The Surreal World of Chatroulette 151
Hugh Pickens writes "The New York Times reports that Chatroulette, the social Web site created by a 17-year-old Russian named Andrey Ternovskiy, drops you into an unnerving world where you are connected through webcams to a random, fathomless succession of strangers from across the globe. The site activates your webcam automatically; when you click 'start' you're suddenly staring at another human on your screen and they're staring back at you, at which point you can either choose to chat (via text or voice) or just click 'next,' instantly calling up someone else. Entering Chatroulette is akin to speed-dating tens of thousands of perfect strangers — some clothed, some not. You see them, they see you. You talk to them, they talk to you. 'It's very strange, and not just because you are parachuting into someone else's life (and they yours), a kind of invited crasher,' writes Nick Bilton. 'It is also the eerie thrill of true randomness — who, or what, will show up next?' The Web has long allowed anonymous conversations among strangers. Text-based chat rooms are rife with deceit — people pretending they are someone else. Video makes this harder — even if you're wearing a mask. 'From my experience on the site, echoed by those I've spoken to, it seems as if 90 percent of users are genuinely looking for novel and unexpected conversation,' add Bilton. 'The rest — well, let's just say they have debauchery in mind.'"
Obligatory: (Score:5, Funny)
'The rest well, let's just say they have debauchery in mind.'
"I put on my robe and wizard hat"
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BMO
I don't know how to say this but ... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:4Chan Members (Score:5, Funny)
I'm not the 14 year old with the Nazi flag in the background, the Red Army greatcoat, Red Army officer's hat (with Nazi SS skull), Douglas-McArthur style sunglasses and pipe, but I wish I was.
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BMO
Re:Hum. (Score:4, Funny)
I might actually try a few rounds later to completely numb my sense of social anxiety. It sounds like a hell hole of the internet, but I figure I'll come out either a post traumatic vet or completely cured!
Re:too late (Score:1, Funny)
However, the expressions on the faces of people who are caught unawares... [boingboing.net]
yeah thanks for that (Score:1, Funny)
First image was of some dudes unit, and that will be the end of that service for me.
Re:Obligatory: (Score:5, Funny)
What the f*ck, I told you not to message me again.
Re:Cue the spam (Score:3, Funny)
Pff, Goatse will have a field day with that site! Until he finds the love of his life: Tubgirl.
4Chan even more so. Only they will hunt for children while wearing pedobear masks.