luckymucklebackit Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 (edited) Come on, you can help but have noticed it, since Skype interviews have become the norm It seems to be an essential feature to be interviewed in front of as big a set of bookshelves as possible, I am convinced the so called "experts" and politicians are vying with each other to have the most impressive selection of books so that they look more learned than the others. I need to get my vast collection of Scottish Railway books dug out of storage and displayed just in case the call comes!! Jim Edited April 16, 2020 by luckymucklebackit 3 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 I'm not likely to appear on a media interview but I hope to get some extra points in the teleconference stakes if I can get the cat to sit on the bookcase. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinzaboy Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Yes the bookcases are good. But the other artefacts are just as interesting too. There was a young lady interviewed last night who still had her Xmas wrapping paper leaning up against the wall. Tim 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Or less cynically it’s because they are Skyping from their study, which is where their computer and books are... I spend all day in video meetings and tutorials, and my background is just the same, a wall of books, and I’m not attempting to look more learned than anyone else, I just - like any academic - have a lot of books! David 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Reorte Posted April 16, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 16, 2020 Video call for work, they just get an empty picture frame behind me (I broke it a while ago but the state of the wall it covers looks even worse - really must get that sorted some day!) In any case my upload speed isn't high enough to do remotely good quality video. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium JDW Posted April 16, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 16, 2020 Haha yes, I'd noticed it too, but on reflection if I am on Skype I'd either have bookshelves behind me or if I angle myself so I'm turned slightly sideways, a large picture frame, which currently has one of my own pictures in it, the 747 at France's Musée de l'air et de l'espace, but changes every now and again - a framed old map is another option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenman Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 1 hour ago, luckymucklebackit said: ... so called "experts" ... Fascinating. I do hope you’re not bothering those so called “expert” doctors when you get ill. Much more sensible to sort it out yourself. What do they know...?! And yes, I also Skype/ Zoom in front of a bookcase. Because my study, which is where I work when I’m at home, is where I also keep most of my books. I have noticed a significant number of my colleagues Skype/ Zoom in front of a window. Their faces disappear and they look like a silhouette. I assume this is deliberately passive-aggressive. Paul 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 The layout of my study means that the camera on my laptop points towards the window (and angled away from the book case), making me a silhouette if I use it. There's no other way to set the room up. Plus I needed a haircut before the lockdown, and it's getting increasingly ridiculous, so probably best if no one can see me properly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastglosmog Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 I Skype from in front of one of the few walls in my house which does not have a bookcase, that being where the settle I sit on is located. So colleagues get a view of a picture of trawlers, a light switch and my thermostat (except when my cat thinks they should look at her instead) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Fenman said: Fascinating. I do hope you’re not bothering those so called “expert” doctors when you get ill. Much more sensible to sort it out yourself. What do they know...?! And yes, I also Skype/ Zoom in front of a bookcase. Because my study, which is where I work when I’m at home, is where I also keep most of my books. I have noticed a significant number of my colleagues Skype/ Zoom in front of a window. Their faces disappear and they look like a silhouette. I assume this is deliberately passive-aggressive. Paul A slightly OTT response to what was a light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek OP, maybe? Jim stated 'so-called experts,' of which there are plenty on telly every day, nothing to do with doctors. They are taking about the economy, how to exercise, what to do about anxious pets, when to sanitize a lawnmower, [pretty much everything]. In this context, the reference to 'deliberately passive aggressive' leaves me shaking my head a bit! Time for my thrice daily exercise I think, need some fresh air. 4 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 I use the Teams backgrounds, normally I look like I'm in a Minecraft world 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckymucklebackit Posted April 16, 2020 Author Share Posted April 16, 2020 3 hours ago, Fenman said: Fascinating. I do hope you’re not bothering those so called “expert” doctors when you get ill. Much more sensible to sort it out yourself. What do they know...?! And yes, I also Skype/ Zoom in front of a bookcase. Because my study, which is where I work when I’m at home, is where I also keep most of my books. I have noticed a significant number of my colleagues Skype/ Zoom in front of a window. Their faces disappear and they look like a silhouette. I assume this is deliberately passive-aggressive. Paul Chard called it correctly, I have nothing but respect for the medical professionals at all levels, it's the other hanger on's that the BBC drag out to fill up the gaps. Jim 3 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 As it appears now that everyone is working from home in my company we all have to use our cameras. Bah, I've managed 6 years with a blank screen but now I have to adopt the distancing peer pressure rules. It's teams we use and I did see the Minecraft background appear yesterday, I chose the beach, anything is probably better than - a bit of a bookcase covered in tools and whatnot from the railway I am not building or the bare lightbulb above my head as I prefer that to a uplifter lamp shade or worst of all the bright sunshine coming in through the window basically rendering the camera useless. Then there is the colleague whose laptop is normally under his desk so it looks up at him at a very odd angle in meetings, heaven knows what that camera is usually pointing at under his desk!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprintex Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 What's a "Skype"? I don't even use the phone at home, never mind any form of internet or video conversation-doodahs. The two people I need to converse with - my sister and brother - I do by email. That way I can think of what to say and type at leisure At work I need to make calls to customers and suppliers, but while we're all working from home the work-colleague interaction has gone onto email too. Paul 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 5 hours ago, Edwin_m said: if I can get the cat to sit on the bookcase. Can you also get your cat to clean it's rectum while on the bookcase? (Occurred during a live remote feed to a TV news show.) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenman Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 3 hours ago, 'CHARD said: A slightly OTT response to what was a light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek OP, maybe? Jim stated 'so-called experts,' of which there are plenty on telly every day, nothing to do with doctors. They are taking about the economy, how to exercise, what to do about anxious pets, when to sanitize a lawnmower, [pretty much everything]. In this context, the reference to 'deliberately passive aggressive' leaves me shaking my head a bit! Time for my thrice daily exercise I think, need some fresh air. I thought the exclamation mark would be enough of a clue. I'll try to remember to do a smiley next time. I was going to comment that the "passive-aggressive" comment had nothing to do with the OP but, since you used an exclamation mark after that, I'm now not sure if you were being funny. Er... ! Paul 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Sorry mate, I think I was missing the irony too! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium figworthy Posted April 16, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 16, 2020 11 hours ago, luckymucklebackit said: Come on, you can help but have noticed it, since Skype interviews have become the norm It seems to be an essential feature to be interviewed in front of as big a set of bookshelves as possible, I am convinced the so called "experts" and politicians are vying with each other to have the most impressive selection of books so that they look more learned than the others. I need to get my vast collection of Scottish Railway books dug out of storage and displayed just in case the call comes!! Jim Hopefully this will work. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/03/31/alex-cartoons-april-2020/alex-cartoon-april-151/ Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Alex TM Posted April 16, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 16, 2020 Hi folks, All this talk of studies and bookcases is making me jealous - I only ever got interviewed in cold empty church buildings, or cemeteries! More seriously, I am now starting to have to use forms of video-conferencing for elements of my work. The serious bit is making sure that only the 'right' types of books are seen behind me! Regards, Alex. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharris Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 12 hours ago, Fenman said: I have noticed a significant number of my colleagues Skype/ Zoom in front of a window. Their faces disappear and they look like a silhouette. Since that means the light from outside must be falling directly on the screen, probably the worst arrangement for actually seeing what's on it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium BR60103 Posted April 17, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 17, 2020 It must be 4 or 5 decades ago that Mad magazine had a spread on video phones showing pull down backdrops that you could use to change the apparent locale that you were calling from. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 (edited) 8 hours ago, Alex TM said: More seriously, I am now starting to have to use forms of video-conferencing for elements of my work. The serious bit is making sure that only the 'right' types of books are seen behind me! The alternative is to get far enough away from the bookshelves that people can see you have many books, you are therefore well-read and clever, but they're too far away to read the titles. 14 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said: Can you also get your cat to clean it's rectum while on the bookcase? (Occurred during a live remote feed to a TV news show.) Actually the cat specializes in doing the opposite of what's wanted. Perhaps I should be getting him to clean his nose. Edited April 17, 2020 by Edwin_m Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 15 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said: Can you also get your cat to clean it's rectum while on the bookcase? (Occurred during a live remote feed to a TV news show.) So not just 'so-called experts' (sorry luckmucklebackit !) on TV but a***holes too 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben B Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 I feel like I'm missing out with my job... I don't need to do Skype etc for my work. I'd be tempted to make it a bit theatrical out of mischief, lots of bookshelves, flickering firelight, leather armchair, smoking jacket; basically looking as if the caller was conversing with Noel Coward reading the Book At Bedtime Has anyone thought of taking a shot of their model railway and digitally inserting it behind themselves, so it looks like they're commuting from a Triang station? 3 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nick C Posted April 17, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 17, 2020 My wife has had a few appreciative comments from her colleagues about the wall of books behind her - I'm working in the kitchen, so my background is rather less prosaic, luckily most of my calls are done without video! Apparently many of the VC products allow you to change background, so people are appearing in various exotic locations... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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