Virus Cafe
Consumer and social
video chat with strangers
SHOW HN2020
278points
218comments
#156of 3,028 in 2020
Top 6%of 2020 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
19 positive, 23 neutral or asking, 6 mixed, 30 critical, out of 78 comments about the project. Thread score -0.11.
Idea: 7 for, 9 againstPrivacy: 0 for, 13 againstDesign: 1 for, 4 againstExecution: 2 for, 1 againstDocs: 1 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Conversations were interesting and wholesome
From 3 comments
I had some very interesting conversations here. I don't remember the exact questions and dailogue but I'll note some here for users to know what they can expect. It was…
throwaway876786 on HNMy comments after trying it for a while: - First off all, I like the idea! Thanks for making this! HN will often hold a hobby-project to the standards of a professional product,…
avidmoon on HNI love this, it is like chatroulette but everyone i met was super nice and polite. (no surprise dicks is a good feature IMO)
Raed667 on HN
Deep-question idea is fun and well executed
From 2 comments
I love the idea of forcing "deep talk". I found that the fleeting nature of the connection doesn't pair as well with in-depth answers and good conversation, but it pairs great…
blakeburch on HNtried matching with 3 people, all took one look at my face and peaced lol nice app though! love the small touches with the emojis and sounds!
swyx on HN
Objections
Matches are often with people who don't engage or leave instantly
From 3 comments
Maybe I am not stubborn enough, but my experience after 5 tries is: - Nobody showed their face to the camera - why not but it seems odd to not be on equal foot - 1 person was…
jnaddef on HNMy comments after trying it for a while: - First off all, I like the idea! Thanks for making this! HN will often hold a hobby-project to the standards of a professional product,…
avidmoon on HNtried matching with 3 people, all took one look at my face and peaced lol nice app though! love the small touches with the emojis and sounds!
swyx on HN
Feels like a Chatroulette clone
From 2 comments
I spoke to a couple of people and then I realised that I shouldnt cover my camera. My privacy filter was on and I got banned in 5 minutes. Good effort but I feel like its a clone…
vijaybritto on HNWhats the difference with chat roulette?
GrumpyNl on HN
Mostly matched with users from Saudi Arabia
From 3 comments
Hey! Great idea. I've had a lot of fun with it. Honestly, I'm not sure how this would even work, but it might be enjoyable if it were possible to randomise the location of both…
supportact on HNWow I was a little nervous at first but that was really fun! I did like 6 or 7. For some reason over half were from KSA. Might check that random seed :) But still fun. Kudos to…
mythrwy on HNMy comments after trying it for a while: - First off all, I like the idea! Thanks for making this! HN will often hold a hobby-project to the standards of a professional product,…
avidmoon on HN
Privacy concerns about children and camera access
From 1 comment
Don’t want to sully the conversation here, but I want to raise an important point - so @feross, please stick with it. I gave my daughter (6) my iPad for ten minutes this morning…
aframe on HN
Requests
Audio-only or chat option instead of video
From 1 comment
Is there a chance for chat instead of video call? I like the idea but I'm not exposing myself in video. I know it "ruins" the experience but each one to its own.
AbraKdabra on HN
Penalty or reroll for repeated questions
From 1 comment
My comments after trying it for a while: - First off all, I like the idea! Thanks for making this! HN will often hold a hobby-project to the standards of a professional product,…
avidmoon on HN
Age or verification gate before camera access
From 1 comment
Don’t want to sully the conversation here, but I want to raise an important point - so @feross, please stick with it. I gave my daughter (6) my iPad for ten minutes this morning…
aframe on HN
Questions
Are the questions publicly visible?
From 1 comment
The "click the emojis" doesn't increase in difficulty ;) Are the 200 questions publicly visible somehwere?
Scarbutt on HN
How does it differ from Chatroulette?
From 1 comment
Whats the difference with chat roulette?
GrumpyNl on HN
Alternatives named
Chatroulette
From 3 comments
I spoke to a couple of people and then I realised that I shouldnt cover my camera. My privacy filter was on and I got banned in 5 minutes. Good effort but I feel like its a clone…
vijaybritto on HNWhats the difference with chat roulette?
GrumpyNl on HNI love this, it is like chatroulette but everyone i met was super nice and polite. (no surprise dicks is a good feature IMO)
Raed667 on HN