If you do not want to turn on your webcam and microphone I suggest you not do it. Saying that "I don't believe that is you in the picture" is a trap. It is just so he can get a glimpse of you or hear you for his "fantasies". If he doesn't believe that the picture is really you, then let it be, who cares. Just don't fall into his traps to turn on your webcam or microphone. Do it only if you feel comfortable with it. The picture is there already and who else could it be? There's no need to prove yourself. If he doesn't believe you then he's not your friend. To answer your main question, I like to use my microphone because you can't always hear and feel how I am from the words I type. I also turn my webcam on too once in a while hehe Just because I feel I have nothing to lose and to make the other person understand me and know me better. I'm just a friendly person ^-^

Firstly, you cannot say "open", that is Chinglish (开), you should say "turn on": Do you usually chat with your webcam & microphone turned on?" Secondly, no, I only chat like that with people I know in "real life"

no microphone no cams i just chat by writing and i use my webcam only with person who i know .and if someone don t bielieve that is my real picture so it is his/her problem not mine . anyway u are not obliged to give a proof. the person who want to chat with u is to know ur personality your culture and not the color of your eyes. so if u don t like to turn it on just don 't . good luck

I'd have to agree almost entirely with Niney. There is really no need to use a webcam. If you like using your webcam and such, then that's great I guess. If people ask you to show your webcam and you don't want to, then you shouldn't do it. One thing I don't like about the italki chat system is that people can show you their webcam without asking you first, which I don't like. If people try to convince you by saying they don't believe you, I would just let them not belive you. Your picture has nothing to do with learning language or culture. Personally, I don't own a webcam, so that's not really an issue for me. I use my mic with people I know and have chatted with a while and trust them. Not with people I just met though.

i had one phone chat with a chinese man but not with webcam because i haven't one, even i had it i will not turn on. because who knows these people. they are strangers for you. you need some time to trust them. these things depend on the person which you talk with. you see his answers and with time you can turn on your microphone and webcam.