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Not an American thing. I always have the camera enabled and it would be kinda odd to be in a meeting where half the people have the camera off. For me it's a s

by dewey 3y ago

Not an American thing. I always have the camera enabled and it would be kinda odd to be in a meeting where half the people have the camera off. For me it's a sign of respect, just like not playing on your phone in a in-person meeting.

Kye 3y ago
Not letting you see my face is actually about respect: I don't want people to embarrass themselves trying to read my mind based on what my face is doing while ignoring what I'm actually saying with my words. I've found it's usually people with a need to see a face (or worse, eye contact) when talking who refuse to trust my words in favor of what they assume based on "body language" (at best a weak signal often given too much weight), so it's better for everyone.
- dewey 3y ago
  Just like in real life, it's not about body language OR audio, it's about the combination of both. Apart from scientific reasons...I also just like to talk and see my colleagues from time to time when we are already not in the same office, but I know that varies from person to person.
- nullserver 3y ago
  When concentrating on a task, Me and one of my daughters both get asked constantly why we are so angry. Apparently it’s so bad that we both get lots of interruptions from people that are greatly concerned. Not sure if it’s an ADHD hyper-focus thing or what.
- probably_wrong 3y ago
  Other comments in this thread suggest that one should turn their camera off and do something else. This, I believe, is the default experience: that behind every participant without camera there's someone ignoring your talk. It's the same as presenting to a room where half the attendees are on their phone - while it's conceivable that some of them are using it to (say) find a detail that the presenter missed, the more likely explanation is that they're checking their emails and/or Instagram.
  - JohnFen 3y ago
    On the other hand, just because someone is looking at you while you speak, not doing anything else, and giving appropriate nods, etc., doesn't actually mean they're paying attention to you.
toomuchtodo 3y ago
American here. I have my camera on when speaking/presenting, but off when consuming the meeting so that I can focus cognitive load on the meeting agenda at hand. This allows me to take written paper notes and think during the meeting vs spending cycles on what people may infer socially from my process in doing so on video (hard to take the lizard brain out of the human). Thinking takes effort. I tell my team (remote infosec team) video is optional: on if you'd like, but no concerns if off. Respect and output is distinct from whether your camera is on, and I want those I work with (directs and peers) to be most comfortable during our work sessions, including consideration to introverts, those who might show signs of being on the spectrum and adverse to full time video, and so on. There will be no written test, but it will show if you are consistently not paying attention in these forums (assuming you are properly measuring output). I admit this is culture and org dependent. I encourage those with the authority and aptitude to build good culture whenever within their control. (my learnings for this topic come from several years at a fully remote startup, a variety of larger enterprises, and my own interactions with my children who are on the spectrum, have ADHD like myself, etc; TLDR give grace, its cheap)
- reactordev 3y ago
  I do this too but have been called out for “not being on camera” by a man that deserves no authority. Some people like to see themselves talk. Some like to hear themselves talk. I’d rather code than talk. When I run meetings, my camera is off, everyone else’s is off, and we have good candor and understanding during the meeting. I think by setting my bar low (just attend) I get better scores than those that require “face time”.

by dewey 3y ago

Kye 3y ago

Not letting you see my face is actually about respect: I don't want people to embarrass themselves trying to read my mind based on what my face is doing while ignoring what I'm actually saying with my words. I've found it's usually people with a need to see a face (or worse, eye contact) when talking who refuse to trust my words in favor of what they assume based on "body language" (at best a weak signal often given too much weight), so it's better for everyone.

dewey 3y ago
Just like in real life, it's not about body language OR audio, it's about the combination of both. Apart from scientific reasons...I also just like to talk and see my colleagues from time to time when we are already not in the same office, but I know that varies from person to person.
nullserver 3y ago
When concentrating on a task, Me and one of my daughters both get asked constantly why we are so angry. Apparently it’s so bad that we both get lots of interruptions from people that are greatly concerned. Not sure if it’s an ADHD hyper-focus thing or what.
probably_wrong 3y ago
Other comments in this thread suggest that one should turn their camera off and do something else. This, I believe, is the default experience: that behind every participant without camera there's someone ignoring your talk. It's the same as presenting to a room where half the attendees are on their phone - while it's conceivable that some of them are using it to (say) find a detail that the presenter missed, the more likely explanation is that they're checking their emails and/or Instagram.
- JohnFen 3y ago
  On the other hand, just because someone is looking at you while you speak, not doing anything else, and giving appropriate nods, etc., doesn't actually mean they're paying attention to you.

toomuchtodo 3y ago

American here. I have my camera on when speaking/presenting, but off when consuming the meeting so that I can focus cognitive load on the meeting agenda at hand. This allows me to take written paper notes and think during the meeting vs spending cycles on what people may infer socially from my process in doing so on video (hard to take the lizard brain out of the human). Thinking takes effort. I tell my team (remote infosec team) video is optional: on if you'd like, but no concerns if off. Respect and output is distinct from whether your camera is on, and I want those I work with (directs and peers) to be most comfortable during our work sessions, including consideration to introverts, those who might show signs of being on the spectrum and adverse to full time video, and so on. There will be no written test, but it will show if you are consistently not paying attention in these forums (assuming you are properly measuring output). I admit this is culture and org dependent. I encourage those with the authority and aptitude to build good culture whenever within their control. (my learnings for this topic come from several years at a fully remote startup, a variety of larger enterprises, and my own interactions with my children who are on the spectrum, have ADHD like myself, etc; TLDR give grace, its cheap)

reactordev 3y ago
I do this too but have been called out for “not being on camera” by a man that deserves no authority. Some people like to see themselves talk. Some like to hear themselves talk. I’d rather code than talk. When I run meetings, my camera is off, everyone else’s is off, and we have good candor and understanding during the meeting. I think by setting my bar low (just attend) I get better scores than those that require “face time”.