Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!mcvax!ukc!its63b!hwcs!dhm
From: dhm@cs.hw.ac.uk (David H. Marwick)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Office Noise (was Offices versus Cubicles)
Message-ID: <1658@brahma.cs.hw.ac.uk>
Date: 28 Jan 88 16:41:28 GMT
References: <2058@pdn.UUCP> <82@sickkids.UUCP> <2150@geac.UUCP> <2260@gryphon.CTS.COM> <848@cos.COM>
Reply-To: dhm@cs.hw.ac.uk (David H. Marwick)
Organization: Computer Science, Heriot-Watt U., Scotland
Lines: 28

In article <848@cos.COM> smith@cos.UUCP (Steve Smith) writes:
>In article <2260@gryphon.CTS.COM> tsmith@gryphon.CTS.COM (Tim Smith) writes:
>
>>I find that I can write code (any language) very well while listening to music
>>(just about any kind), but cannot write coherent English while listening
>>to music (even purely instrumental music). I don't know if this is a
>>purely idiosyncratic foible, or is widespread. Any comments?
>
>I have found (the hard way) that I work at half or less effectiveness in
>the presence of ANY kind of music.  I have real problems convincing
>people of this - especially the Yuppie /I'm-OK-You're-OK types who can't
>imagine *anybody* with differing tastes.

While I do believe that other people can have tastes different to mine, I cannot
accept that anyone is able work effectively while listening to music (my
children think I'm mad too!). Either you listen to the music or you work
(exclusive OR). I can work against random noise (within reason) but my work
rate drops rapidly in the face of music, conversation, etc.






-- 
  David H. Marwick 	     		JANET : dhm@uk.ac.hw.cs
  Department of Computer Science	ARPA  : dhm@cs.hw.ac.uk
  Heriot-Watt University, EDINBURGH	UUCP  : ...!ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!dhm