't use voice-chat on video games for this reason. They're all strangers, and often it's a group chat, and I just feel my voice will get lost in the crowd.

I've never used video-chat though. I think it would be the next progression, so to speak, after text and voice chatting with someone. It would sort of be a next level of trust, and may help confidence a bit more. The people I've voice-chatted with have never wanted to, or been able to, video-chat with me though.