Your cartoon doesn't really pertain to this because telling someone they have an e-mail is zero value added. Me asking my neighbor how to forecast something and saving what could be minutes to hours, despite interrupting a train of thought and setting them back a few seconds, definitely does add value.

> Me asking my neighbor how to forecast something and saving what could be minutes to hours, despite interrupting a train of thought and setting them back a few seconds, definitely does add value.

Only if either A, your interruption costs them less time then it saves you, or B you believe your time is more valuable than theirs.

I think its a good idea to establish within a workplace, esp. an open seated workplace, a way of broadcasting the price of interrupting you. Sometimes this is informal with headphones as a sign, other times people make DND signs or lights, etc. Its just much easier when everyone has an office- you can shut your door.