# Random Voice Chat w/ Flip-Phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 21, 2018, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508 "2018-12-21T22:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/21 "2018-12-23T07:16:42Z")
Jeez, I thought we were in the pit for a second. I’m sorry if my opinion frets you so. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/22 "2018-12-23T07:16:53Z")
Wow, Flyer. That was over the top. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/23 "2018-12-23T08:07:43Z")
Jeebus that took, like, a hard left turn rather abruptly. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/24 "2018-12-23T08:31:25Z")
^^^yeah, it did. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/25 "2018-12-23T10:21:23Z")
**Moderator Warning** > [@Flyer](#): > > It’s **CREEPY** to want to have a connection with other people??? > > We already have problems in this country with people being withdrawn from society and not having actual friends anymore. We have people committing suicide right and left. It seems like every week, nearly, I see somebody writing a letter to an advice columnist desperately asking for tips for making new friends. And yet here you are criticizing somebody for wanting to have conversations with people. Are you insane??? **Do you WANT people to be lonely???** > > If I were a mod, I would ban you right here and now for being so insanely stupid and antisocial. What in the name of common sense are you doing on this board, anyhow? You are harming this country, you are harming society, and you are harming this board with your extreme paranoia. > > Get out of here, **and never come back!!!** This is an official warning for a personal attack on another poster outside of the Pit. Regardless of your personal opinion about whether the OP is creepy or not, there is no excuse for this kind of personal attack on another user in any forum other than the Pit. Take it to the Pit next time. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/26 "2018-12-23T11:37:44Z")
For a while there was a number to call to talk with a random Swedish person. Although it is no longer available, [here is the website which discusses it](https://www.theswedishnumber.com/). The only reason I know about it is that it was discussed on the British TV show, QI. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/27 "2018-12-23T12:44:36Z")
**Mod Hat On** > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > ^^^yeah, it did. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Jeez, I thought we were in the pit for a second. I’m sorry if my opinion frets you so. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I’m sorry. His motives are creepy. IMHO. Ok, you’ve had your say. No more commentary on **flyers** outburst or the OP’s motivation ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/28 "2018-12-23T13:15:31Z")
Ain’t nobody got time for that. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/29 "2018-12-23T17:58:38Z")
OP, here’s why you’re getting the reactions expressed here: the random person you dial DID NOT ASK to be included in a random chat. The people on Chat Roulette, meanwhile, have explicitly consented to having some rando chat with (or at) them. It’s a low-level version of why flashes are so creepy. If I’m indulging in some sexytime with my S.O. then I wanna see some naughty bits … but if I’m walking to the corner store, then I do not. Make sense, OP? ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/30 "2018-12-23T18:10:46Z")
There’s not much to go on in the OP. Are you looking for voice only? Are you interested in live chat or email exchange? Here are some initial thoughts. On Reddit, try: (this isn’t an ad for Reddit. It’s the place I’ve seen these kinds of resources) [r/SkypePals](https://reddit.com/r/SkypePals/) [r/LetsChat](https://reddit.com/r/LetsChat/) [r/TalkWithSomeone](https://reddit.com/r/TalkWithSomeone/) When you’re in the sub, look at the sidebar. They generally have related subReddits that may be of interest to you. You could put out a post and see if people will call you. If you’re not on Reddit yet, it might take a while to get a response. Like anywhere (including here), people are rightfully wary of new people. You could try putting in some search terms in the multiReddit sub, which is how I found these. [r/multireddit](https://reddit.com/r/multihub/) You could try joining a Discord server. Finding a server is the challenge. [r/Discordapp](https://reddit.com/r/discordapp/) You might also try your question in [r/askreddit](https://reddit.com/r/AskReddit/) [r/casualconversation](https://reddit.com/r/CasualConversation/) (if you’re looking for semi-live chat in text, this might work for you. the responses there are pretty fast, from what I’ve seen. they require you to respond back to your thread in 3 hours) As for pure telephone, you might try calling your local 211 (dial 211 on your phone). 211 is an information and referral service. You can ask for talklines or something similar. Be specific about what you’re asking for or you might get a crisis line number. None of these will get you live people set up in a queue waiting to talk to you. There are a couple sites that do this in text, but they’re specialized. Disclaimer: I haven’t done the things on this list, so I can’t give much more information, but it might move you in the right direction. If you do any of them, I’ll be interested in your results. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/31 "2018-12-23T18:48:49Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > There’s not much to go on in the OP. Are you looking for voice only? Are you interested in live chat or email exchange? > > Here are some initial thoughts. > > On Reddit, try: (this isn’t an ad for Reddit. It’s the place I’ve seen these kinds of resources) > > [r/SkypePals](https://reddit.com/r/SkypePals/) > > [r/LetsChat](https://reddit.com/r/LetsChat/) > > [r/TalkWithSomeone](https://reddit.com/r/TalkWithSomeone/) > > When you’re in the sub, look at the sidebar. They generally have related subReddits that may be of interest to you. > > You could put out a post and see if people will call you. If you’re not on Reddit yet, it might take a while to get a response. Like anywhere (including here), people are rightfully wary of new people. > > You could try putting in some search terms in the multiReddit sub, which is how I found these. > > [r/multireddit](https://reddit.com/r/multihub/) > > You could try joining a Discord server. Finding a server is the challenge. > > [r/Discordapp](https://reddit.com/r/discordapp/) > > You might also try your question in > > [r/askreddit](https://reddit.com/r/AskReddit/) > > [r/casualconversation](https://reddit.com/r/CasualConversation/) (if you’re looking for semi-live chat in text, this might work for you. the responses there are pretty fast, from what I’ve seen. they require you to respond back to your thread in 3 hours) > > As for pure telephone, you might try calling your local 211 (dial 211 on your phone). 211 is an information and referral service. You can ask for talklines or something similar. Be specific about what you’re asking for or you might get a crisis line number. > > None of these will get you live people set up in a queue waiting to talk to you. There are a couple sites that do this in text, but they’re specialized. > > Disclaimer: I haven’t done the things on this list, so I can’t give much more information, but it might move you in the right direction. If you do any of them, I’ll be interested in your results. Wow, thank you for that response and the links. I will definitely check it out… Just to clarify, I got this idea when my cousin was visiting, and he had an i-phone and asked if we could talk to random people. He pushed a few buttons, and it was automatically connecting us with random people all over the world, and it was beyond awesome. I’m not looking for e-mail/text, though. I have a simple flip phone, but I do have a laptop with a built-in microphone, and unfortunately, programs like Skype (and others) don’t have directories - you have to dial a number/name. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/32 "2018-12-23T20:03:31Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > Wow, thank you for that response and the links. I will definitely check it out… Just to clarify, I got this idea when my cousin was visiting, and he had an i-phone and asked if we could talk to random people. He pushed a few buttons, and it was automatically connecting us with random people all over the world, and it was beyond awesome. I’m not looking for e-mail/text, though. Sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing that. I went searching using your keywords. Was it [Skout](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skout-meet-new-people/id302324249?mt=8)? > [@](#): > > Skout is the global network for meeting new people. > > Instantly meet people near you or around the world! See who is broadcasting in Live. Broadcast yourself and feel the love! Discover new friends nearby or around the globe. Millions of people are connecting and meeting through Skout every day. Use exciting in-app features to increase your chances of friending or chatting! > > Start Skouting and make new friends, or meet new people, anytime, anywhere. > > Features: Meet people by preference and proximity, chat, broadcast yourself and watch others’ streams, see who checked you out, get updates from nearby users, save your favorite users, browse profiles and pictures, promote your profile with in-app features. They have an Android version of [Skout](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skout.android&hl=en_US) too. If you look at the reviews though, both those services have really low ratings due to the bots, the trolls and the fakes. I’m guessing that anything that allows anyone to connect turns to chatroulette after a while. I’ve looked at a bunch of similar apps that have the same ratings and comments. While I was looking, I found a cool app that is now defunct, but the concept was pretty neat. Someone would be a concierge for a week or so and show people the sights and sounds of their part of the world through instagram and the phone. It was called [Wander](https://mashable.com/2011/12/20/wander-iphone-app/). (This is a long dead app, but I liked the pictures and the concept, so I included the link.) I know you said you only have a flip phone, but just in case you want to switch the problem around and see if a smartphone would solve it. Here’s a subReddit for the cheapest [no contract cellphone plans](https://reddit.com/r/NoContract/). I think you can probably get a phone for around $30 or less. Then it depends on how much you use your phone to get the best deal. You might want to ask there for the cheapest plan for your needs if you’re interested. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/33 "2018-12-24T17:48:01Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > I know you said you only have a flip phone, but just in case you want to switch the problem around and see if a smartphone would solve it. > > Here’s a subReddit for the cheapest [no contract cellphone plans](https://reddit.com/r/NoContract/). I think you can probably get a phone for around $30 or less. Then it depends on how much you use your phone to get the best deal. You might want to ask there for the cheapest plan for your needs if you’re interested. I bought a pay-as-you-go Android phone for $40. I never bought minutes for it, wifi only. Consider it a minitablet. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/34 "2018-12-24T18:38:24Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > Sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing that. > > I went searching using your keywords. Was it [Skout](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skout-meet-new-people/id302324249?mt=8)? > > They have an Android version of [Skout](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skout.android&hl=en_US) too. > > If you look at the reviews though, both those services have really low ratings due to the bots, the trolls and the fakes. I’m guessing that anything that allows anyone to connect turns to chatroulette after a while. I’ve looked at a bunch of similar apps that have the same ratings and comments. > > While I was looking, I found a cool app that is now defunct, but the concept was pretty neat. Someone would be a concierge for a week or so and show people the sights and sounds of their part of the world through instagram and the phone. It was called [Wander](https://mashable.com/2011/12/20/wander-iphone-app/). (This is a long dead app, but I liked the pictures and the concept, so I included the link.) > > I know you said you only have a flip phone, but just in case you want to switch the problem around and see if a smartphone would solve it. > > Here’s a subReddit for the cheapest [no contract cellphone plans](https://reddit.com/r/NoContract/). I think you can probably get a phone for around $30 or less. Then it depends on how much you use your phone to get the best deal. You might want to ask there for the cheapest plan for your needs if you’re interested. I’m not sure what program he used, I don’t even know what kind of phone he had. I’ve had the same flip-phone for 8 years and even if this were to break, I’d replace it with the same one (like I did before). I barely use it, and I don’t have a land-line phone. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508/35 "2018-12-24T19:26:21Z")
I’m curious why you’re resisting a technology upgrade, when folks here (and your brother!) are demonstrating that the functions you want are available, are out there … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-voice-chat-w-flip-phone/826508.md?page=1)