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I am less concerned by the implication of reduced productivity. Though reading Hacker News may negatively impact present productivity, it may improve future pr
by michaelvw 18y ago
I am less concerned by the implication of reduced productivity. Though reading Hacker News may negatively impact present productivity, it may improve future productivity by exposing readers to new concepts, approaches, etc.
It reminds me of an article about Pixar (though a cursory search doesn't seem to find it...) which described their workspaces as having only a few central bathrooms in order to facilitate people running into each other, discussing ideas, and being exposed to different people's work. I think Hacker News provides a similar service without having to get up and walk at all.
- unalone 18y agoHacker News, unlike bathrooms, is instantly available and you can get to it in a few clicks. This is easily the site I spend my most time, and I'm not entirely certain that's a good thing.
- GHFigs 18y agoAn important difference is that people actually need to use the bathroom anyway, so such chance encounters are not creating an interruption where one did not exist before. They are also self-limiting in a way that browsing the web (or RSS feeds, etc.) is not.