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Comment by blue4 | Hacker News Reader

I think it's hilarious there are complaints about regular office noise like talking business on phones, typing, and sniffling/cough etc... If you want to go to sleep it's a perfect to expect that...otherwise stop complaining get headphones, move your desk, change your environment or remove yourself from the equation in some way.

I don't believe that productivity is hurt because of open office sounds, I think people just love complaining.

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> I don't believe that productivity is hurt because of open office sounds

Your lack of belief does not invalidate other people's experiences. You may feel that your productivity isn't hurt in open offices, and you might even be right about yourself. But "this doesn't bother me so it doesn't bother anyone" (or even "so it shouldn't bother anyone") causes serious problems.

There's a reason people take exams in quiet rooms rather than in the cafeteria. There's a reason libraries are quiet and don't have live bands. If you can do the work that you do with the noise of an open office around you, the work that you do doesn't require much concentration and is probably mostly inconsequential.

That's a bit silly. How can you not be distracted when there are conversations happening around you, or when coworkers can intrude on your thoughts with idle curiosities?

I've worked both with my own office and in an open office. The difference is night and day. I'm vastly more productive and much happier in a closed door office. Most people report the same.

If you're working in an office you should expect some level of office noises. I'm not talking about a truck honking his horn outside your window for 8 hours is normal, I'm saying general noises - ones that have a short time on them, and are required for their jobs. I would have expected my comment to be clearer than it may have sounded.

To clarify, just because you're in a library doesn't mean it is absolutely pin drop quiet. There is basic atmosphere noise. I of course am in favor of a closed office, and cubicle farms and open environments are easily more favorable for the employer than employee, but it seems expected to have some basic noise in an open office that people love complaining about—instead of championing closed offices which is never going to happen in a lot of companies.

> I don't believe that productivity is hurt because of open office sounds, I think people just love complaining.

"It doesn't bother me, so obviously, it doesn't bother other people"

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