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Comment by jfruh | Hacker News Reader

Joel is obviously not aware of the differences between introverts and extroverts, which seems weird for someone who works in a field with a lot of introverts.

I'm not down on his idea of eating lunch together - it's probably fun and productive. But if someone spots me eating lunch by myself while reading (a book, a magazine, on my phone, on my computer), it's not because I "don't like people," or, sadder, that I pretend not to like people because I've been rejected socially. It's because I find dealing with people all day somewhat wearying and I enjoy having time to myself doing things that I like, such as catching up on reading I can't do during work hours.

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Yes, Joel is COMPLETELY unaware of the differences between introverts and extroverts. Except for the fact that he is an introvert and runs two companies filled with a substantial percentage of introverts.

The reason that lunch here works so well is because the people we hire are fun and enjoyable people (even the introverts) so you don't have to pretend to like the other people at the lunch table, you actually do.

That's great, but I think Joel overstates the "problem" of someone eating alone. I like eating with the people I work with, but I also like reading, and sometimes lunch is the only time I have for some pleasure reading. So, sometimes I need a little down time, and I prefer to read and eat by myself rather than eating with my friends. I don't think this makes me someone who hates people or is unpopular.

I don't eat by myself nearly every day because I dislike my co-workers -- I actually do like my co-workers, and my job would be a nightmare if I didn't. That doesn't mean that, come lunchtime, I won't nearly always take the opportunity to be by myself (conceptually, even though I'm still surrounded by people).

On your assertion that Joel is an introvert:

[...] but you'll also see a distressing number of loners eating by themselves.

Distressing? Really? I don't think an introvert would say that, and his later assertion that

Being in any clique, even if it's just the nerds, is vastly preferable than eating alone.

, and the "obligated to pretend" language, seems to indicate that he's an extrovert. I'm not sure if he's claimed to be an introvert, but if so, it's a pretty weird juxtaposition.

Introverts tend to "recharge" by themselves while "extroverts" tend to gain energy through interaction. I applaud Joel's efforts to bring his team together but I wonder if some of the introverts are taking extra long bathroom or smoke breaks to make up for all of the face time that is required.

Each of his programmers gets an office to themselves. Introverts and extroverts are getting recharges under his arrangements.

Being along in an office to work is not a substitute for being along to relax and recharge. Working time is where I expend energy, not recharge it.

Why my iPad corrected "alone" to "along" twice, I'll never know.

Your iPad is clearly an extrovert.

I'm introvert but I loved eating with my coworkers. It's very different from the energy consuming socialization that you would experience at parties or otherwise.

Then again, I didn't eat with all of my coworkers, just my friends.

Ditto; I recharge myself when e.g. I'm working alone, as Joel prescribes (or at least allows for).

There's obviously some upfront extra consumption of energy in getting to know new co-workers, but at least to me that's well worth the price.

If you're an introvert, why do you have a job that involves dealing with people all day to begin with? It sounds to me like it isn't lunch that's the problem, it's the hours before and after it.

It's not an all or nothing thing. It's not as if interacting with humans is physically painful. Being introverted isn't a crippling social disorder; it just means that sometimes you need to recharge by spending time by yourself, and often find that relaxing.

(I actually do work at home now, but I've worked in office environments in the past, which I've liked fine, not least because I got to spend lunchtime when, where, and with whom I chose.)

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