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HN (and the tech industry in general) has a bias for being introverted, computer-focused workers that, if they had their way, would spend 10 hours a day heads d

HN (and the tech industry in general) has a bias for being introverted, computer-focused workers that, if they had their way, would spend 10 hours a day heads down with a technical task and no interaction with other human beings. They live in a bubble where they assume that everyone else is the same way. As evidenced by the comments in this thread, many of them have trouble understanding that other people genuinely do enjoy socializing with their coworkers and going to after-work happy hours, and actually dread the thought of spending their entire workday alone without anyone to gossip with in the break room.

sysbin 7y ago
I think it greatly depends on where you work, the group of people you're around, and if the atmosphere is open office or something more discrete like cubicles. My open office division of where I've been assigned, has a group of people that aren't very social and conversations usually end with I need to get back to work. They're all great people but totally different experience compared to previous socializing at work. I typically can get my "social fix" by visiting a different area of team members and that are way more toned down on just writing code all day. This sort of solution isn't pleasant at all and makes me just want to work from home. In general I could just stay home, code and nothing would be missed.
loco5niner 7y ago
The first part of your comment is true. I certainly prefer no interaction when working on some challenge(unless I'm working together WITH someone on the same challenge). I also enjoy socializing with my friends at work. The problem comes when I want to focus on the challenge at hand but am forced to hear all the noise around me. Various conversations, and random words/laughter/clomping pulling my thoughts away from what I want to be working on. I just want to be able to focus on something without all the unnecessary distractions. I can socialize anytime. If I had a door I could close (that actually blocked the noise), that would be different.

sysbin 7y ago

I think it greatly depends on where you work, the group of people you're around, and if the atmosphere is open office or something more discrete like cubicles. My open office division of where I've been assigned, has a group of people that aren't very social and conversations usually end with I need to get back to work. They're all great people but totally different experience compared to previous socializing at work. I typically can get my "social fix" by visiting a different area of team members and that are way more toned down on just writing code all day. This sort of solution isn't pleasant at all and makes me just want to work from home. In general I could just stay home, code and nothing would be missed.

loco5niner 7y ago

The first part of your comment is true. I certainly prefer no interaction when working on some challenge(unless I'm working together WITH someone on the same challenge). I also enjoy socializing with my friends at work. The problem comes when I want to focus on the challenge at hand but am forced to hear all the noise around me. Various conversations, and random words/laughter/clomping pulling my thoughts away from what I want to be working on. I just want to be able to focus on something without all the unnecessary distractions. I can socialize anytime. If I had a door I could close (that actually blocked the noise), that would be different.