The answer is not “have you tried wearing noise canceling headphones”.

@GrantMeStrength I wish that weren't the case, but extroverts do seem to be in the vast majority. That said, the migration to "open office plans" heralded my migration to working from home.

@bonsai @GrantMeStrength Are they really in the vast majority or is that just a perception because they’re, well, extroverted?

@ramsey they are NOT in a vast majority. They’re just louder and don’t give a shit about introverts.

@GrantMeStrength please give me the manual in order to quiet those pachyderms in restaurants.

@GrantMeStrength
Or even people who “say” they’re introverts and are just awkward party animals 🫩
(I am specifically referring to what I experienced in a workplace where there were kids who were “in charge” and had this definition of behavior ) (I call them “kids” because I was going on 2 decades older than them )

@ramsey @bonsai @GrantMeStrength the loud minority

@GrantMeStrength No. VERY no. The ACTUAL answer is build offices in a manner that lets extroverts AND introverts have spaces where they are comfortable, and not "shut out an entire group".

"As an introvert, I mostly need solitary spaces. open design is distracting and often even oppressive."

"As an extrovert, I mostly need open spaces. Solitary design is oppressive and often distracting."

Its the SAME PROBLEM. So work *together*, give people *choice*, and you have your solution.

@deef
Don't bring logic to an internet post. That's not how it works. Pick a side or stay out of it!
(The above may contain some sort of humour) @GrantMeStrength

@GrantMeStrength I think more "Don't let people who don't have to actually use the workspace design the workspace.". Or "If open-plan office are so much better for collaboration and productivity, then senior executives should be the first to benefit from them since that'll produce the largest improvements.'.

@GrantMeStrength even the designer that brought them to be in the first place quickly scoffed at all those that embraced it for money savings instead of his intent.

https://99percentinvisible.org/article/office-space-time-loop-open-plans-cubicle-farms-back/

@GrantMeStrength

In grad school, we had an anyone can veto policy for music.

You were free to play a CD or radio until someone else in the room said, turn it off I need to think or change it to something else that's driving me crazy.

It worked, but we were all on good terms (most of the time). Plus we had three rooms so people could decide, I want to be in the quite room.

@GrantMeStrength amen.

@GrantMeStrength it’s also bad to assume everyone even can wear noise-cancelling headphones.

(I cannot wear closed headphones, I get hot ears after about half an hour, followed by ear infect. In-ear is also out. My new work headset is open around-ear and surprisingly works, had no problem with the ears after a five-hour onboarding meeting but they of course don’t isolate in either direction.)

@GrantMeStrength this should be a poster. In the office!

@GrantMeStrength I don't think even extroverts want open plan offices and constant COVID exposure alerts.

Office policy is being made by whatever the corporate equivalent of the surveillance state is.

@GrantMeStrength "surveillance market" just sounds like where you go to buy security cameras

@GrantMeStrength I agree with this.

@GrantMeStrength As someone with adhd, the switch to open spaces over the last decade has been... difficult.

I never thought I'd miss shitty nightmarish corporate cubicles, but here we are

@ivan @GrantMeStrength with a little help from https://www.klompjes.com/en/product/delfts-blauw-tegeltje-met-tekst/