On: Ask HN: Why are you against open plan offices?

[huffmsa]

But the notion that I need to "drown the noise out" is wrong.

Quiet should be the default state. If you want to be loud, go find a room where you can be, instead of forcing everyone else to block you out.

[sloaken → huffmsa]

Great in theory, and I agree completely, but invariably you will have a set of people who live for getting attention and they are noisy.

[huffmsa → sloaken]

Of course, but there are plenty more that only join in if it's easy, and reducing the easy of participation means you only have to think about the attention junkies.