[VRChat] For those who are silent users and find it hard to make friends, or for those who want to make friends

Hello! I previously wrote about my personal thoughts on silent users, but I realized that while some people know where others are, they don't know how to actually make friends. So, I decided to write down a few things based on my experience! This is just my own way of doing things, so I'm sure there are other methods. I would be happy if you could take this as just one example and use it as a reference!

The key is to take action yourself!

I'll start with the conclusion: if you send friend requests or reach out to people yourself, you will naturally make friends.

However, when you're just starting out, it's scary, and I'm sure you're thinking, 'I know I'd make friends if I could do that! But I'm struggling because I can't!' So, I'd like to dig a little deeper into that.

You don't have to force yourself to talk!

First of all, what do you think are the ways to communicate?
For example, there's conversation. If you're a silent user, I think it's common to use a pen or a chat box. However, communication can mean many things, and to give some examples:

・Sign language compatible with VRChat
・Body language
・Gestures, etc.

There are actually quite a few. This is especially common among silent users overseas, but even if you don't understand the language, you can communicate through vibes, body language, and gestures. I think one of the charms of VRChat is that you don't necessarily have to converse using text.

Participating in events

I think I wrote this last time too, but the reason I recommend it is because it's easier for people with the same goals to gather. There are many different events, but if it's a social event, people like the following tend to gather:

・Want to hang out with someone
・Want to increase their number of friends
・Want to socialize with various people, etc.

A big difference from public worlds is that in public worlds, people have various purposes, such as just wanting to listen to others talk. Events mainly have a set purpose, and people who sympathize with or are interested in that purpose gather there. In a sense, since there are many like-minded people, I think it's much easier to make friends than in public worlds.
I've asked various organizers if they allow silent users, and many said it's OK as long as you use a pen or chat to communicate! If you're worried, it might be good to ask the organizer!

Joining friends

Personally, the biggest hurdle in VRChat is joining a friend who is in a 'Friends+' instance...
You're all alone among strangers, and there's only one friend there...
Whether or not you can press that join button in such a situation will change your future! If I were to list the things you are actually worried about:

・I don't know if it's okay to join (I wonder if I'm interrupting their conversation)
・I don't know what strangers will think of me
・I'm a silent user, so I wonder if it's okay to go...

I think there are many such worries, but based on experience, it's all fine. Basically, if it's a 'Friends+' instance, no one minds who joins. As long as you don't forget to greet them, you won't give a bad impression, so I think you should go ahead and join!

When writing this, I asked some friends where they mainly make friends, and they said it's in 'Friends+' instances where their friends are. They say birds of a feather flock together, and friends of friends often have a similar vibe. So, I think the hurdle is lower than talking to complete strangers in a public world!

Everyone's way of making friends

I asked other friends how they usually make friends. Here is what they said.

・Go to events
・Go to public worlds
・Join friends in private instances
・Reply to people on social media using the hashtag #VRchatStarted

That seems to be it. Since there are limited ways to meet people, it seems like it has to be one of these, but a certain number of people actually make contact on social media and then meet up inside! If sending a reply on social media feels like a lower hurdle for you, please give that a try!

In conclusion

I will add more if I come up with other ideas, but for now, if you keep these in mind, I don't think you will end up alone. Besides, I personally believe that you don't necessarily have to communicate with others; you can explore beautiful worlds or go to game worlds even without friends.

This is something a friend once told me:
"Even if you are rejected as a friend, you just go back to being strangers, so you have nothing to lose."

That is what they said. In other words, you don't need to worry if you get rejected! That is true, and sometimes you will get rejected.

However, in my experience, you almost never get rejected, so I think you should feel free to send requests!
As an aside, I finally registered as friends the other day with someone I've been hanging out with like a friend for half a year... lol. Even though we both missed the opportunity, you all should go ahead and send requests so this doesn't happen to you > <