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No distractions would be lovely. Currently, I'm "enjoying" the following in our open-plan offices: - Cellphones w/annoying ringtones going off every 10 mins (I

by slater 17y ago

No distractions would be lovely. Currently, I'm "enjoying" the following in our open-plan offices: - Cellphones w/annoying ringtones going off every 10 mins (I don't care if you're the company's sales guy/gal who needs to be reachable every second of the day) - Impromptu meetings in the hallways - Obligatory foghorn-voiced American employee yacking on the landline - Resulting volume increase of person on the cellphone, person on the land line, persons in their impromptu meeting just outside the office door The obvious answer is "get your own office", but that's not likely to happen. Chip on my shoulder, what?

pasbesoin 17y ago
I agree with this. I'm perfectly fine interacting with people when that's the work at hand. I am frustrated when I'm forced to spend a significant amount of my energy trying to tune them out. And it's not just a matter of "choice" or "adaptation". I've worked on this for over 20 years, and my "adaptability" has not significantly altered. I'm very aware of my environment; this seems to be hard wired. It offers some advantages: I notice things others miss, and I'm very quick to infer new information from the details at hand. But it also means that open space is a living hell. I wish people in general were more willing to accept that different people thrive in different kinds of environments. But where there is a mix of personalities, often the loudest and most physically aggressive come to predominate the environment. I've also experienced this in my home environment, where the misfortune of a string of noisy neighbors -- even after moving -- have made being home an exercise. (The reasons I never transitioned to working from home.) My second priority would be for interesting, meaningful work. Preferably where I am continually learning and creating. I've paid my "button pushing" dues; in fact, I've repeatedly taught the machines to push those buttons for me, before moving on.

by slater 17y ago

pasbesoin 17y ago

I agree with this. I'm perfectly fine interacting with people when that's the work at hand. I am frustrated when I'm forced to spend a significant amount of my energy trying to tune them out. And it's not just a matter of "choice" or "adaptation". I've worked on this for over 20 years, and my "adaptability" has not significantly altered. I'm very aware of my environment; this seems to be hard wired. It offers some advantages: I notice things others miss, and I'm very quick to infer new information from the details at hand. But it also means that open space is a living hell. I wish people in general were more willing to accept that different people thrive in different kinds of environments. But where there is a mix of personalities, often the loudest and most physically aggressive come to predominate the environment. I've also experienced this in my home environment, where the misfortune of a string of noisy neighbors -- even after moving -- have made being home an exercise. (The reasons I never transitioned to working from home.) My second priority would be for interesting, meaningful work. Preferably where I am continually learning and creating. I've paid my "button pushing" dues; in fact, I've repeatedly taught the machines to push those buttons for me, before moving on.