Illustrations by Ben Montero
11.30pm
Videos by VICE
It’s Friday night in New York City. It’s stinking hot. I spent the day in the library reading and checking my emails. I don’t live in New York, I’m from Australia, I’m just here for three weeks. I don’t know anyone in the city so I’m in my apartment on the Internet.
On my Facebook feed someone posts about a new chat site called Omegle: “It’s exactly like Chatroulette but with less dickzzzzz!” I click through to the linked website. It’s exactly the same as Chatroulette: You are matched at random with a partner—you watch each other via webcam and type each other correspondence.
I’d used Chatroulette a few times with friends, and a few times alone. I found it creepy and never really tried to have a “proper conversation” with anyone on it. Usually when someone’s face popped up on my screen I felt aggression towards them. Maybe it’s because Chatroulette was filled with men masturbating to camera? But even when I had a “normal” looking person—fully dressed—their presence in my room made me feel uncomfortable and territorial, maybe aggressive. I was also anxious that if I spent too long on Chatroulette I would end up like one of those anonymous penises.
But tonight, I’m in New York alone. I’m not tired, and seeing as I have no interest in making real friends, I am going to talk to people on Omegle. I log in and activate my webcam. I remind myself that I can use this site with absolutely no intention of doing anything sexual.
Nervous Girl
A girl, around 18, sitting alone in a very dark room: All I can see is her face lit up by the screen. It’s pale and her cheeks are chubby around her eyes. She is wearing heavy purple eye make up. She smiles nervously.
You’re now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Stranger: hi
You: hi
You: how are you?
Stranger: good i guess u?
You: pretty good
Stranger: where u from?
You: Australia, but I’m in new york
Stranger: im in georgia lol
You: do you use omegle often
Stranger: yeah, there is to many penises! i look for the guys that dont ofer to show or do not want to see boobs, i just like clean convos
You: do most guys want like sexual things?
Stranger: yes! ):<
You: all guys?
Stranger: 98%
You: why do you think that’s what they want?
Stranger: because most males are perverts lol its the typical male thing, but some guys are
You: do you ever feel like you want to do those things?
Stranger: no
You: can you tell me all the different types of people you meet?
Stranger: guys:
Stranger: funny
Stranger: jerks
Stranger: and sexual
Stranger: girls:
Stranger: sweet
Stranger: and
Stranger: sexual
Stranger: lol and theres people that like to be fun who dance a lot and sing, and people that come on here wanting to show people there talent or get followers on youtube
Stranger: but bf and gf relationships probably would not start on omegle
You: so this is a little more like one a night stand kind of thing?
Stranger: this is a like show me ur tits i show u my dick and say dirty things, and do not say names or personal info and be done – unless u come on here like i do looking for entertainment or an interesting conversation about life or something, i do not come looking for sexual things
You: and do you meet any nice guys
Stranger: yes i have (: um at least one every time im on here.
You: if you had to judge the world’s population of guys based on omegle, how would you describe them in 1-5 words?
Stranger: perverted assholes lol
Stranger has disconnected.
Arrogant Boy
A young guy, probably around 17, he has a shaved head. He is topless and a little bit overweight; but only in a puppy fat kind of way. He is sitting at his desk in his room. He looks happy, or arrogant. He has a 49ers flag behind him.
You’re now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
You: hi
Stranger: sup
You: you use this thing often?
Stranger: when im bored
Stranger: usually after im done with a late night shift
You: is it good?
Stranger: its alright, a lot of perves
Stranger: but I like talking to the girls… mainly on this cuz my friend and I are attempting to make 300 girl friends off omegle before summer ends
Stranger: a lil competition
You: so how does the competition work?
Stranger: well we talk to the girls and get to know them
Stranger: then we ask if they have a snapchat
Stranger: we give them our users and they snapchat us
Stranger: some of the chicks on here are hella thirsty
You: what are your success rates so far?
Stranger: im at about 100
Stranger: girls like the Asian persuasion plus I make them laugh
You: what are your tactics?
Stranger: gotta be smooth
Stranger: funny
Stranger: plus i good looking
You: why do you do it?
Stranger: we get some girls to take their shirts off or flash us haha
Stranger: but mainly talk
Stranger: cus we trying to reach 300
You: so it’s like a numbers game?
Stranger: yeh one time there were 5 girls in one camera all took their shirts off
Stranger: they had abs
Stranger: I don’t even have abs yet
Stranger: plus its cool to meet new people who aren’t like hella gay and are swag fags
Stranger: watch out for the dudes jacking off too no bueno
You: lots of them around?
Stranger: this cite is mainly dudes
Stranger: lucky if you get a girl
You: any girls on here “jack off” to the camera?
Stranger: I wish lol
You: why not?
Stranger: actually there was one
Stranger: the dude was screwing his gf
Stranger: and they were both looking at me
You: was it real?
Stranger: through the camera yea….
You: why do you think there aren’t as many girls?
You: on this site?
Stranger: actually theres a lot
Stranger: but most of them wannna see dick
You: you think?
Stranger: yea anyways
Stranger: i got some hunting to do
Stranger: later
Stranger has disconnected.
Follow Oscar on Twitter: @oscarschwartz
Talking to other strangers online:
I Talked Books to Bros On Chatroulette
