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Comment by jcroll | Hacker News Reader

> No one can come to my desk to socialize

Yeah who would want that? I've done both and both have their pros and cons, socializing is definitely a perk and introvert or extrovert should not be underestimated in keeping you healthy and happy and a skilled professional.

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If you get your work done more efficiently, you actually have more time to socialize, with the people of your choosing.

Also, socializing in the workplace tends to be very superficial, because you're extremely limited in the range of topics you can discuss. God forbid that you say something unprofessional.

Weird places you worked in. Where I worked I could talk about anything I wanted and that's normal for every other office.

Actually that isn't normal at all. Have you worked in any companies larger than 10 people? There are legal liabilities employers have to (or are supposed to) uphold and more so for public companies. Starting with this: http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-sex.html

Helps to be in a third world country. Sometimes I realize we have so much more freedom.

And yes, doesn't matter the company size. Ofc there are different situations but I always feel like people have a too broad definition of harassment.

Going a bit off topic, I know that's not the popular view in the western world, but I think you should fend for yourself in society and we are over reliant on rules and regulations, and then people complain about lacking freedom.

Dirty jokes are off limits if you want to avoid sexual harassment complaints.

If you don't have any choice in the people you work with and you can't find topics to discuss due to the strictness of conversational rules at your job, the problems at your workplace run far deeper than can be solved by going remote.

You answered your own question. An introvert would not want that. You can force your standards of what makes someone a "happy and skilled professional" on them if you like, but that's not always a case grounded in reality.

As an introvert, I like a little bit of socialization throughout my day. Too much is certainly draining, but if I worked from home I would become a hermit and have an unhealthy amount of socialization.

Exactly. I feel like as an introvert it's more important to be in an environment where you regularly meet people since you won't do it intentionally. Socializing skills are important for the vast majority of people, the only exceptions being celebrities like Linus who have lots of people seeking them out.

I am an introvert and occasionally miss the forced socialization of working in an office. After long periods of working from home, I'm usually ready for some office work.

I personally miss some human interaction after long periods of time at home, but not office interaction. It works for me to break up my schedule to socialize with my wife, friends and family to properly quell those feelings.

I work in a creative field (commercial post-production) so those social interactions at work often influence the work we do individually. It often starts with asking for a critique on what someone is working on or help solving a problem that rolls into a social conversation or vice-versa ("since you're here, take a look at this").

Bouncing ideas off co-workers is what I miss most about working in an office.

I enjoy socializing, but I do not enjoy socializing when I'm trying to work.

> socializing is definitely a perk

No, it's not. It is a hindrance to the reason you are there, which is to get a job done.

I do not wish to socialize at work, I do not wish to work when I socialize.

I don't know. I'm an introvert but having nice people to socialize and make friends with is one of the key parts of being happy at my job. And if I'm happy I'm more productive.

You're wrong to say this, but not because your opinion isn't valid. Many jobs get done much faster and better through the process of professional socialization. If you'd be working alone anyway, then you're likely right, but most jobs aren't completely isolated and having an actual team to be a part of is 100% beneficial.

I started my career working in an office, then spent about 10 years working from home, and am now in an office again. The flexibility of telecommuting is a benefit that can't be overstated, but I personally find that being in an office I solve problems faster and enjoy my working hours more, as a result of the people around me.

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