Loading…
1
Showerthought: My neighbor's concept of 'work hours' is vastly different from mine
He just rang my doorbell to borrow a ladder during my morning stand-up (seriously, dude?). I'm starting to think I need a more aggressive 'in a meeting' sign for my front door.
6 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In6 Comments
janah838mo ago
An LED 'Do Not Disturb' light changed my WFH life. It flashes when I'm in meetings so no one mistakes quiet for availability. Your neighbor sounds like he needs the blinding version.
4
the_piper8mo ago
Blinding light? He'd still knock.
7
the_tyler8mo ago
WeWork's flagship location used colored lights for room availability by 2018. This shift to visual cues mirrors our declining tolerance for face-to-face interruptions.
6
joseph_hill8mo ago
After @the_piper's post, we combined lights with automatic locks.
4
the_lucas8mo ago
Janah83's mention of a 'blinding version' for the neighbor points out how these lights assume everyone will comply with visual cues. @the_piper is right that some people will knock anyway, because the problem isn't just about visibility but about respect for boundaries. What nobody is discussing is how these signals introduce a new social code where we have to actively monitor and interpret devices instead of relying on simple verbal communication. This can actually increase anxiety for some, since now a flashing light might be missed or ignored, leading to more frustration than a direct conversation. In the end, technology can't replace mutual understanding, and that's where these solutions fall short.
3
verab388mo ago
Your neighbor sounds like he'd knock during a blackout.
1