By now most everyone has heard about a new online phenomenon called Chatroulette. If you have not had the certain misfortune of hearing about it allow me a couple sentences to explain.
Chatroulette is an website that connects individuals to one another for the purpose of engaging in a random video chat. You are in full control and can pass on anyone you connect with, but beware, they can do this as well so there is no telling who you are going to land on or engage in conversation with. Anything goes on this site, and very often, you can be exposed to things you would NEVER EVER want to see online or anywhere for that matter.
So why are people interested in Chatroulette? It appears to be pretty much one of the grossest and sleaziest sites on the internet.
In order to really give my opinion, I found it necessary to try it out. So into the trenches I went and here are some of my findings:
- Fact 1: Turns out, its true, it is as gross as everyone says. Male anatomy flying left and right. It was nasty.
- Fact 2: Turns out that no one I spoke with actually knew what the point was or what they were supposed to be doing.
- Fact 3: It also turns out that there are far more creepy people in the world than I ever expected.
- Fact 4: I couldn’t find one positive use for the website.
I did manage to find two people who were interesting. One of them was another guy who after talking, turns out we both work in advertising, he is at some mid sized agency in NY and we are interested in some of the same things. We even connected on LinkedIn and turns out, he wasn’t lying. When I asked him why he was on Chatroulette, he didn’t have a good answer for me either. Maybe he was researching the new internet phenomenon like I was or like John Stewart was. (just in case you missed it, here is the clip from the daily show)
The other guy I met was from New Jersey and he also claimed to work at some small agency out there. In fact I commented on the company t-shirt he was wearing and he said he would send me one. I still have yet to see the t-shirt, but I am hopeful. I just hope he doesn’t turn out to be some psycho who ends up stalking me.
Basically, I have yet to understand why Chatroulette is popular, or what all the hype is all about. Maybe people only like it because of the ability to connect with a total stranger and be completely candid about who they are. Its an escape from real life while still showing your face without giving up any information about who you really are. Similar to second life or any of the other role playing games. Anything goes and if you are into that… well then I guess congratulation, Chatroulette will fill that void in your life.
For the rest of us, I think the ability to point and laugh at others, and watch all the hilarity that appears around the internet poking fun at this new internet fad, gives meaning to the existence of Chatroulette.
Now, go ahead and enjoy some of the fine meme’s that have come from this site already.