Group What's App

I'm not sure. He probably does know, but knowing is not understanding.  To be honest, my life strategy is that I just want to be a useful figure in the background, and not be The Problem One.

Does your boss know that you struggle with this form of communication? He or she should be supportive, top down management is so yesterday.

I have the same problem.... I also find that because the audio and the image are slightly out of sync it really frustrates me and it is all I can concentrate on. I also find the auditory distortion through speakers difficult. Also having someone else's face that close to mine even though it is virtual is tricky especially when the faces keep changing so quickly. So I have to draw while I listen to get me through the meeting. I have actually explained this to my boss and I am fortunate they really get it and didn't put pressure on me to use the video function. Without the video at first and gradually starting with just a 1:1. Video I can now cope with the video too and I just minimise the screen. But it took practice and I still draw most of the time I am in a meeting.

Hi, I've been under a lot of pressure to use videoconferencing, and I hate putting myself on camera, I have to stim all the time, and everyone can see me stimming like mad on camera. So I've done the same thing others have suggested and just faded out and not used the camera. I have toed the line, just about and made the occasional comment, audio only. I think if my boss challenges me, I'll just tell him it's not my cup of tea and I'll work better if I don't have a camera in my face. It's hard to ignore the truth. 

Thanks all, I feel a bit braver now

Hello Oscie,

That’s a bit of a difficult one. Because the trouble with WhatsApp is, people can see when you was last online. So just saying that you’re spending too much time on social media, might not work. It’s best to be honest, honesty is always the best policy. So maybe just do like Anthony and Plastic suggested, and just leave the group without any announcement. Then if someone or a couple of the members do send you a direct message asking why you quit? Then just be honest and say you didn’t want to get involved in any office politics, which is the truth I’m guessing? I’ve actually had a similar situation myself. It wasn’t a work group chat, it was quite a large group of friends and people I’ve known for years. It got to the point where I didn’t actually agree with a lot of what the group was saying, and I felt like I wanted to leave the group. So one day I just quit the group suddenly. I sent a direct message to one of the people in the group that I’m still close friends with, explaining why I’m leaving, just to show I’m not upset with that particular friend. But for the rest of them I didn’t say anything. Hope that helps you in some way 

I agree with Anthony, just quietly leave the group - no-one will notice or care or ask questions - just fade into the background.    If anyone says anything, the old 'too much social media' is a brilliant excuse - it stops their enquiry dead.  

In truth you don’t need to justify it to anyone - so I wouldn’t make an announcement, just quit. Then if anyone dies notice and asks, just play it down with a simple line like it was spending too much time on social media so I decided to cut down a bit’. In truth the chances are nobody will even ask.