How different do you think GN would be if ...

Foxygloves

How about if we all simply used our first names instead of usernames?
I’m not ashamed to speak my opinions and there must be hundreds or thousands of women with my name in the world so why hang up with anonymity and the humorous or otherwise usernames?

I would've thought the answer to that is obvious?

If we are simply giving an opinion on something without any other personal details about ourselves, then it probably wouldn't make any difference.

But that's not simply what this SM site is about is it?

Family estrangements, medical problems, legal matters where people are seeking advice - all these threads require you to give a certain amount of personal information, which can be read by anyone, anywhere. Adding your name might just be the detail that identifies you - to someone, and it might be someone you'd rather not be identified by!

And we don't all have names that are very common, either.

Foxygloves

How about if we all simply used our first names instead of usernames?
I’m not ashamed to speak my opinions and there must be hundreds or thousands of women with my name in the world so why hang up with anonymity and the humorous or otherwise usernames?

I don't think it's necessarily a question of people being ashamed to speak their opinions, but I can understand why many prefer to remain anonymous when discussing family issues, for instance - it would be too easy for those family members to be identified and information could easily get back to them. People wouldn't be so happy to ask sensitive medical questions either.

OK
Camilla Windsor

Feel free, if you don't mind using your name - nobody says you have to be anonymous. I prefer it for myself though - each to her own.

How about if we all simply used our first names instead of usernames?
I’m not ashamed to speak my opinions and there must be hundreds or thousands of women with my name in the world so why hang up with anonymity and the humorous or otherwise usernames?

Doodledog, thanks for my new word of the day
asynchronous.
You’re quite right about not using it when the television is on, and I’d rather type when I’m in company or on a train. I do like to dictate posts or emails for sheer speed. My laptop has speech facility, but even though it has learnt my voice, it often translates what I say into gobbledygook or even worse, swear words!

DaisyAnneReturns

Like everything, it becomes second nature if you use it regularly.

Given that is probably true, I've too much happening at once to stop and focus, when other distractions abound. I can look at my laptop whilst cooking the children's lunch (now). My husband in, listening to the horrid news from Atlanta, the baby is crawling near, the washer is running, and my hair is a wreck.

That ^ tiny typing took 14 minutes -- between stirring, patting the baby, saying "oh dear, they'll have a civil war over there" and calling for my hair. For me this is easy comfortable multi tasking.

I can use it, and sometimes do. It’s not about ability to engage with the technology - I’m perfectly capable of that.

It’s just not convenient for asynchronous messaging in company (including the ‘company’ of a tv, radio etc). I wouldn’t use it on a train, in a restaurant or similar or while waiting for an appointment - all times when texting (and posting on places like GN) come into their own. If I’m on my own with no sound on, I’d rather speak to someone than message them anyway. Otherwise I find other people’s personal communications intrusive and don’t inflict mine on them.

My 9 year old granddaughter borrows her mum’s phone to send me voice messages. They’re often joint messages with her little brother. I love to receive them but I cringe at the sound of my own voice when I reply.

Like everything, it becomes second nature if you use it regularly.

Funnily enough my daughter sent me a voice message last night. We had been texting and she thought it would be easier. I was in bed with the tv on, and was working on the laptop which was balanced on my knees. To listen to the message I had to grope about for the remote to mute the tv, put the laptop on a clear space on the bed and turn up the volume on my phone. Easier? For her, maybe

It was my thought that it might keep things calmer with fewer misunderstandings, Coronation. I think we are the only ones though.

I'm not sure it takes everyone longer to listen than to read.

I think it's easy to misinterpret writing so perhaps voice messages will reduce misunderstandings. I'm sure some of the arguments on here wouldn't happen if people were face to face , so perhaps voice messages would help.

However I'm not sure I would listen to them as it takes longer to listen.

It would certainly be different. I don’t think it would work and you could count me out. I got really sick of the Zoom meetings and Team meetings during Covid, as did most of my friends. Visions of everyone talking at once.

Smileless2012

I don't even know what a sound file is .

Pretty much just a recording of your voice!
You can do it in some messages, or you used to be able to. We would just record what we wanted then press send.
Well, at least I think I have that right!

Hetty58

I'm looking at this and listening to the radio as well - so it wouldn't suit me!

No. I'm reading this, my husband has the telly on something about Atlanta, our eldest daughter is searching wedding flatware polish, and my hair looks stupid - must make appointment. I just finished washup, dog walking time is upon us, I'm still reading and typing - no thank you for voices as well.

I've zero patience for more nonsense now or really ever. I've a life.

M0nica

How do people find the time to be constantly on their phones checking all these social media?

I suppose, if you are old and lonely, but I have too many other things I would rather do in life, including sitting down and reading a good book that requires all my time and attention for an hour or more.

I don't think anyone has said it is constant. I said that when I do one I do it all, but not that I'm not doing other things in between - I'm still working, for a start, as well as running a house and living a life.

It's impossible to make a comment on here without being found wanting sometimes.

Dickens

Doodledog

As others have said, I browse GN when doing other things, so voice files wouldn't work for me at all. I also flick through FB reels, YouTube videos and similar on silent, so that I can watch TV or be in the room with Mr Dog when he is watching it. I'm usually knitting too. This is why I ask stupid questions on the Corrie thread . I do too many things at once, and none of them well.

... so, you're making a hash of multi-tasking, then?

Actually, I'm quite impressed...

I'm multi-tasking.
On GN, typing listening to Michael Portillo and drinking a glass of Sauvignon Blanc 😃
282 trains a day left here ..........
Michael has a wonderful view of the city of St Paul apparently
If I had a free hand I could crochet too!

Are you impressed?

How do people find the time to be constantly on their phones checking all these social media?

I suppose, if you are old and lonely, but I have too many other things I would rather do in life, including sitting down and reading a good book that requires all my time and attention for an hour or more.

Doodledog

As others have said, I browse GN when doing other things, so voice files wouldn't work for me at all. I also flick through FB reels, YouTube videos and similar on silent, so that I can watch TV or be in the room with Mr Dog when he is watching it. I'm usually knitting too. This is why I ask stupid questions on the Corrie thread . I do too many things at once, and none of them well.

... so, you're making a hash of multi-tasking, then?

Actually, I'm quite impressed...

Did anyone say they no longer read biglouis. I missed that.

I think, should there ever be chat sites that use voice, there will be a place for a written post site too.

I can imagine groups for whom a voice would help - the blind and partially sighted for example. You can get reading software, of course, but it's not the same as listening to individual voices.

As others have said, I browse GN when doing other things, so voice files wouldn't work for me at all. I also flick through FB reels, YouTube videos and similar on silent, so that I can watch TV or be in the room with Mr Dog when he is watching it. I'm usually knitting too. This is why I ask stupid questions on the Corrie thread . I do too many things at once, and none of them well.

I suspect the reason many people no longer read is that they lack patience and have such a short attention span! Also many are more used to communicating via memes and emoticons rather than the written word.

Whenever someone ignores my very explicit "visitors by appointment only no sales/political. religious etc" notice and knocks anyway I ask them if they have a problem understanding and reading basic English. It sets the tone for the remainder of the conversation with unwanted sales people and chuggers.

lemsip

no way! a ridiculous idea.!

It wasn't an "idea". I just wondered how different it would be. I hoped it would mean people were their pleasantest selves. I have a feeling that was a bit naive.

I don’t like my voice and I think that idea will never take off, but it is far easier to express passion/anger/compassion when spoken though. In a past life, I often found it difficult to express empathy on paper - it seemed to come out as robotic and mechanical.