Meeting Excuse Library

Excuses to Keep Your Camera Off

Camera-on is a preference, not a contract. Ten reasons that hold up in any standup.

Camera-on is a preference, not a contract. Ten reasons that hold up in any standup.
Ten hand-picked excuses
01
On a low-bandwidth connection; saving bandwidth.
02
On the road; audio-only is safer for everyone.
03
Mid-migraine; the screen brightness is rough today.
04
Sick at home; sparing you the visual.
05
Joining from my phone; the camera angle is unflattering at best.
06
Childcare in the background; off-camera for their privacy.
07
Repair person in the house; off-camera until they leave.
08
Walking the dog while listening; will turn on at the desk.
09
Camera permission issue on this device; troubleshooting after.
10
Joining from a coffee shop; respecting other guests.
Or generate one
Click below for a fresh excuse.
FAQ
What's the most credible excuse for a meeting where the camera norm is on?
On a low-bandwidth connection; saving bandwidth. It works because it's specific, time-bounded, and doesn't require anyone to verify it.
Can I use the same excuse twice?
Sparingly. Pattern-match is the enemy of plausibility. Rotate from the list of 30 on this page.
Should I post a written update instead?
Almost always yes. A two-sentence async update earns more trust than showing up silent on camera.
More excuse libraries
Excuses to Skip a Standup→Excuses to Skip an All-Hands→Excuses to Skip a 1:1→Excuses to Leave a Meeting Early→Excuses to Decline a Meeting Invite→Excuses for When You Were on Mute→

This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.

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