7 ms·

Huh, when I interned at Facebook in the new, open floor building, not only was noise not a problem, I could always walk to one of the many mini-lounge/libraries

Huh, when I interned at Facebook in the new, open floor building, not only was noise not a problem, I could always walk to one of the many mini-lounge/libraries for absolute silence when I needed to. Plus, headphones and ear plugs are always offered, if I recall.

heed 10y ago
For me noise isn't the only problem. People moving around, and walking by my desk is just as distracting.
- arsenelupin3 10y ago
  Same for me. My productivity is divided at least by 2, not only because of the noise, but also because of the visual pollution, constantly seeing x or y going around. From my experience, situation is rendered worse when management people are in the mix: then you have to observe the subtle communication tricks of small power politics, which seem to favor those who think loudly. Not to mention non-IT guys are usually ignorant of the huge cost of context switching for programmers. As I do no see myself explaining that I am an introvert who needs calm, the only hope is to see my side project allowing me to earn enough money to escape this nightmare. http://www.commitstrip.com/en/2016/04/05/the-open-plan-office-paradox/ http://www.commitstrip.com/en/2016/04/05/the-open-plan-offic...
  - TeMPOraL 10y ago
    Same here, and also my productivity gets divided by 4 whenever I'm aware of people walking or standing behind me. I've been like this since childhood - when I'm doing stuff on computers, I get distracted by the very presence of other people; doubly so, if they're able to see my screen.
    - wruza 10y ago
      When I worked at "analytics", i.e. solving issues right at client's place, we noticed that the people who can write code there are special. They have skill of resolving issues quickly under pressure, but have less skill of implementing hard things even at our noiseless office. I think it is a waste of resources to put hard-skilled group in uncomfortable conditions and vice-versa. We let some of them away from that because we had both hard tasks and quick tasks.
    - jrs235 10y ago
      I feel I'm similar to you. In high school in many classes, like AP Government, I rarely took notes. I often would put my head down (facing down) on my desk and just listen to my teacher usually just repeating in my head what they said. I would do this to help eliminate [visual] distractions. My teacher called on me with random questions a few times and after I had rattled off the correct answer, often faster than others, he stopped "checking" on me. I scored a 4 on the AP test, higher than most others in my class. My teacher even told me he was surprised that I did that well.
deckard1 10y ago
> headphones and ear plugs are always offered This isn't a solution. Wearing headphones all day will lead to hearing loss. Especially if you have them turned up to any sort of level needed to block out even light conversation.
- jedberg 10y ago
  It depends on the headphones. A good set of active or passive noise cancelling headphones will block all the sound even with no music. I wear my headphones as earplugs on an airplane when I want to sleep, and I can usually keep my volume at 10% of max or less and hear everything crystal clear. The biggest downside is that my headphones cost $350 and are only available in Europe or Montreal, CA.
  - TylerE 10y ago
    Noise canceling headphones are much more effective on constant noise like an airplane engine than transient noises like speech or phones ringing.
    - jedberg 10y ago
      I guess I just found the magic pair, because with them in I can't even hear my baby cry.
      - notyourwork 10y ago
        Care to tell us what pair/
        jedberg 10y ago
        http://www.atomicfloyd.com/us/superdarts http://www.atomicfloyd.com/us/superdarts But be warned, their customer support is terrible if you don't live in Europe.
        10y ago
protomyth 10y ago
Some folks cannot wear head phones for an extended period of time which makes me very happy I have an office. Plus, noise canceling head phone make me dizzy even if no music is playing. I'm pretty sure that's not unique.
- Freak_NL 10y ago
  It probably isn't. I can wear my in-ear noise-blocking headphones for about two hours until they become physically uncomfortable. Over-ear headphones are fine for up to four hours. An open office is just not a workable environment for me.

heed 10y ago

For me noise isn't the only problem. People moving around, and walking by my desk is just as distracting.

arsenelupin3 10y ago
Same for me. My productivity is divided at least by 2, not only because of the noise, but also because of the visual pollution, constantly seeing x or y going around. From my experience, situation is rendered worse when management people are in the mix: then you have to observe the subtle communication tricks of small power politics, which seem to favor those who think loudly. Not to mention non-IT guys are usually ignorant of the huge cost of context switching for programmers. As I do no see myself explaining that I am an introvert who needs calm, the only hope is to see my side project allowing me to earn enough money to escape this nightmare. http://www.commitstrip.com/en/2016/04/05/the-open-plan-office-paradox/ http://www.commitstrip.com/en/2016/04/05/the-open-plan-offic...
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  Same here, and also my productivity gets divided by 4 whenever I'm aware of people walking or standing behind me. I've been like this since childhood - when I'm doing stuff on computers, I get distracted by the very presence of other people; doubly so, if they're able to see my screen.
  - wruza 10y ago
    When I worked at "analytics", i.e. solving issues right at client's place, we noticed that the people who can write code there are special. They have skill of resolving issues quickly under pressure, but have less skill of implementing hard things even at our noiseless office. I think it is a waste of resources to put hard-skilled group in uncomfortable conditions and vice-versa. We let some of them away from that because we had both hard tasks and quick tasks.
  - jrs235 10y ago
    I feel I'm similar to you. In high school in many classes, like AP Government, I rarely took notes. I often would put my head down (facing down) on my desk and just listen to my teacher usually just repeating in my head what they said. I would do this to help eliminate [visual] distractions. My teacher called on me with random questions a few times and after I had rattled off the correct answer, often faster than others, he stopped "checking" on me. I scored a 4 on the AP test, higher than most others in my class. My teacher even told me he was surprised that I did that well.

deckard1 10y ago

> headphones and ear plugs are always offered This isn't a solution. Wearing headphones all day will lead to hearing loss. Especially if you have them turned up to any sort of level needed to block out even light conversation.

jedberg 10y ago
It depends on the headphones. A good set of active or passive noise cancelling headphones will block all the sound even with no music. I wear my headphones as earplugs on an airplane when I want to sleep, and I can usually keep my volume at 10% of max or less and hear everything crystal clear. The biggest downside is that my headphones cost $350 and are only available in Europe or Montreal, CA.
- TylerE 10y ago
  Noise canceling headphones are much more effective on constant noise like an airplane engine than transient noises like speech or phones ringing.
  - jedberg 10y ago
    I guess I just found the magic pair, because with them in I can't even hear my baby cry.
    - notyourwork 10y ago
      Care to tell us what pair/
      - jedberg 10y ago
        http://www.atomicfloyd.com/us/superdarts http://www.atomicfloyd.com/us/superdarts But be warned, their customer support is terrible if you don't live in Europe.
        10y ago

protomyth 10y ago

Some folks cannot wear head phones for an extended period of time which makes me very happy I have an office. Plus, noise canceling head phone make me dizzy even if no music is playing. I'm pretty sure that's not unique.

Freak_NL 10y ago
It probably isn't. I can wear my in-ear noise-blocking headphones for about two hours until they become physically uncomfortable. Over-ear headphones are fine for up to four hours. An open office is just not a workable environment for me.