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Post by ole on Mar 21, 2021 16:03:01 GMT
Thanks @mia. I'm sorry, I didn't understand that by "social" you meant writing letters together at the same time. That would require getting a suitable camera for that and the laptop built-in camera I used for Zoom wouldn't work too well. That's just fine and I can do that, but I don't really understand why it would be a good idea. I just like the idea of people getting together socially. I don't mind people watching me writing or anything else, I'm not shy, but I'm not a good multi-tasker so if I'm to socialize at the same time it would be a bit of a negative experience. I'll gladly show my living space, pens, papers, inks, to everyone on camera though. Like I say, I'm attracted to the idea of something social, and everyone is invited to my house any time, even if it's just a network visit.
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Post by radellaf on Mar 21, 2021 16:46:21 GMT
My camera is fixed to the top of the iMac, so it can swivel a bit, but all you'd see with me writing is the top left bit of my head. I don't think, even with a webcam and tripod, you can really re-create the feeling of writing at a big table at a bookstore or coffee shop. I don't want to be able to see a close-up of the letter you're writing, yet it'd be essential that I hear the paper shuffling and pens scratching. Exactly the opposite of what you'd get with a camera close to your letter and a muted mic. A camera showing the top of a pen moving, and not the nib, seems like a kinda strange view. Ideally I guess the camera would be a few meters away showing the whole desk. Like the view you would see at a cafe table.
What I do enjoy, to feel a little social, is a group text chat while I'm writing. That way I can look at a couple minutes worth of people's comments at convenient pauses in writing the letter. Add something if I feel like.
I've been doing this with some IRCs and World of Warcraft chat, while I write, where it's not even people I know or about the same subject. It gives me a tiny bit of that in-a-cafe feeling. Better, in a way, since I don't have to pause writing to hear something, since I know it'll be in the chat log. I think it's actually better that the chat is on completely random subjects.
What I'd most be interested here is just a chance to meet, in video, a few of the people that I've been writing to. It being a group would make it different enough from what I'd write in letters.
I'm not sure how Zoom handles text with video. Skype and Discord make it hard to position video and text so you can see much of either. In other kinds of meetings I use the chat more than the mic, since someone is always quicker at starting to talk than I am. I wish in-person meetings had a text channel!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2021 17:46:47 GMT
ole, I'm familiar with Zoom, Teams, whatever and have been using it. What's the purpose of participating with video and/or audio turned off? And I definitely wouldn't want to find a recording of it on Youtube or somewhere else online. Just my view.
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Post by ginny on Mar 21, 2021 18:02:43 GMT
ole , I'm familiar with Zoom, Teams, whatever and have been using it. What's the purpose of participating with video and/or audio turned off? And I definitely wouldn't want to find a recording of it on Youtube or somewhere else online. Just my view. This is another case of 'it's a good thing that we're all different'...
I'm with @kalliope here, I actually don't feel comfortable with the idea - but that's just me, and I don't think that should stop you from going ahead and doing a letter social, if that's what you want to do. Have fun, and enjoy yourselves
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Post by ole on Mar 21, 2021 21:50:47 GMT
ole , I'm familiar with Zoom, Teams, whatever and have been using it. What's the purpose of participating with video and/or audio turned off? And I definitely wouldn't want to find a recording of it on Youtube or somewhere else online. Just my view. I've participated in Zoom meetings where I didn't have video, and others didn't either. They were very productive, and in fact, quite delightful. Those were meetings with an important purpose, but I also enjoyed the people. Communicating with other humans in any way at all, (even morse code!) is usually a pleasure.
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Post by penguy on Mar 22, 2021 1:23:09 GMT
This afternoon The Wood Engravers' Network had a Zoom gathering with members all over the united states. We even had Andy English and Simon Brett, two top English wood engravers join us from England. It was fun with a lot of give and take. So yes Zooming can be fun and a way to share interests. I am wondering if it would dilute the importance or even supplant the reason for corresponding. Calliope's looking out the window, the thought process, the finding the right words to express what we want to say...that is the part of corresponding the wouldn't go away. So really what is being proposed is a social get together where we could have our wine, or tea, or coffee and just chat and talk about what is going on...but then there is less to talk about in the next letter!!! I keep going back and forth....a good idea....a bad idea!!!!! What to do lol.
Ole and I could get together even though we aren't allowed to cross one another's borders!
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Post by Catida on Mar 22, 2021 14:54:28 GMT
I wish in-person meetings had a text channel! Haha, I can relate to this!
I like the idea of a chat meeting. I don't think I'd have the courage to participate a video social in English.
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Post by radellaf on Mar 22, 2021 17:30:52 GMT
Yeah I get where you're coming from. The electronic vs paper topic division is interesting, but this board is similar. A little general stuff is posted here, the rest goes in letters. All a matter of how long the chat part went, how often meetings were, and how many people are present. Especially the first meeting, I'd be inclined to do some video show and tell, which is pretty hard to do in a letter (unless I send photos, or a web-link to an online album).
I find Skype with two people can be intimate, but once you have 3 it's rougher, and 4 or more and you're in speakerphone-conference-call territory where you need to leave clear gaps for the system to handle a when a new person starts speaking. Without real full-duplex (none of the platforms really can manage it), only one person can really speak at a time, and the cues for switching speakers are a bit muddled (little delays or bits where one person's attempt to speak briefly mutes the other person). It's hard to get the same fluid conversation you have in person with more than 2 or 3 people. It's not coffee and biscuits in the garden. It could be fun, but I don't think we'd share so many secrets that there'd be nothing to write about.
The bonus would be that if I did share a good story about thing-that-happened, I'd know who heard it. With letters, I have trouble remembering which anecdote I told to which people. Though, sure, I _can_ look up the letter scans if I want. Usually I get tired of writing the same story before there's much risk of that.
I'd agree video group calls can be fine if not everyone has video, or doesn't leave it on all the time. I mean, do you _really_ need to see me drinking tea for a whole meeting where I speak maybe once? If you have video and audio turned off, though, can't say I get it. Like, for the letter writing part, I'd have meaningless video, and on mute, so.... no point to that.
From a NYT article: "imple interactions with strangers positively affect your well-being,” she said, adding that, even for introverts, “a simple chat with a stranger can make people feel great.” ...During Covid, we have limited chances for small exchanges — so how can we still fulfill that need? It’s much harder right now. We need to be much more intentional about it. We need to recognize that it’s missing and that its absence is having a huge effect on our well-being — from the chat with the barista at the coffee shop to the water-cooler interaction with the people in the office."
I guess I'm more interested in that than a long video letter-writing session. An AWoSM water-cooler.
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Post by Catida on Mar 23, 2021 12:11:44 GMT
On the other hand, it could be fun to get a glimpse at people's writing spaces or other stuff they sometimes mention here or in their letters. Pets, plants..
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Post by eefa on Mar 27, 2021 12:04:37 GMT
I miss water cooler chats
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Post by michelleg on Apr 5, 2021 12:27:22 GMT
So is this happening?
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Post by InsomniaQueen on Apr 5, 2021 22:07:24 GMT
I have mixed feelings about this. I think it would be interesting to "meet" each other, but I also feel a little uncomfortable about it too - pretty much how I react as an ambivert to in-person events. I know myself well enough to say that whether I show up for any meeting or not depends on how I feel when the day arrives. If I'm feeling more extroverted that day, I will show up, but if I'm not, I will flake out. Today's "oh yes! Let's do!" can be tomorrow's "maybe next time." I guess, overall, I like having the option to attend, even if I never avail myself of it. Go forth and Zoom if thou willest.
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Post by penguy on Apr 6, 2021 0:25:58 GMT
Egads!!!! I may have to get a haircut!! Do we have to get dressed up......no shirt no shoes no service!!! We wouldn't have to worry about deodorant, aftershave or perfume. Then there are time zone considerations...let's say Mia is moderator and wants to start at 6:00 PM then it would be seven and a half hours difference in Australia they might be in their pajamas (decent pajamas of course). There are all sorts of things to think about. If I were to show where I sit to write letters I might have to spend a couple hours doing a bit of cleaning and organizing and for distractedmom I'd have to get a dog!! But it might be fun!!!!
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Post by InsomniaQueen on Apr 6, 2021 14:34:59 GMT
...and for distractedmom I'd have to get a dog!! But it might be fun!!!! Lol! I have a dog or two that you could borrow.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2021 16:01:18 GMT
My other forum has regular zoom meetings. We have a few members in England and other countries in Europe (Belgium, Denmark, Spain) as well as the USA, and the person setting up the zoom meeting has to take into account the time zones, and warn the Aussies they have to be up at 6 am or 11 pm, depending on which country we are lining up with! We are not a letterwriting group as such, although some of the members do love snail mail and write to each other. I'm not sure I would be comfortable participating in a zoom meeting with this forum yet. You seem to have known each other for quite some time and would be okay chatting to each other, but I'd feel a bit strange. Maybe once I've exchanged letters with some of you I'd be okay with it.
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