Great piece today in The New York Times: ‘Internet Phone Service Creating Chatty Network’ on the openness of Skype users using the SkypeMe function to chat, and be chatted to, by strangers with only a nice chat in mind:
Skype users report unsolicited contacts every day, and contrary to such experiences with phone and e-mail, the calls are often welcomed.
As the author Ethan Todras-Whitehill points out, it’s like putting the clock back but with better features:
It felt like the early days of AOL, another environment in which people contacted others randomly. But voice brings to life the other person in a way that typing cannot, like hearing Mr. Einkamerer laugh at my jokes. The instant-messaging environment is anonymous; with voice, you cannot hide from the other person.
Must confess I haven’t done it, but I think I’ll try. During the short window when it won’t be abused by sleazeballs, marketers and scammers, it might be a nice way to meet interesting new folks.