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We actively talk over slack. There's a #random channel, a #stonks channel, et al. There's plenty of banter. But _anyone_ can mute those and focus. I _cannot_ m

We actively talk over slack. There's a #random channel, a #stonks channel, et al. There's plenty of banter. But _anyone_ can mute those and focus. I _cannot_ mute a coworker talking loudly next to my desk.

thelean12 6y ago
> I _cannot_ mute a coworker talking loudly next to my desk. Maybe my team was more respectful. Any prolonged conversation can and was taken to a conference room or common area. I also wear noise canceling headphones most of the day, and find the general muted drone of office noises nice. People listen to recorded audio of cafes and stuff, it's basically the same for me. But to be clear: I'm not saying everyone should have the same preferences as me. I'm just letting my voice and concerns be heard, since I've heard plenty of people go on about how they think WFH/remote work is better.
- dleslie 6y ago
  Noise cancelling isn't enough. If I know someone is discussing topics important to my deliverables then I have to pay attention.
  - thelean12 6y ago
    I'm not sure how that's different than someone sending a direct message to someone in a chat. Except now you'd definitely have no idea if someone was discussing something important and you were missing it.
    - dleslie 6y ago
      With vocal interaction people expect an immediate response. With text interaction they are willing to tolerate a delay.
- solosoyokaze 6y ago
  It's funny that you described wfh as "robotic" yet you literally have to use robot assisted noise cancellation in your office. I don't mean that to be snarky, just an observation. I find wfh much more "human" as I can be around friends and family, go for walks, eat healthier... Probably the biggest gain is not having a boss watch me all day. That seems superbly unnatural to me.
endymi0n 6y ago
We also _write_ actively over Slack. I write into my text editor as well, I don't feel a difference. I'm staring at the same freaking screen all day, interfacing with individuals that couldn't feel more irreplaceable. Maybe they're advanced ML text and video synthesis models, I don't know. Every day feels the same, like three weeks old chewing gum. Work is effective and incredibly empty. I don't know what we're working on. I don't care what we're working on. The (forced) WFH revolution seems to really be a field day for introverts, nomads, misantropists and sociopaths. I'm happy for them, but I couldn't be much unhappier myself than right now. If I had the qualifications and could afford it, I'd rather quit and work as a hospital assistant with real humans than stay one day longer in homeoffice.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- dleslie 6y ago
  It's sort of telling that you lump introverts, nomads, misanthropists and sociopaths together.
  - endymi0n 6y ago
    Telling about what? I was enumerating groups of people who don't particularly value being around other people. Maybe I'm wrong with sociopaths in that regard though, as they might actually enjoy that for all the wrong reasons. I realize how this categorization can be seen as disingenious though. Sorry for that, I didn't mean to be — I'm just completely burned out. If anything, it gives me a little bit better of an impression of (the exact opposite of?) what introverts must probably suffer through in an office environment full of extroverts like me.
    - dleslie 6y ago
      It's telling about your feelings and perspective of people who are happy with the current situation. Your problem isn't working from home, it's that you're only at home and lacking normal human interaction. Normally, if you were working from home you would be able to spend time with other people after work.

thelean12 6y ago

> I _cannot_ mute a coworker talking loudly next to my desk. Maybe my team was more respectful. Any prolonged conversation can and was taken to a conference room or common area. I also wear noise canceling headphones most of the day, and find the general muted drone of office noises nice. People listen to recorded audio of cafes and stuff, it's basically the same for me. But to be clear: I'm not saying everyone should have the same preferences as me. I'm just letting my voice and concerns be heard, since I've heard plenty of people go on about how they think WFH/remote work is better.

dleslie 6y ago
Noise cancelling isn't enough. If I know someone is discussing topics important to my deliverables then I have to pay attention.
- thelean12 6y ago
  I'm not sure how that's different than someone sending a direct message to someone in a chat. Except now you'd definitely have no idea if someone was discussing something important and you were missing it.
  - dleslie 6y ago
    With vocal interaction people expect an immediate response. With text interaction they are willing to tolerate a delay.
solosoyokaze 6y ago
It's funny that you described wfh as "robotic" yet you literally have to use robot assisted noise cancellation in your office. I don't mean that to be snarky, just an observation. I find wfh much more "human" as I can be around friends and family, go for walks, eat healthier... Probably the biggest gain is not having a boss watch me all day. That seems superbly unnatural to me.

endymi0n 6y ago

We also _write_ actively over Slack. I write into my text editor as well, I don't feel a difference. I'm staring at the same freaking screen all day, interfacing with individuals that couldn't feel more irreplaceable. Maybe they're advanced ML text and video synthesis models, I don't know. Every day feels the same, like three weeks old chewing gum. Work is effective and incredibly empty. I don't know what we're working on. I don't care what we're working on. The (forced) WFH revolution seems to really be a field day for introverts, nomads, misantropists and sociopaths. I'm happy for them, but I couldn't be much unhappier myself than right now. If I had the qualifications and could afford it, I'd rather quit and work as a hospital assistant with real humans than stay one day longer in homeoffice.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
dleslie 6y ago
It's sort of telling that you lump introverts, nomads, misanthropists and sociopaths together.
- endymi0n 6y ago
  Telling about what? I was enumerating groups of people who don't particularly value being around other people. Maybe I'm wrong with sociopaths in that regard though, as they might actually enjoy that for all the wrong reasons. I realize how this categorization can be seen as disingenious though. Sorry for that, I didn't mean to be — I'm just completely burned out. If anything, it gives me a little bit better of an impression of (the exact opposite of?) what introverts must probably suffer through in an office environment full of extroverts like me.
  - dleslie 6y ago
    It's telling about your feelings and perspective of people who are happy with the current situation. Your problem isn't working from home, it's that you're only at home and lacking normal human interaction. Normally, if you were working from home you would be able to spend time with other people after work.