In my experience, making friends is hard, just in general. Approaching people, talking in groups, or just having anything interesting to say, is difficult.
The thing about VRChat, though, is you can have an interesting or cute avatar, that draws attention and makes people want to interact with you. First friend I made in VRChat, I had a small ferret avatar. With this avatar, I could bring up a bag of chips, take a out chip out of the bag, and eat it using gestures. The gesture for eating the chip would make a crunching noise, and you could see the chip getting smaller as it was getting eaten. Or you could put the chip in someone else’s face and have them “eat” the chip.
Later, I’ve used small, cute avatars, which has also proven effective. It does take patience, though, because you have to run into the right people. It can happen in the first world you go to, or it could take you days of hopping around. Once you do get someone’s attention, you need to seize the opportunity. They have given you their attention, now you must interact with them somehow. How you interact with them depends entirely on the situation. In one case, I was in a tiny avatar, maybe 30cm tall, and what I did was play space (tricking the game into thinking I’m flying in the air) my way up and sit on their shoulder, using full body tracking. This got everyone’s attention!
During the 2 years I’ve been playing VRChat, I have made several friends in different places, all without saying a single word. I’m just this quiet person that nobody knows anything about. Yet, oddly enough, I get the warmest welcomes out of everyone whenever I show up. People really like me, and I don’t know why! All I do is be there, and respond non-verbally. I have even had someone comment that I am charismatic for a mute. Charismatic! That is not a word anyone would describe me with, had they heard me speak!
Anyhow, I made friends against all odds, nobody notices my awkward nature, and I am oddly popular. If I can do that, then surely, so can anyone else?
Great read. I always like it when you’re around. You were one of the first mutes I met in vrchat. I know you are maybe not always the best conversation partner, but it’s nice to have you around.
At first I thought it was weird but when you get used to mutes they are lovely company. You never get any vocal judgment from mutes. But sometimes when you need a friend to just be there a mute is the best go to.
The furniture just makes you look even cuter than you already are. A