Why We Still Believe in Private Offices

Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by abecedarius on Friday January 16, 2015 @01:12PM (#8900495)

It bums me out some to see the standard-bearer for private offices in our profession showing us floor-to-ceiling glass walls in a panopticon arc, "not as creepy as you think"[1]. The Overton window's shifted so far to the cage-free side that privacy isn't even in our frame? OK, a few companies still believe in offices with walls.

I don't doubt that it's a fine place to work, likely nicer than the cubicles I've worked in, though maybe not better than my home office. But they're clearly not private.

[1] From a caption on the original version of the page.

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by bokonist on Friday January 16, 2015 @01:34PM (#8900669)

The glass walls would be more tolerable if the mid-section was opaque/frosted glass, so you still get the light but you also get a degree of privacy.

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by totalforge on Friday January 16, 2015 @02:26PM (#8901055)

Putting up transparent bubble wrap does a great job of blurring what's behind, while letting people see if you're in your office. Raid the shipping department.

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by abecedarius on Friday January 16, 2015 @01:52PM (#8900820)

Adjustable blinds would address my beef, too.

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by muaddirac on Friday January 16, 2015 @02:03PM (#8900919)

I work in an open space (when I'm in the office), and the uncomfortable feeling of people walking by and glancing at my screen is the main reason I dislike working in the open.

The panopticon metaphor is apt - I feel uncomfortable taking well-deserved minute-long breaks when I have no privacy.

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by mkozlows on Friday January 16, 2015 @01:26PM (#8900616)

Seriously, that looks like a developer zoo, and would make me twitchy and paranoid all the time.

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by darklajid on Friday January 16, 2015 @06:12PM (#8902400)

Came to say the same thing. That is creepy, period.

People might be able to adopt, but that's actually the worst part of the open floor plan for me: The constant feeling of people in your back.

I don't need a door. I need a wall. Right behind me.

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by kylec on Friday January 16, 2015 @01:57PM (#8900870)

I wonder if you can turn around and face the glass walls when sitting, or if you have to have them to your back. If it's the latter, there's zero privacy advantage in this case to having a private office.

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by GeorgeBeech on Friday January 16, 2015 @03:04PM (#8901322)

That is exactly how I have my desk setup. Monitors Facing the wall. Me facing the door. The office feels a bit smaller, but I'd rather not have my back/side to the door.

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by mcguire on Saturday January 17, 2015 @11:58AM (#8904750)

Panopticon[1] was the word I was thinking of, too.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by Fomite on Friday January 16, 2015 @01:59PM (#8900887)

I actually really like the glass windows, though blinds or a bit of frosting would be nice, but they make excellent places to scribble thoughts.

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Re:Why We Still Believe in Private Offices by Florin_Andrei on Friday January 16, 2015 @02:03PM (#8900915)

So just lean a bunch of folded cardboard boxes against the glass.

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