I've yet to overhear a whisper and had no idea this was even in the game, but I love it!
I've seen a lot of hate in this thread and I don't understand it at all, because:
1.) I've heard plenty of idle chitchat and trades that don't concern my char spoken outloud. This has never ruined my day and neither will overhearing a whispered one.
2.) I've seen sex accidentally posted in the 'talk to all' box. This was followed by several, even more annoying public OOC messages about how no one should react to what the chars were doing because that would be
cheating, oh noes. Now if you accidentally notice a couple of very unsubtle people humping in the bushes there will at least be no argument over whether seeing them is IC, whether your char reacts by going 'oh my GAWD, hey everyone LOOK they are totally having SEX!' or by just blushing and pretending they didn't notice anything.
3.) Smart plotters already avoid excessive whispering in public, because excessive whispering can be suspicious, and because someone accidentally speaking out loud is not uncommon. (Pretty much the same issue as sex. I will not even get into the realism issue here, but if that's something that matters to you I'm sure you can see why "PSST! Hey let's murder this guy standing RIGHT next to us, he will never suspect a thing as he can't hear us
or see our incredibly suspicious body language, even though as previously stated he is standing RIGHT next to us!" is a problem.)
4.)
Any change that encourages people to use buildings more is a good one, in my book.
5.) Why were people (well maybe not
people, but that one guy with the broken Shift key...) insisting this was going to ruin RP by making characters break character, again? I honestly don't see the difference between overhearing a whisper and accidentally walking in on an ongoing conversation...you'd react pretty much the same, right? Indifferent if it's unimportant or your char doesn't realize the significance, angry/alarmed/embarrassed/fearful on the off chance it
is something worth RPing off of. (Though this way does give your char the extra option of keeping their mouth shut with nobody the wiser...)
Basically, I see no harm in overhearing a whisper that isn't important, but even the tiny tiny chance to hear one that
is opens up sooo many possibilities...