Because I love the answering machine, no offense to the haters

– Posted April 16, 2020

My colleague Manon wrote a somewhat venerable article against voice messages that she particularly detests.

As a heavy user of this mode of communication, I was outraged by the arguments he advanced to denigrate the rumor, arguments that I personally believe are invalid. So I had to write a right of reply, to defend these poor rumors that many unjustifiably hate when they don’t ask anyone.

Voice messages, a complementary solution to SMS and calls

First of all, I would like to address all those boomers who constantly put forward topics like:

But why send voice messages when you can call each other?

Live communication is DEAD because of these rumors!

Was typing “yes” via SMS too complicated?

The voices they are not there to replace SMS and calls, at least not for me. Personally, I use them as a complement to these two other means of communication.

When what I have to say can be contained in a few written words (like “come and get some bread please”), go via SMS.

When the person I want to chat with is available and I’m ready to have a conversation with them, I obviously prefer to call them.

But when I need it give a long explanation that it would take me 4 hours to type via text message and I don’t have time to spend 10 minutes on the phone (or the person in front is not available) to do it in person, well I prefer to speak by voice.

Have you ever tried to explain to your grandmother how to connect on Skype? I do, and doing it via text is really the worst idea.

Like Caroline, former fashion editor of Lose :

Before the voice when we were too lazy to write an SMS we said well “I’ll explain later”. there we can only make a voice and explain.

Cassandre, former community manager of Madmoizelle, also affirms his love for the voice:

In general, for me, voice messages are something personal, which I reserve for my relatives or trusted people (I have never sent voice messages to my banker for example).

beyond being fast and convenient for when you are in a hurryto communicate while walking … It is a great tool to get in touch with people: you can hear their voices, the emotions they betray …

It is a spontaneous and true exchange.

The voice, the apex of spontaneity

Yes, because even if there are many who would prefer to wait to have the person on the phone tell them, in my opinion also the voices allow for greater spontaneity.

Let’s imagine something crazy happens to me: why wait tonight for the person to finish work? I just have to tell her verbally in a few minutes, and she’ll listen when she has time.

It allows meput all the emotion I feel in real timewithout risking disturbing the person in front who may have something else to do at that moment.

Cassandre also emphasizes the emotional expression allowed by the voice:

I find the voice perfect for communicating in situations of crisis, anger, stress or drama.

Indeed, you are free to set the tone, to shout, to get angry … Which is perfect for building a climax when you’re a drama queen like me!

Listen to the voice wherever and whenever you want

As for the famous topic I don’t have time to listen to them “, this is really nonsense. You listen to podcasts or music, right?

Washing the dishes, on public transport… Don’t tell me there isn’t a time in your day when you can’t keep your ears busy while dealing with something that doesn’t require them. .

By the way, humans have invented a great tool called headphones, so it’s not like you have to share your voice with the whole world.

And if you don’t have one, nothing forces you to open it in public as Manon suggests in his article!

When I get a voice, I’m not always in a hurry to hear it. Sometimes I wait a day or two to have a quiet moment to fully enjoy it.

Voices, sometimes less restrictive than a call

I find that in some cases it is a lot less binding than a call, because sometimes I’m not in the mood to have someone on the phone for 20 minutes.

It doesn’t mean I don’t want to know my friends’ life! Just not right now T. But if they have something to tell me, I’ll be happy to hear it later, hence the interest of the voice.

Voice is a good way for me no longer submit to communication with others, but to choose it. And I think it has to be mutual!

When I have something in particular to say, instead of forcing a call on someone I know is particularly busy, I give them a voice because I know he or she will take the time to listen to it at the time that suits them best.

At no time do I expect someone to answer me within a minute. And if so, I tend to call the person instead.

But not always, because the voice also goes away this freedom to interrupt the conversation at any time without warning, without having to apologize, without justification, even if the conversation wasn’t over.

It’s an aspect that former fashion editor Caroline also appreciates in voice:

Calling is sometimes boring because you’re afraid of being rude by saying it’s time to hang up. The, no problem because it’s not live.

It is more personal and less distant.

The ability to play voices

Finally, I like voices because they leave a trace and it can be listened to again at any time.

In times when I feel a little lonely or in need of comfort, it is always a pleasure to listen to voice messages from friends or family.

It’s all the more fun, I find, when the voice is several months old. It gives me the impression of being transported to another era on which I have much more perspective.

And then again, it’s cool being able to hear the voice of the other without having to disturb him !

For Philippine, former director of a Madmoizelle film series, it is also a way to exchange words with people on the other side of the world:

Personally I have several friends who live abroad and in particular one of my best friends who is studying at the end of the world.

Since we hardly ever find time slots to call us (the jet lag galleys), we make voices to tell us about our lives.

Hearing his voice makes me feel good because I miss him so much, so much listening to his voice I have the impression of having him live a bit. In any case, more than with a message!

All these reasons mean that, in my opinion, using the voice has only advantages, both for those who send it and for those who receive it.

This is why I find it so difficult to understand the hatred that these messages can arouse, but it probably depends on the use made of them, and maybe it’s just a story of habit (and generation?)!

Come on, I’m waiting for the haters in the comments, and if you agree with me, don’t hesitate to come and support me against anti-vocals!

Front page photo credit: pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3776659