8 ms·

I haven't turned my camera on in meetings for over 8 months, I don't think anyone really cares that much, and I find some people like it because they feel less

I haven't turned my camera on in meetings for over 8 months, I don't think anyone really cares that much, and I find some people like it because they feel less pressure to keep their own cameras on as a result. That's been my experience at least, I'm sure some people have bosses that require it for whatever reason which might make that not an option for everyone.

macintux 5y ago
Based on a discussion here several months ago, it seems to vary by workplace. Some companies rarely use cameras, some use them all the time. Very grateful I work for the former.
- Buttons840 5y ago
  The ability to have someone instantly available, without requiring 100% of their attention, is useful. I have no problem with some people multitasking in meetings, and I don't judge people if they say "sorry, I wasn't paying attention, can you repeat that". I've learned to ask better questions that people can answer even if they weren't paying attention.
  - MivLives 5y ago
    One thing I always found helpful with that is to lead with the person's name. So "Bob, do you have an opinion on this specific thing, in the context of this other thing?" I totally understand drifting off in meetings especially virtual ones.
matsemann 5y ago
They care, they just don't want to pick a fight. They might judge you and believe the reason you're not on camera is because you're busy doing something else.
- hnzix 5y ago
  These are probably the same people who care if I leave the office on time instead of staying late every night. I don't care to please these people.
  - matsemann 5y ago
    It's not. Why do you have to assign other bad qualities to people you disagree with? Just to make it easier on yourself to disagree?
    - Arnavion 5y ago
      Ironic, coming from the person who said that other people judge me when I don't have my camera on.
    - dabbledash 5y ago
      >> Why do you have to assign other bad qualities to people you disagree with? Yes, inferring bad motives to other people is bad. We should try to be charitable. >> They might judge you and believe the reason you're not on camera is because you're busy doing something else. Sounds like these people ^^^ are the ones who need to hear that message.
    - johnchristopher 5y ago
      It's fair game to assume though.
- piva00 5y ago
  As if no one does the same on in-person meetings. Bringing their computers to the meeting, leaving them open and replying messages here and there. If they believe that it's on their side, so the reason to keep my camera on is to "show" that I've been paying attention? I work with a bunch of people who leave their camera on and are completely inattentive for parts of meetings, doing something else while looking at the computer. How is that different?
  - 5y ago
INTPenis 5y ago
Strangely this is perfectly fine to do with my employer, but I have a weekly meeting with some external developers and they immediately comment on my avatar or that I'm missing, while they all have their cameras on.
varjag 5y ago
I'm regularly in meetings where people are on camera and where everyone has them off. It's clear the degree of people not following the discussion when the cameras are off is much more substantial.
- b3morales 5y ago
  And so, having made this observation, what steps have you taken to ensure that your meetings are purposeful and relevant to the people who are attending, so that they feel able to participate?
  - varjag 5y ago
    I rarely organize any of these meetings, so it's not my call. But people on those are usually relevant.
- Kye 5y ago
  Maybe they're paying as much attention while on camera, but using the same fake signals they use to look like they're paying attention at in-person meetings.
  - varjag 5y ago
    I'm not talking about social signals, but people going like "sorry what, could you repeat the last point" when called out.

macintux 5y ago

Based on a discussion here several months ago, it seems to vary by workplace. Some companies rarely use cameras, some use them all the time. Very grateful I work for the former.

Buttons840 5y ago
The ability to have someone instantly available, without requiring 100% of their attention, is useful. I have no problem with some people multitasking in meetings, and I don't judge people if they say "sorry, I wasn't paying attention, can you repeat that". I've learned to ask better questions that people can answer even if they weren't paying attention.
- MivLives 5y ago
  One thing I always found helpful with that is to lead with the person's name. So "Bob, do you have an opinion on this specific thing, in the context of this other thing?" I totally understand drifting off in meetings especially virtual ones.

matsemann 5y ago

They care, they just don't want to pick a fight. They might judge you and believe the reason you're not on camera is because you're busy doing something else.

hnzix 5y ago
These are probably the same people who care if I leave the office on time instead of staying late every night. I don't care to please these people.
- matsemann 5y ago
  It's not. Why do you have to assign other bad qualities to people you disagree with? Just to make it easier on yourself to disagree?
  - Arnavion 5y ago
    Ironic, coming from the person who said that other people judge me when I don't have my camera on.
  - dabbledash 5y ago
    >> Why do you have to assign other bad qualities to people you disagree with? Yes, inferring bad motives to other people is bad. We should try to be charitable. >> They might judge you and believe the reason you're not on camera is because you're busy doing something else. Sounds like these people ^^^ are the ones who need to hear that message.
  - johnchristopher 5y ago
    It's fair game to assume though.
piva00 5y ago
As if no one does the same on in-person meetings. Bringing their computers to the meeting, leaving them open and replying messages here and there. If they believe that it's on their side, so the reason to keep my camera on is to "show" that I've been paying attention? I work with a bunch of people who leave their camera on and are completely inattentive for parts of meetings, doing something else while looking at the computer. How is that different?
- 5y ago

INTPenis 5y ago

Strangely this is perfectly fine to do with my employer, but I have a weekly meeting with some external developers and they immediately comment on my avatar or that I'm missing, while they all have their cameras on.

varjag 5y ago

I'm regularly in meetings where people are on camera and where everyone has them off. It's clear the degree of people not following the discussion when the cameras are off is much more substantial.

b3morales 5y ago
And so, having made this observation, what steps have you taken to ensure that your meetings are purposeful and relevant to the people who are attending, so that they feel able to participate?
- varjag 5y ago
  I rarely organize any of these meetings, so it's not my call. But people on those are usually relevant.
Kye 5y ago
Maybe they're paying as much attention while on camera, but using the same fake signals they use to look like they're paying attention at in-person meetings.
- varjag 5y ago
  I'm not talking about social signals, but people going like "sorry what, could you repeat the last point" when called out.