Voice chat and anxiety

[Eight]

Best thing to do is join in on the chat and just listen. You'll know if the people who are in there are the type of people who make you feel comfortable. Then if you feel you like these people try joining the conversation here and there you'll feel much more comfortable once you do it a few times.

Worse outcome is that they're idiots and you can just leave.It's like real life you'll meet some really cool people and some that are well.... but I think you will find that if you try it, it really isn't that bad and I mean you are who you are just go with it. Hell I sound like a real life lalafell lol.

[Odstarva]

The way I see it, it's only as awkward as you make it out to be. I don't have any -good- tips to give....

It's just people. The only thing that is happening is your both giving up some anonymity (unless you're using a voice modifier I suppose!), and there's pros and cons to it.

For me personally, the pros outweigh the cons by a large margin. Made a bunch of friends via TS!

[Cherie]

I've encouraged a handful of reluctant people to talk in voip (the ones that expressed to me they wanted to, but felt compelled to be silent). That first time talking does feel scary of couse, if it's something you don't normally do. My advice would be to break yourself in with a small handful of trusted friends and work your way up to the 7 other people on a raid group. I know many think their voice sounds awful or some such. I know I feel that way about myself. It gets more tolerable when you talk to people a few times and they don't shriek in disgust. :P

[AskaRay]

I also have pretty bad anxiety about this; the first time my friend asked to chat with me on TS I was like "nope".... think it took her about three months to finally convince me?
And the first time I did it in raid I just muted myself. I sorta honestly wanted to mute them too since it's loud , but since I use audio cues a lot, calling out stuff helps me a ton so.... I do find that useful at least

I hate voice chatting. I still do. I know some people prefer it but...ugh no thanks. Just as bad as the phone; I have pretty bad phone anxiety too (this was fun when my friends and I all lived together and none of us wanted to order something over the phone..we'd all fight about it. good times).

[Mirili]

none of us wanted to order something over the phone..we'd all fight about it. good times.

LOOK. I WILL PAY FOR THE WHOLE DAMNED PIZZA IF YOU JUST ORDER IT. PLEASE.

[Chasely]

(this was fun when my friends and I all lived together and none of us wanted to order something over the phone..we'd all fight about it. good times).

This is why 'm so glad we can order online, now. Luckily, my roommate doesn't mind answering the door. ^^;

[Lemuria]

You know, if someone asked to 'call' me, I'd tell them they're crossing a boundary so I'm going to assume they meant VOIP. Honestly, for my part I hate using voice chat for two reasons. Firstly, I don't really identify with the voice I hear (seriously, hearing your own voice recorded and played back is weird -- I'm not that squeaky am I?). Secondly, voice chat is unfiltered and I have two young children I would rather not have overhear, especially given some of the conversations that have gone on in chat before.

If you're not comfortable with voice chat, don't let yourself be pressured or bullied into it by anyone. Stand your ground and just tell them politely that you're not interested. They'll give up eventually.

[Kaelah]

My static group all use TS but only 4 of us talk regularly on it, our back up player is also chatty. The other 4 always play muted, but they listen and respond to us via /p chat. It works for us. ^^ A 5th player is slowly starting to talk on there too. I used to be the same, very shy of talking online voice chat. Just ease yourself in until you are comfortable. Or just listen and type. :3 If background sounds worry you, you can get mics with a mute button you can flip when not speaking or most voice chats have a push to talk feature. (Hold a key down when talking.)

Regarding the PS4/PC thing. We use TS, and any PS4 players use an iPad or laptop to join us on it.

[Culfinrandir]

Like many of the replies, I just listen in on the group chat & reply in the chat box where necessary. I have a strong accent to most people (it's barely existent compared to most Geordies) so it's far easier just to listen & type. After all, there's almost always one person who will dominate the voice chat during the duty (calling out moves etc) so it's not like an after dinner conversation.

[Xlantaa]

I do the same. On all statics I have, I always use the chat, but I can hear what other says. No problem till now. YOu cannot force anyone to talk, and I aprreciate when they don't demand me that.