We've extended our standups to have a chit-chat part, we also have coffee hangouts 2 a week. We did have always on voice channels on discord but they died out after couple of weeks. Once in a while we watch stupid movies together, and comment with voice chat. I'd stay it's not a replacement, but a decent substitute. I do miss the coffee in the office though.
Ask HN: Anyone else miss spontaneous conversations at work?
21–30 of 38 posts
Re: Ask HN: Anyone else miss spontaneous conversations at work?
#22We're back in the office 40 hrs/wk. Cubemates aren't exactly best buds, but today, we talked about: 1) motorcycle tire geometry 2) are Can-Ams really motorcycles 3) mechanical stethoscopes & car noises 4) the different types of superchargers 5) sports car vs super car 6) catalytic converters... I don't know, I would much rather telework 2, 4, even 5 days/wk. I don't think you're missing much, but I don't know your coworkers.
I think after-work hours are the big suck right now: teleworking 9-5 would be way better if 6-10 all the restaurants / bars / coffeeshops / .. were open (for that matter, coffeeshops 996 or st).
Re: Ask HN: Anyone else miss spontaneous conversations at work?
#23We've extended our standups to have a chit-chat part, we also have coffee hangouts 2 a week. We did have always on voice channels on discord but they died out after couple of weeks. Once in a while we watch stupid movies together, and comment with voice chat. I'd stay it's not a replacement, but a decent substitute. I do miss the coffee in the office though.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! Glad to hear those organized chats have been helping out even if they aren't full replacements.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone else miss spontaneous conversations at work?
#24My team has been remote for years, and it never stopped us from having spontaneous conversations. We have Slack channels set up specifically for that purpose, where many people say hi each morning, and throw in their thoughts. We'll do occasional calls with everyone as well, just to catch up.
The barrier to this isn't lack of an app - it is just developing the habit of reaching out and saying "Hi."
Re: Ask HN: Anyone else miss spontaneous conversations at work?
#25My team has been remote for years, and it never stopped us from having spontaneous conversations. We have Slack channels set up specifically for that purpose, where many people say hi each morning, and throw in their thoughts. We'll do occasional calls with everyone as well, just to catch up. The barrier to this isn't lack of an app - it is just developing the habit of reaching out and saying "Hi."
Hey thanks for the answer!
Just out of curiosity, how did your team work to develop that habit when starting out? Is there anything in particular you did to hit that critical mass? I find it can be difficult at times to build that up.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone else miss spontaneous conversations at work?
#26for me, I've yet to have an online hangout experience that I actually enjoyed. I have a lot of trouble focusing on a screen, and with only one person able to talk at a time, I just can't get into conversations. They feel so unnatural.
Some people at work meet up on zoom rooms to hang out but the idea gives me weird anxiety. I'd give anything to go back to the office, but yet another meetup app wouldn't do anything for me.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone else miss spontaneous conversations at work?
#27At the office? Kinda, but mostly not. In the end, it all is superficial. I haven't had a friendship from work that lasted more than 6 months after I quit. In retrospect, I would have liked all that time chatting back.
Outside the office, on the other hand, I definitely miss spontaneous conversation. In my experience, post corona, it's kinda hard to talk to anyone random. Most places where it would be appropriate are operating at a lower capacity, everyone is wearing a mask(making it difficult to read sentiment), and they all just want to get in and get out. It doesn't help that at least 20% of people are down right paranoid about getting the virus. I miss those random conversations at the cafe, the gym, the grocery store, the gastropub, etc., because at least they happen in a natural environment and have some potential for actual acquaintance. I know things are opening up very slowly, but it's still not the same.
Workplace, I can't care less. People are more fake at the workplace than in real life.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone else miss spontaneous conversations at work?
#28for me, I've yet to have an online hangout experience that I actually enjoyed. I have a lot of trouble focusing on a screen, and with only one person able to talk at a time, I just can't get into conversations. They feel so unnatural. Some people at work meet up on zoom rooms to hang out but the idea gives me weird anxiety. I'd give anything to go back to the office, but yet another meetup app wouldn't do anything fo…
Thanks for sharing, I totally agree the inability to have a side conversation on video call makes group conversations so unnatural & zoom fatigue is a big issue!
Just out of curiosity, would your perspective about talking to someone change if this interaction was just a 2 person conversation? And if you could not look at a screen (ie audio or more low-tech phone call)?
Re: Ask HN: Anyone else miss spontaneous conversations at work?
#29My team has been remote for years, and it never stopped us from having spontaneous conversations. We have Slack channels set up specifically for that purpose, where many people say hi each morning, and throw in their thoughts. We'll do occasional calls with everyone as well, just to catch up. The barrier to this isn't lack of an app - it is just developing the habit of reaching out and saying "Hi."
Hey thanks for the answer! Just out of curiosity, how did your team work to develop that habit when starting out? Is there anything in particular you did to hit that critical mass? I find it can be difficult at times to build that up.
The culture was already there when I joined the team, 8 years ago - but for me, it started with the on-boarding process when someone new was hired. They were introduced via email to everyone, including a short bio. Everyone else responded in kind, so your first week was already a lot of informal conversations getting to know everyone. Then it just continued - we'd all help new folks get up to speed, ask them how things were going... it felt natural from day one.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone else miss spontaneous conversations at work?
#30I had the same problem and so I created a website to make it easy for you to talk with your colleague.
The idea is that you can see who is around and just jump into a conversation without calling.
If you are interested you can look at it at https://www.inoffice.chat