I’ve always hated listening to voice messages… now I have the data to prove why they are so horrible (and selfish! 😱)
Humans can read much faster than they can speak… but they can speak faster than they can type:
| Communication Mode | Sending (Produce) | Receiving (Consume) |
|---|---|---|
| Spoken | 125–175 wpm | 400–500 wpm |
| Written | 40–60 wpm | 200–300 wpm |
👉 Speaking is faster than typing (especially on a mobile phone).
👉 But reading is much faster than listening.
The math proves what I’ve always felt: voice messages are great for the sender but terrible for the receiver.
There’s more:
1. No Skimming, No Control
With text, I can skim, skip, or re-read in seconds.
With voice, I have to sit there passively, at your pace, even through the “umm… anyway…” filler. It’s linear, locked-in, and impossible to scan.
2. Interruptions Kill the Flow
If I’m interrupted while reading, I just glance back and pick up where I left off.
If I’m interrupted while listening, I need to rewind, re-find the spot, and replay. It’s clunky.
3. It Demands Full Attention
Text is quiet. I can sneak in a read during a meeting, on the train, wherever.
Voice is noisy. I need headphones, silence, and focus. I despise people listening to voice messages aloud on the train or even just in public on the street and I refuse to do it… so your message will have to wait until I have the right enviornment.
4. The Time Burden is Shifted
This is the kicker.
For the sender, voice is easier: just talk. Verbal stream of consciousness (or verbal diarrhea). For the receiver, voice is slower: sit and listen.
It saves you time, but costs me time. It feels unfair – and that’s exactly what makes it irritating.
By all means, use voice transcription. I’ll even happily endure your hilarious voice transcription mistakes, just like I endure your auto-correct mistakes. But remember kids – say ‘No’ to voice messages!