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Why bring chat roulette into it? Because it's been a phenomenally successful concept that millions already understand conceptually. And because it highlights t

Why bring chat roulette into it? Because it's been a phenomenally successful concept that millions already understand conceptually. And because it highlights their USP -- live, instant matching of language partners -- when their competitors who use vanilla video chat services require you to schedule online conferences. 'The something-of-something-else' pattern is incredibly useful as a means of introducing new services and ideas. (My favourite is from Ronald Shusett and Dan O'Bannon, who famously pitched the film 'Alien' as 'Jaws in space'.) Sure -- you might take on the negative elements of the service you're comparing yourselves with as well as the positive ones, but as long as you have answers for those questions (e.g. "Good question. Our community is self-policing, and we review and ban users who misbehave."), then I see little harm in it.

barkingcat 15y ago
Chat roulette is not as successful as you think it is, and no - if you just say it to anyone on the streets, no one will understand what "chat roulette" is - it has a connotation of gambling or being very risky (ie the roulette thing billions of people understand conceptually, so your "analogy" will be hijacked) Is it a platform for gambling in different languages? Is probably the response you'll get from "chat roulette for languages"
- zerohp 15y ago
  I'm going to disagree with you there. Occasionally I watch "old media" and for a while Chat Roulette dominated both traditional and comedy news shows as well as late night. Many people on the street know exactly what it is: penises.
  - deleted 15y ago
    [deleted]
  - 5hoom 15y ago
    I hate to be 'that guy with a youtube link', but I think Trey Parker & Matt Stone nailed what Chat Roulette means to most people: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gNyDZmQyeY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gNyDZmQyeY Probably best if Verbling doesn't associate themselves with that ;)

barkingcat 15y ago

Chat roulette is not as successful as you think it is, and no - if you just say it to anyone on the streets, no one will understand what "chat roulette" is - it has a connotation of gambling or being very risky (ie the roulette thing billions of people understand conceptually, so your "analogy" will be hijacked) Is it a platform for gambling in different languages? Is probably the response you'll get from "chat roulette for languages"

zerohp 15y ago
I'm going to disagree with you there. Occasionally I watch "old media" and for a while Chat Roulette dominated both traditional and comedy news shows as well as late night. Many people on the street know exactly what it is: penises.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
- 5hoom 15y ago
  I hate to be 'that guy with a youtube link', but I think Trey Parker & Matt Stone nailed what Chat Roulette means to most people: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gNyDZmQyeY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gNyDZmQyeY Probably best if Verbling doesn't associate themselves with that ;)