For me it's all about how "noisy" the noise is. The less discernible signal the better, because anomalies are what my mind latches on to. I can work without a p

For me it's all about how "noisy" the noise is. The less discernible signal the better, because anomalies are what my mind latches on to. I can work without a problem in a big open coffee shop with constant, low-level hum of conversation, but if I'm in a room with exactly one other person who's clacking a keyboard, or talking on the phone, or occasionally munches on some chips, I can't so much as hear myself think.