As an aside, "Is it acceptable to browse Facebook while you shunt the problem to a mental background process?"
I'm interested in how many productive engineers here think this is what they're doing for at least some of the time they browse facebook? Vs how many think they're just bunking off?
I get the idea of mental background processes, very often I will solve problems that I failed to solve at work while on my bike ride home at the end of the day. Personally I suspect facebook might be too full of distractions to achieve this, though I'm open to other opinions..?
I would tend to say no, or at least admit you're just goofing off. For background time, I have a long list of articles to read that have to do with either my industry or the technologies I'm currently using.
For actual "I need to get up from the computer time", don't read Facebook. Go take a walk, or go chat with a workmate about a current problem and see where the discussion goes.
Can't speak for many, but I do both things. Not facebook specifically, since I try not to do too much of it at work (with varying success), but reddit and HN and such. Taking little breaks and reading a blog post or something can be fairly relaxing, and sometimes if you're stuck you can switch gears and come back to the problem with fresh eyes.
There's also 'background processing', which happens during physical activity (had a coworker who left around 2 to go running and rock climbing, getting her most productive time in after going home at around 4 or 5pm), chatting with coworkers, getting a snack or some water, that kind of thing.
They're separate, but I (and most folks I know) do at least a little of both.
I'm interested in how many productive engineers here think this is what they're doing for at least some of the time they browse facebook? Vs how many think they're just bunking off?
I get the idea of mental background processes, very often I will solve problems that I failed to solve at work while on my bike ride home at the end of the day. Personally I suspect facebook might be too full of distractions to achieve this, though I'm open to other opinions..?