This past week there was a lot of organising things… a dinner with friends, tennis league matches (the Engineer is sometimes a tennis player), a time to pick up documents from my parents. Just… ordinary grown-up adminny things. All of these were organised through WhatsApp… all on text. Easy peasy. The Engineer, however, brought to my attention how many people like to send voice notes. Now, I, who hate talking on the phone, hate voice notes even more. But for reasons that I could not put my finger on. I have, however, been guilty of sending a voice note or two when driving or when I simply have a lot to say (read: need to crap someone out without the actual confrontation).
Now, I do realise that this is also probably a generational thing. But that could not be entirely the reason for my dislike of my own voice. There is of course the obvious I struggle to hear bit. And I have also considered the fact that it is because while in a meeting or a conversation with someone, it is quite possible to read a WhatsApp, especially if you get the notification on your smartwatch, but it is never possible to listen to a voice note.
So on Friday night the Engineer and I both agreed that we do not like or use voice notes and had a lengthy discussion as to why this could be. He found a gem of an article, which apparently explains exactly what he feels here. For him it apparently boils down to rudeness. The voice note is always more convenient for the person sending it than for the person receiving it. And that is rude.
I am not entirely convinced that that is what my gripe is. I have however considered when voice note is advisable.
- While driving
- As a short response to something that someone has said
- Sending something to someone that is visually impaired.
- Getting in the last word in an argument (which is my personal voice note motivation).
- When Lilliputians have to say hello to their uncle who needs some cheering up and you know that if you make an actual phone call they will never get off the phone.
In an age where anyone can be reached at any time in various mediums we have now actually created an environment where instead of phoning someone on his birthday, you can sing on a voice note and avoid the conversation all together. And in that way while it is easier to talk, we are actually doing it less.
I do realise that I may now have offended some individuals reading this blog. Please remember that this is my opinion. And that I may even be converted at some stage. And that I am way too curious to ever just ignore a voice note.