Video calls: Are you content with them, versus actually being with those you video chat with?

treeguy64

treeguy64

Hari Om, y'all!
Location
Austin, TX.
As Janet and I begin the preliminary steps that will get us to leaving Austin, after my being here over forty years, we are dealing with many issues.

My daughter, sil, and granddaughters live fairly close by. We get together about once every two months, or so. I see my daughter every few weeks.

I'm a video call person. If I video call someone, it's really as good, for me, as seeing them in person. I don't know why that is, but it is the way it is. Janet, OTOH, needs to share common space with someone to feel she's connected to them.

As we will definitely be moving a good fifteen hour drive from Austin, or further, regular visits will not be happening, with our Austin people, especially when we get into older age.

I'm totally fine with that, as long as I can video chat with my Austin family and friends. Janet is not.

How are you with video chatting? Can it replace actual, in-person visits, for you? Why, or why not?
 

I've done just a few video chats with my brother here in town and my sister who lives many miles away, I liked it. I think it's a nice way to be able to quickly see, and talk to friends n' family who are close or far away, without having to travel. Traveling is not really in my wheelhouse anymore so what little video chatting I've done works for me.
 
For me, it depends on "who" and "why". For a nice chat with close friends and relatives:
An in-person visit always trumps a video call;
A video call is better than a voice-only call;
A voice-only call is better than a written letter;
A letter is better than email;
Email is better than no contact at all. It's a darned poor substitute for real communication, but I take what I can get.

On the other hand, for business matters it's just the reverse . . . I prefer email or hard copy. They generally tend to be more succinct and leave a permanent record. I generally find business video calls to be downright obnoxious.
 

The paucity of replies, here, I should have expected. I think, in general, video calls are not in the realm of folks our age. Oh well. I was looking forward to some interesting discussions in this thread, but I should have known better, given the subject.
 
I don't like video calls, but I don't think I've figured out exactly how to handle them.

I call my son in Iowa, and I'm very happy to see him and the kids. It seems like we just sit and look at each other though. No one has much to talk about, and there's no interaction. I will add that the kids are very young, being 5 and under. Maybe I need to find a way that I entertain them.

Also, it's harder with me being on a laptop, and they are on a phone. I'm not so great with technology. I tried connecting up to Skpe with my phone, but didn't know how to switch between the two devices. I suppose I need to do a little more research.
 
I FaceTime my California family (who I’m currently visiting) all the time. It’s so much better than a voice call for me but still not as good as seeing them in person.

I think in part that’s because I’m a tactile person and so are my family. I miss the physical closeness. Too, we banter back and forth all the time, and it’s just not as easy to have those lively conversations over video .. you can’t keep up with the swiftness of the banter over video feed.

And it just seems more impersonal to me. I don’t guess that’s entirely rational, but still that’s the way it feels.
 
I don't particularly like it but it does have its place. A few weeks ago my daughter and family rented a house on a beautiful lake in Idaho. My son in law took the time to take me on a tour with the laptop all around the house,deck, my daughter frying up the catch of the day and the grand kids playing on the shore. A priceless video.
 
I do not like video calls, I’m always concerned about how I look which is ridiculous but it is what it is so audio is best for me.
 
I pretty much only FaceTime with family. I honestly don’t even think about how I look or what I’m wearing when I do. Just off FaceTime in fact with my Tennessee family and my daughter commented on my hair which happened to be standing on end because I’d just come from the car with the window down. We both had a good laugh over my appearance 😂
 
Been using video connections for years; I use Skype for online teaching and catching up with friends in other countries -- and the most fun -- playing Yahtzee with far-away family (yes, it does work, but you have to tip the laptop camera down to show when you've rolled all the same :giggle: ) Just like getting together in person and we can catch up on regular topics too.
 
FaceTime all the time with my grandkids.....and they live in the cul de sac behind us. Last night about 1am I get a FaceTime from my 5 year old grandson! He’s in bed, been in bed since 9pm. Said he woke up and wanted to tell me he made an angel out of Legos and he loved me. I told him I loved him so much and I would see him tomorrow. He asked me if it was late at night. So funny, so sweet. I told my daughter the next day about it. Funny.
 

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