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Since the dawn of the iPod and significantly more so since AirPods, many people walk nearly everywhere with headphones in their ears. Before covid this bothere

Since the dawn of the iPod and significantly more so since AirPods, many people walk nearly everywhere with headphones in their ears. Before covid this bothered me immensely at work, where it was that much more difficult to get someone’s attention in common spaces.

InitialLastName 6y ago
It isn't called the Sony Walkman for no reason, FWIW.
- CyberRabbi 6y ago
  The prior existence of the Walkman on its own doesn’t automatically justify the headphone trends popularized by apples products.
munk-a 6y ago
> Before covid this bothered me immensely at work, where it was that much more difficult to get someone’s attention in common spaces. In my day job we use slack as the primary means of communication, sometimes the person at the desk next to you will set themselves as away/sleep notifications and pop on headphones - this is usually an attempt by them to focus on a problem. I think it's particularly common with more senior employees that tend to get lots of questions where, for me at least, I have no objection to questions but I want the freedom to handle them in my own time (usually within a half-hour or so, not days later) since that allows me to maximize my personal productivity. So I very much empathize with folks who occasionally pop on headphones at work - even if they aren't listening to music but just using it as either a visual signal or to leverage sound canceling. As a dev I'd often pop on headphone when working in the office even without music when I was working on a serious chunk of logic - I'm on the senior end of things and get lots of questions and sometimes you really get into a groove and want to focus.
- CyberRabbi 6y ago
  I specifically said people who wear headphones in common spaces, not while they are at their desk. Common spaces are kitchens, bathrooms, lounges, etc. Places where in-person interaction will likely be necessary for physical coordination and sharing purposes.
  - munk-a 6y ago
    Ah sorry - I've worked in a lot of offices that are ridiculously open concept and lounges sort of spill into desks and kitchens so my impression of common spaces is a bit of a mismatch to yours. I agree with your sentiment pretty strongly then.

InitialLastName 6y ago

It isn't called the Sony Walkman for no reason, FWIW.

CyberRabbi 6y ago
The prior existence of the Walkman on its own doesn’t automatically justify the headphone trends popularized by apples products.

munk-a 6y ago

> Before covid this bothered me immensely at work, where it was that much more difficult to get someone’s attention in common spaces. In my day job we use slack as the primary means of communication, sometimes the person at the desk next to you will set themselves as away/sleep notifications and pop on headphones - this is usually an attempt by them to focus on a problem. I think it's particularly common with more senior employees that tend to get lots of questions where, for me at least, I have no objection to questions but I want the freedom to handle them in my own time (usually within a half-hour or so, not days later) since that allows me to maximize my personal productivity. So I very much empathize with folks who occasionally pop on headphones at work - even if they aren't listening to music but just using it as either a visual signal or to leverage sound canceling. As a dev I'd often pop on headphone when working in the office even without music when I was working on a serious chunk of logic - I'm on the senior end of things and get lots of questions and sometimes you really get into a groove and want to focus.

CyberRabbi 6y ago
I specifically said people who wear headphones in common spaces, not while they are at their desk. Common spaces are kitchens, bathrooms, lounges, etc. Places where in-person interaction will likely be necessary for physical coordination and sharing purposes.
- munk-a 6y ago
  Ah sorry - I've worked in a lot of offices that are ridiculously open concept and lounges sort of spill into desks and kitchens so my impression of common spaces is a bit of a mismatch to yours. I agree with your sentiment pretty strongly then.