How do you measure output? If I walk to my coworker's office to ask a question, and that saves me fifteen minutes of digging, that reflects in my output, not his. But if my coworker is remote, I can't do that. I can't get an immediate answer, while he avoids the distraction of helping his team member. In terms of measuring individual output, he looks good, while I look bad.

I believe that co-location forms a sort of prisoner's dilemma. If everyone is local, everyone benefits from increased collaboration, morale, etc. If one person is remote, they benefit more, while acting as a drain on the remainder of the team. And when everyone is remote, then everyone loses.

From (http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000068.html): "If you take a 1 minute interruption by a coworker asking you a question, and this knocks out your concentration enough that it takes you half an hour to get productive again, your overall productivity is in serious trouble."

So you saved 15 minutes but cost your coworker 30. That's a net loss, and an argument for remote workers. When I interrupt people, I constantly have this calculation in mind.

In effect, the remote worker saved you from "acting as a drain on the remainder of the team," your post's main concern.

Utter bullshit. You've not heard of Skype?

I am a remote worker, and routinely help coworkers with all shirts of stuff. It works best when everyone's remote.

I've downvoted you - I don't have an opinion on the subject, but I feel that the tone of your response is against the HN norm. Nothing personal.

You're right. I responded in some anger. Need to remind myself, "Do not feed the troll"