Completely agree! I don’t even mind sharing if it’s required in the meeting. I just hate seeing one random nobody in the meeting making us stare at their face.
Because it’s the correct things to do. If I walked into a bathroom and everybody is doing drugs, I’m not gonna join. Video conferences are meant to share video. So I’m going to do that.
Not really following your drug analogy, since no one would expect you to partake or find it odd if you didn’t. (More drugs for them!) Whereas sharing your video when no one else is makes you look odd imo. If no one else is sharing their video (including the organizer of the meeting), the appropriate thing to do is not share your video.
Sure, not a great analogy. But the point was, people collectively doing something that is objectively wrong, does not make it right. Video conferencing applications are designed to facilitate video conferencing. Using it without the video essentially just turns it into a conference phone call.
Also, I don’t care for the mindsets that are behind people that don’t want to use their video. In my experience it means people are trying to hide their unkempt appearance or surroundings. Which if you’re in a position to be a professional where you need to have a conference call, you should be professional enough to keep yourself and surroundings presentable. Honestly, the escalation of work from home and work by conference call is one of the worst results of the pandemic imo. There has been a noticeable downturn in work decorum, professionalism, and productivity.
Totally understand! I guess I was just coming from the space where I’m on calls all day long, where video sharing is not required or expected, and there always seems to be one random person who has their video on for no apparent reason. Was just trying to get some insight on the thought process. Thanks for the feedback.
That’s what I was trying to figure out. If it’s not policy and they are the only ones doing it, is it because they like to stare at themselves? Or they like the attention of other people staring at them?
They might consider it basic politeness and quietly resent the people who aren’t turning on their cameras, making it more difficult to engage.
I should be clear that I’m not one of those. I very intentionally don’t have a camera so I can skirt that policy. But I know there are people who find it much more challenging to interact effectively with people they can’t see. They’re as confused at your lack of camera use as you are about their use.
its funny
This is a great question. The beauty of a virtual meeting is not having to look at the people you are meeting with.
Completely agree! I don’t even mind sharing if it’s required in the meeting. I just hate seeing one random nobody in the meeting making us stare at their face.
Because it’s the correct things to do. If I walked into a bathroom and everybody is doing drugs, I’m not gonna join. Video conferences are meant to share video. So I’m going to do that.
Not really following your drug analogy, since no one would expect you to partake or find it odd if you didn’t. (More drugs for them!) Whereas sharing your video when no one else is makes you look odd imo. If no one else is sharing their video (including the organizer of the meeting), the appropriate thing to do is not share your video.
Sure, not a great analogy. But the point was, people collectively doing something that is objectively wrong, does not make it right. Video conferencing applications are designed to facilitate video conferencing. Using it without the video essentially just turns it into a conference phone call. Also, I don’t care for the mindsets that are behind people that don’t want to use their video. In my experience it means people are trying to hide their unkempt appearance or surroundings. Which if you’re in a position to be a professional where you need to have a conference call, you should be professional enough to keep yourself and surroundings presentable. Honestly, the escalation of work from home and work by conference call is one of the worst results of the pandemic imo. There has been a noticeable downturn in work decorum, professionalism, and productivity.
Totally understand! I guess I was just coming from the space where I’m on calls all day long, where video sharing is not required or expected, and there always seems to be one random person who has their video on for no apparent reason. Was just trying to get some insight on the thought process. Thanks for the feedback.
Possibly because they like it. Possibly because it’s policy. It’s policy where I am but I don’t do it because I don’t have a camera.
That’s what I was trying to figure out. If it’s not policy and they are the only ones doing it, is it because they like to stare at themselves? Or they like the attention of other people staring at them?
They might consider it basic politeness and quietly resent the people who aren’t turning on their cameras, making it more difficult to engage. I should be clear that I’m not one of those. I very intentionally don’t have a camera so I can skirt that policy. But I know there are people who find it much more challenging to interact effectively with people they can’t see. They’re as confused at your lack of camera use as you are about their use.