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I never understand this line of reasoning. I have my own office. It's right next to most of my team's offices. My door is open 90% of the time. If someone wants

I never understand this line of reasoning. I have my own office. It's right next to most of my team's offices. My door is open 90% of the time. If someone wants to chat spontaneously, I don't think walking 15 feet is going to stop them.

b1ur 7y ago
You'd be surprised, it doesn't seem like a lot but there is a big difference between having to stand up and walk over and leaning over, or kicking your chair over.
- Izkata 7y ago
  Yeah, a lot of our random chats start because of a stray thought said aloud, not even to anyone. If someone nearby needs a break, they pick up on it.
victords 7y ago
Wouldn’t you agree it’s much more practical and inviting if you could just turn around a talk? I’d imagine that if I needed to get up, walk up there and knock on my coworker’s door, I’d rather just message him. And a text conversation and face to face one are very different and could lead it to different places.
- organsnyder 7y ago
  My experience has been the opposite. People in open offices tend to avoid in-depth conversations because they don't want to disturb their neighbors; instead, they take conversations into conference rooms. The only people holding conversations in the open space are those talking about non-work topics (usually TV shows, movies, or sports), and seemingly lacking all awareness that they're disturbing the people trying to be productive.
  - falcolas 7y ago
    And since all conversations require a conference room, the conference rooms are always full of people talking.
    - MandieD 7y ago
      Unless the conference room has already been booked by someone wanting a private office for a few hours.
- 0xffff2 7y ago
  >Wouldn’t you agree it’s much more practical and inviting if you could just turn around a talk? No. Even when I visit my less fortunate comrades in the cube farms, I constantly feel guilty for opening my mouth because I know that there are 10 other people in earshot who probably don't have any interest at all in the discussion we're having. >And a text conversation and face to face one are very different and could lead it to different places. I agree, which is why I think it's important to make it easy to have face to face conversations by making sure that there's space to do so without disturbing my coworkers.

b1ur 7y ago

You'd be surprised, it doesn't seem like a lot but there is a big difference between having to stand up and walk over and leaning over, or kicking your chair over.

Izkata 7y ago
Yeah, a lot of our random chats start because of a stray thought said aloud, not even to anyone. If someone nearby needs a break, they pick up on it.

victords 7y ago

Wouldn’t you agree it’s much more practical and inviting if you could just turn around a talk? I’d imagine that if I needed to get up, walk up there and knock on my coworker’s door, I’d rather just message him. And a text conversation and face to face one are very different and could lead it to different places.

organsnyder 7y ago
My experience has been the opposite. People in open offices tend to avoid in-depth conversations because they don't want to disturb their neighbors; instead, they take conversations into conference rooms. The only people holding conversations in the open space are those talking about non-work topics (usually TV shows, movies, or sports), and seemingly lacking all awareness that they're disturbing the people trying to be productive.
- falcolas 7y ago
  And since all conversations require a conference room, the conference rooms are always full of people talking.
  - MandieD 7y ago
    Unless the conference room has already been booked by someone wanting a private office for a few hours.
0xffff2 7y ago
>Wouldn’t you agree it’s much more practical and inviting if you could just turn around a talk? No. Even when I visit my less fortunate comrades in the cube farms, I constantly feel guilty for opening my mouth because I know that there are 10 other people in earshot who probably don't have any interest at all in the discussion we're having. >And a text conversation and face to face one are very different and could lead it to different places. I agree, which is why I think it's important to make it easy to have face to face conversations by making sure that there's space to do so without disturbing my coworkers.