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This is, and has been for many years, the norm in the UK. I've been working for over quarter of a century and have had my own pod/room for about 6 months in tha

This is, and has been for many years, the norm in the UK. I've been working for over quarter of a century and have had my own pod/room for about 6 months in that time. It's something you largely get used to, and in some ways is beneficial. Assuming you're working on the same things, it's far easier to pop your head up and discuss a quick question than to wander into someone's cubicle. If you're randomly hotdesking with strangers though, it's far less good except as a general social thing.

philbarr 11y ago
> it's far easier to pop your head up and discuss a quick question Oh man I hated it when people did that. I've been working from home for 5 years now and it's pretty great, except for my hatred of people not being able to use instant messaging properly. Back when I worked in an office, if I was intent on my work, some idiot would inevitably need me and because I was thinking I wouldn't hear them. So they'd go, "Phil. Phil. Phil! PHIL! PHIIIIILLLLL!!!!" which is when they get my attention. Not realising of course that to me it feels like some wanker has just screamed "PHHIIIIIILLL!!!" in my ear whilst everyone laughs. My new hatred is how people think instant messaging means ALWAYS getting instant feedback. So you're sat there working on something and realise someone's sent you a message 10 mins ago. It says, "Hi Phil". So I respond, "Hi". Now they've gone to the toilet or something and come back and say, "Hi, so my question is...". Why don't people ever just put, "Hi Phil, my question is..." right at the beginning? That way when I read your message I can answer you and we don't have to guarantee we're both at the keyboard. And whilst on a rant, I also hate, "shouting across the room". This is where someone sets up a group chat for something, and then ends up using that group chat for the next six months even when they actually just want to speak to one person. Because it happens to be in their "Recent" list on Skype.
- prof_hobart 11y ago
  People asking me a quick question doesn't bother me in the slightest - if I don't want to be disturbed, I put my headphones on. If a 30 second conversation can stop them having to set up a meeting, or allows them to get on with what they were stuck on, then great. Of course, if someone comes to talk to me when I've got my headphones on, that's a different matter... As for why don't people start with "Hi Phil, my question is..." - if you're not available now, I'll go and get the answer from someone else. I don't want to type out a big long question if you're not ready to respond. If I don't need an answer now(ish), I'll probably email.

philbarr 11y ago

> it's far easier to pop your head up and discuss a quick question Oh man I hated it when people did that. I've been working from home for 5 years now and it's pretty great, except for my hatred of people not being able to use instant messaging properly. Back when I worked in an office, if I was intent on my work, some idiot would inevitably need me and because I was thinking I wouldn't hear them. So they'd go, "Phil. Phil. Phil! PHIL! PHIIIIILLLLL!!!!" which is when they get my attention. Not realising of course that to me it feels like some wanker has just screamed "PHHIIIIIILLL!!!" in my ear whilst everyone laughs. My new hatred is how people think instant messaging means ALWAYS getting instant feedback. So you're sat there working on something and realise someone's sent you a message 10 mins ago. It says, "Hi Phil". So I respond, "Hi". Now they've gone to the toilet or something and come back and say, "Hi, so my question is...". Why don't people ever just put, "Hi Phil, my question is..." right at the beginning? That way when I read your message I can answer you and we don't have to guarantee we're both at the keyboard. And whilst on a rant, I also hate, "shouting across the room". This is where someone sets up a group chat for something, and then ends up using that group chat for the next six months even when they actually just want to speak to one person. Because it happens to be in their "Recent" list on Skype.

prof_hobart 11y ago
People asking me a quick question doesn't bother me in the slightest - if I don't want to be disturbed, I put my headphones on. If a 30 second conversation can stop them having to set up a meeting, or allows them to get on with what they were stuck on, then great. Of course, if someone comes to talk to me when I've got my headphones on, that's a different matter... As for why don't people start with "Hi Phil, my question is..." - if you're not available now, I'll go and get the answer from someone else. I don't want to type out a big long question if you're not ready to respond. If I don't need an answer now(ish), I'll probably email.