You probably already have some idea of what random video chatting is like – and that idea probably doesn’t have much to do with creativity. After all, we’re talking about a form of entertainment here. While video chatting with strangers can be fun, and even intellectually stimulating at times, it sounds like a stretch to say that it can benefit your creativity.
It may sound like a far-fetched claim, but when you look at the facts, it really isn’t. If you’re using a chat site like Camgo, you’ll meet a bunch of strangers, and enjoy talking with a lot of them – that’s how video chatting works. What will also happen, though, is that you’ll encounter all sorts of opinions and perspectives that you’ve never thought of before. It could happen incidentally, or because you asked for input on something. Whatever the case, you could very well end up thinking from a broader perspective after random video chatting.
How does this relate to creativity, though? In a general sense, chatting with countless strangers can stretch the parts of your brain that solve problems, design projects, and adapt to unfamiliar situations. You may not turn into the next Leonardo DaVinci with enough random video chatting, but you’ll probably be able to tell a positive difference in your own life.
Before diving into the details, here’s something to keep in mind. You don’t have to do anything special in order to benefit from random video chatting, but there is something you can do to make things go more smoothly. If you’re asking for feedback, in the mood for a debate, or anything else that may not be of general interest, ask each chat partner if they want to talk about it before jumping right into the conversation. This way they don’t feel ambushed, and you won’t spend time talking with someone who isn’t interested in finishing the chat.
Those were some of the technical details; now let’s explore the fun part!
Your real-life friendships could benefit from your random video chats.
Have you ever thought about your friendships, and wished that there was something more interesting for you to do? Not that you’re trying to reinvent the wheel; just something to add a little variety to whatever routine you’ve established. As it happens, video chatting could be the mystery ingredient you were looking for.
You and your friends could meet up via video chats and enjoy some of the same activities you’ve already done with random strangers – but this time you’re building on relationships that have already been formed. Play word games, have karaoke competitions, or just hang out while you’re all eating pizza. There’s no need to revolutionize the way you spend time with your friends; you just have to consider adding something new to whatever you were already doing.
Random video chats could be a bootcamp for your critical thinking skills.
Depending on how many people you talk to regularly, you might not get challenged very often by opposing viewpoints. Plus, if you only hang around people who have the same opinions as you, it’s easy to see how you could develop some blind spots without even realizing it.
Having an iron-clad worldview may not be a top priority, but it’s still a good feeling to be able to hold your own in a debate. You aren’t just parroting all your friends; you’re talking about something you’ve actually thought through on your own.
If you open up your opinions for debate in the random chats, it’s like a trial by fire for your ideas. Ideally your chat partners will keep things civil, but you never know what could happen. At the end of the day, you’re arguing with strangers on the internet; nobody expects that to go without a hitch. That being said, these types of interaction can be pretty invigorating. You might not leave every chat unscathed, but the more you engage with people over subjects you don’t both agree on, the more secure you’ll become in your own opinions – and the better you’ll be at defending them.
You’ll get used to looking at problems from different perspectives.
It happens to us all at some point: we’re half-way through a project, but our inspiration seems to have fizzled out completely. The concept is good and everything’s going well, but we have no idea where to go from here. One tried-and-true method is to take a break and work on something else, then return to the project later. This can take a lot of time, though, and that isn’t always an option.
Another method is to get some feedback from your chat partners. Whether you’re describing the project, showing them pictures, or actually bringing your webcam to the site of whatever you’ve been working on, if they can get an idea of what you’re up against, they’ll probably have something to say about it. Their advice won’t always be helpful; some of it probably won’t even make sense. Even so, if you can figure out how to approach your roadblock from multiple angles, you’ll have a much easier time getting your wheels turning once again.
Your chat partners can be sources of inspiration, tips, or constructive criticism.
Sometimes all a project needs is that one thing that’ll give it the finishing touch. It could be a matter of selecting the right trim for your custom bedspread, or choosing which cabinet handles to include in your DIY kitchen remodel. Or maybe, all you need is someone to tell you which kind of tape works best to patch the holes in your garden hose. You can find chat partners to tell you what to do, and perhaps what not to do; with every piece of advice, you’ll have another trick up your sleeve to pull out next time you need it.
Random video chatting can be more than just entertainment, but remember that if you aren’t having a good time, you need to change what you’re doing! Just keep this in mind, and you can’t go wrong.
