Video conferencing solutions have exploded in popularity as more individuals work from home or remotely in the past two years. As of right now, there is no stronger competitor in the market than Zoom. However, no matter how hard they try to make the platform more user-friendly, consumers will inevitably face difficulties from time to time. Many times people’s confusion ends up in hilarious situations and sometimes they even go viral on social media. An already classic one is the guy who could not turn off the cat filter and kept clarifying everyone in the Zoom meeting he was not a cat! Here we have compiled the best Zoom meetings gone wrong that will make you laugh and cringe.
Showing Off Your Treasure
These past two years have been full of unexpected twists and turn that no one saw coming. This includes the ongoing tale of everyone attempting to purchase toilet paper, which has left many individuals with insufficient supply.
As a result, this person took the opportunity to create personalized Zoom backdrops. When you can flex how much toilet paper you managed to get your hands on during the initial rush of the pandemic frenzy, why display your affluence by establishing a lush background of a luxury home? Either way, we have to admit it makes a funny anecdote for the future!
Meet the Fur Family
Pets are known to get in the way of Zoom calls, however, you should not be too concerned if your furry companion wanders into the frame. It’s definitely safe to argue that when you are working with your colleagues over Zoom, people need something wholesome to break free from the stress.
Showing off your pets is the ideal method to do this! Sure, it will throw your meeting off, but everyone will get to see their adorable face. It is a great way to dissipate tension and it gives a way to bond with your coworkers over love for animals.
The Mic Was On!
We may all enjoy some of the benefits that Zoom has to offer. For example, when you want a little less of a spotlight on you, you can mute your microphone or switch off the camera. This husband was attempting to notify his wife that they had begun their meeting, only as a heads-up.
Regrettably, she missed the memo that the meeting had already begun rather than was about to begin. They had no idea the microphone would take up their reaction. She was not fully dressed. We hope the people in the Zoom meeting were understanding of this miscommunication!
Be Aware of the Power of the Microphone
All of the capabilities Zoom has to offer have drawbacks. For instance, when everyone else’s microphones are muted, it does not sound as natural as in a classroom or office. This is a problem that this college professor attempted to solve without realizing that being on a microphone would likely amplify particular noises.
That is how this unfortunate individual found out at a class that they could actually hear every sound produced by everyone at the same time all the time. Listening to loud chewing or heavy breathing can be quite distracting, especially if you are trying to learn something.
A Great Tool to Stay in Touch
Zoom is not just a tool for managing one’s professional life. It’s also a fantastic tool for folks to stay in touch with their friends and relatives. This came in very handy during the early stages of the pandemic when lockdowns prevented people from seeing their friends. But zooming with acquaintances can be tricky!
In theory, at least, but individuals are realizing that hanging out through video conference differs from hanging out in person. When you are stuck on a less-than-fun Zoom conversation and on a platform where everyone can see your face, this can lead to some unpleasant circumstances.
Trying to Keep Up With The Times
Everyone is already a little apprehensive about how difficult Zoom can be to use and how to get the most out of it. It is foreseeable that some people will be attempting to release tension on purpose.
This professor arrived at the conclusion that the best way to solve this problem was to quote a Netflix ad from earlier this year. However, it appears that the joke wasn’t well received by the class. We can tell it was more of a cringe moment than a bit of fun based on one student’s answer alone. We think it’s kind of adorable!
Pets Want to Join the Meetings Too
Working from home can be difficult, especially when it comes to establishing a professional workspace. After all, many people previously did not have to worry about having a home office. A lot of people live in small single room apartments and having an office space is not even an option.
That means the Zoom screen does not always match the peace that comes with working in a professional environment – especially if you have energetic dogs and curious cats. Even if you can get your roommates to agree to a calm environment, your dogs and cats will do as they please.
The Only Option Is Leaving
Not everyone feels as at ease attending an online meeting as they do in person. After all, it is a new environment, uncharted territory, which might be stressful.
That said, it is vital to remember that not everyone is prepared to receive criticism in front of a group of people, and it is easy to just leave on Zoom. Some people can feel humiliated and become upset. This person probably did not expect such a direct response when they asked a question. Leaving seemed like the greatest option at the time. Hopefully they were able to resolve it like adults.
Being Quite Frank
You will probably try to keep a professional demeanor in your first Zoom meeting, as if you were in a truly professional situation. After all, it is your job and you need to maintain a professional appearance.
However, this façade begins to fracture over time as everyone becomes more at ease with the knowledge that they are working in a new, more relaxed etiquette-friendly atmosphere. You do not need to dress up in suits or wear heels anymore. It’s unsurprising that after a period, everyone becomes more at ease with one another — to the extent that this person describes.
Even Famous People Do It
Even celebrities will reduce their standards when it comes to Zoom meetings, as seen by the following Tweet. We would be expected to be suit and booted if we were genuinely speaking in an office. But, especially at home, Seth Rogen conducts things a little differently.
The comedian/actor/writer has no qualms with dressing up for Zoom sessions. His coworkers are unaware, however, that he is also dressed in boxers. At the very least, they will not be able to view this. He is not the only one to do this, a lot of people dress half way.
Love is all Around Us
As we get acclimated to working at home, we are all trying to be a little more supportive of one another. Not to mention that we communicate with our roommates or spouses in our own homes in a less formal manner.
One morning, as they prepared for their new work-from-home routine, this married couple was simply attempting to show their love. The first thing they learned, however, is to make sure your spouse’s headset is not on before talking directly next to it. We need to be self-aware of Zoom’s microphones when we interact with our spouses.
The Real Duration of a Meeting
Because you can arrange a meeting to begin ahead of time, Zoom is a convenient platform. This ensures that everyone knows when to meet and that the meeting runs smoothly without falling behind schedule.
However, as we have already known, a Zoom meeting can go wrong in a variety of ways. As a result, no meeting is ever completely successful. In reality, this Twitter user’s meeting schedule appears to be very similar to what most of us have experienced! The first couple of minutes are dedicated to adjusting cameras and the volume of the microphone before getting to the point.
Pay Attention to Camera Settings
It’s difficult to maintain a professional demeanor when you are at home, which is traditionally a haven for non-professionals. People are more relaxed in the comfort of their home. When you make a mistake, situations like the one this Twitter user had demonstrate how quickly things can go bad.
We have already established that microphone and camera settings are a major source of errors. Like this poor Twitter user, who completely forgot they were on video before starting to change. Since you’re alone in your room, you forget that there is a camera broadcasting you to many other people online!
Peek Into Other People’s Houses
Working in an office or similar setting has the advantage of allowing you to present yourself in whichever way you choose. You could not possibly act like you would in your own home! When you work from home, some of the mystery is removed, especially during a Zoom meeting where everyone can see what your workspace looks like.
That is why, for the most part, anybody who has started using Zoom has had an experience similar to this one. You need to keep your space relatively clean and tidy to not get negative attention from your coworkers and boss.
Big Mistake
We can’t emphasize this enough: double-check your Zoom settings before doing something you should not do in front of your coworkers, business partners, or classmates.
This person learned this lesson in the most public way conceivable. It is not a big deal if one person hears you talking to your pet, but if you are in a meeting with 68 people and forget to mute your microphone, it is likely to ruin the professional mood. Especially because we usually talk to our pets like they were our babies. It is quite embarrassing to do that in front of other people.
Dress Code Optional
Working from home has led to one essential realization: no matter how you slice it, working from home is not the same as working in an office building. You do not have the need to dress up for work and you do not get extra stressed commuting.
Sure, you can work from home, and some people are even more productive than others! That said, you are not as restricted in terms of how you dress, act, or even keep comfortable while working during the day. You will probably act a little more calm once you have established a pattern.
A Proud Mother
Who hasn’t faced interruptions during a Zoom meeting at some point? As it was previously stated, there is no ability to entirely control variables like how people act at each meeting. It appears to be particularly tough at times when someone appears to completely overlook the fact that you are, in fact, working despite being at home.
At the very least, the outcomes of their interrupted talks have left this person moved rather than frustrated. As we can observe, their mother was so proud of them that she needed to keep a record of it. It is kind of cute!
Making Things Engaging
After a while, Zoom can become a monotonous and sort of a boring format. You are always gazing at the main screen, which is surrounded by smaller screens that reveal who else is viewing – occasionally they are even blank, with no courtesy picture or avatar.
That is not to say that it needs to be like that. There are a lot of folks out there that are doing their hardest to make their Zoom meetings more enjoyable and engaging. This anatomy lesson appears to be on the right track. We need to start getting more creative to keep people’s attention.
YouTube Got in the Way
The difficulty with conducting work-related tasks on Zoom is that you do not have to worry about your appearance. You must also ensure that your background is appropriate. Keep your surroundings tidy and try to block out annoying noises. A lot has to go into consideration before joining Zooming.
This person was simply attempting to ensure that their students received the resources they required to succeed. Unfortunately, YouTube’s copyright regulations are fairly tight, making it difficult to share your Zoom films, even if they are simply something in the background. This husband was merely passing the time by watching wrestling.
The Curse of Punctuality
It’s difficult to make sure you are prepared for a Zoom meeting on time. You can’t possibly account for all of the conceivable problems that could cause you to lose time.
That is why, much like when you are trying to avoid rush hour traffic on your way to work, you should plan ahead to arrive as early as possible. However, there is one disadvantage to being early: you may be the first to arrive. In the end, it’s better to be early than late, right? People will have a higher opinion of you because being early is more professional.
The Wonderful Mute Button
Zoom is a fantastically useful tool. That is until the technology you are utilizing begins to malfunction. If you have recurrent power cuts in your area, you will not be able to use a platform like Zoom for long. If your internet is not as strong, you might experience lag and delays on Zoom.
Nonetheless, technology is not the only factor to consider. Apart from turning off your microphone entirely, there’s no way to manage all of the ambient sounds around you. Plus, even with other people in the house, you can’t always stop a young child from being noisy.
Our New Coworkers
If you are working from home right now, you are probably not alone. While some people live alone, many others live with their families or even housemates. This can result in some quite fascinating encounters. If you have small children, you are probably faced with a variety of unique scenarios on a daily basis.
This particular parent revealed that not only did their child enjoy playing on the computer, but that they also made business calls. Unfortunately with toddlers, it only takes them a second to get into trouble. You need to keep an eye on them at all times!
Just a Little Alone Time
Few things are more awkward than making eye contact with a stranger or making a forced small conversation with a coworker. Zoom now lets you enjoy both of them. Welcome to a new way of interacting with others in this pandemic world.
At the end of a Zoom meeting, the best opportunity for awkwardness exists. Even if you say your goodbyes, you will not be able to go immediately away. It can take a second to properly finish a meeting, leaving a few awkward minutes of silence. Hopefully you won’t feel silly and will have a laugh at the situation.
Look at the Presenter, Please
The most embarrassing portion of a Zoom meeting isn’t always what really happens. You’re sometimes too preoccupied with what might happen to get any work done. This guy, for example, came up with a fairly tense circumstance that we can’t help but be both worried and fascinated by.
Because of Zoom’s format, it’s difficult to discern where people are looking other than on the screen. So, who’s to say they’re not staring you down? It’s common to go through everyone that has joined the meeting, but we have to fixate on the presenter or the person who is currently talking.
Called Out by Name
We keep emphasizing that the Zoom setting you use has a significant impact on the meeting’s success and how other people in the meeting view it. When you hold a Zoom meeting with other people and outdoors, you introduce a number of variables that could cause the meeting to go wrong.
That is something this person discovered in the most embarrassing and amusing manner possible. From your spouse throwing you things to play, to strong wind that could affect the microphone. If you’re going to stay outside, make sure you’re sheltered and that the people around you know you’re busy.
They Hear You Loud and Clear
When you are attempting to keep things running well in class, there are already a lot of things to keep an eye out for. Even if you are learning in a traditional classroom setting, this is also true. This person was only attempting to study in class when they said something that, honestly, most students do at times.
However, it created a difficulty once more when it came to how much a small voice may be amplified on a computer microphone. It was even worse, the teacher admitted to hearing the jab. Hopefully, the girl apologized and muted the microphone.
Double-Check the Meeting Members
It can be difficult to notice everyone else on Zoom at a glance in a crowded gathering, but you should pay closer attention. At the very least, this student should have double-checked the guest list. They did not understand they were not alone while they thought they were having a class discussion.
What is the first class rule? Always choose your words wisely while in a Zoom meeting, you never know who could be listening. This girl accidentally disclosed to her lecturer that she didn’t see the point in putting the work on their class anymore. Double-check who is online!
Exposed for the Crime
Having children in the house can be a particular hardship when you work from home, as we have already explained. Managing two aspects of your life at the same time is a difficult task! There is no longer a division between work life and home life, and that can be very challenging to manage.
This parent rapidly realized that the things their child found amusing had little to do with how they intended to promote themselves professionally. Even though they knew it was a whoopie cushion and their son undoubtedly enjoyed it, it made the Zoom meeting a little awkward.
The Rise of the Machines
Another issue with Zoom is that, while it is technology in and of itself, it can also interact with other technology such as Ciri, Alexa and Google. AI can be activated by just talking to it, and that is just the way things are in our modern world with smartphones and computers.
But that does not mean we are all already accustomed to it. There are times when the world’s interconnectedness can catch us off surprise. When someone on this Zoom call accidentally activated the Google Home behind them, they jumped out of their skin. It might have been scary!
Trying to Get Out
Small talk might be the most uncomfortable portion of a conversation at times. On the other hand, there are some situations that are more embarrassing than others. We have already discussed how a stiff silence may create an odd circumstance, but when it is combined with another issue, it can have hilarious outcomes.
Mixing your uncomfortable silence with the odd moment of attempting to leave a meeting is one of those awkward moments we have to deal with nowadays. Maybe in the near future, we might be able to master the art of Zooming and improve our experience with it.