>I'm also considering not allowing video on the calls also I've never considered live video of me a requirement in any professional or technical context a requ

>I'm also considering not allowing video on the calls also I've never considered live video of me a requirement in any professional or technical context a requirement unless I was actually doing something visual that explicitly requires it. When on the job I've never even bothered asking if it was ok to not have my camera on, and in interviews I've never thought twice about letting the interviewer know that I won't have a video stream up. Sometimes its because I genuinely can't (either poor internet or the fact that I don't have a webcam for my desktop) or I just don't feel like it. It's not about some high-minded principle regarding discrimination or a tactical decision or anything, I just don't think that video conferences add anything to audio in any situation except visual presentations or personal/emotional contacts (GF or family). I've been in a LOT of live calls in a lot of contexts and I've never noticed the other party having any issue with this, no interviewer has detectably taken it negatively. I'd also like to add that I don't always have my camera off, just that I don't feel any pressure to justify myself when it is turned off, which is most of the time.