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Can Slack-mania be cured with systemized discipline?
161–170 of 205 posts
Re: Can Slack-mania be cured with systemized discipline?
#162To me, it is incredible that Slack is used WITHOUT threads. There is no way that information and discussions can be effective without a threaded conversation - it would just be pure cause otherwise. Also, I find feature-specific channels to be such a pleasure. It's easy to have everyone focused on the same topic in a given channel, without any confusion or missing information between different channels or private mes…
> To me, it is incredible that Slack is used WITHOUT threads. The first time information you need is sent in a thread that started a week ago and that you're not already on, you'll get why folks don't like Slack threads. They're an anti-feature, IMO. If Slack offered a way to show all messages whether or not they're in a thread, as they come in, I'd be down. I wouldn't like 'em but at least I could work around their…
Isn't this what the slack search bar is for? I was sceptical of using it at first but I often find what I'm looking for by typing in one or two key words and restricting the search to certain channels that likely have the information.
Re: Can Slack-mania be cured with systemized discipline?
#163This doesn't really sound like a problem with Slack, but rather a personal or cultural problem with a lack of setting or respecting boundaries. Slack has options to communicate: - that you're away - that you're on a call or in a meeting etc. - to pause notifications for an hour or whatever - to star the most relevant channels - to mute less-relevant channels - to leave irrelevant channels - to sideline conversations…
All the options you mention are designed in order to reduce the main problem: that it requires synchronous communication. That is, after you "come back" from a meeting or being away, you can't just work in peace and when you want just send a reply: no, you are expected by design to engage in a conversation.
I'm not interested in engaging in a conversation at all unless there is something really extremely important that requires my undivided attention for a specific period of time. But when companies use Slack, they integrate it as a part of the culture. You are expected to be ready to answer. Sure, you can pause notifications - but you know people are waiting. Are you a good team member if people are asking questions and you are not answering?
For contrast, I found out that many people I worked with are too lazy to write an email and will prefer to solve the problem themselves rather than write to me if I don't answer soon enough. Which shows another interesting aspect of Slack-type culture.
Re: Can Slack-mania be cured with systemized discipline?
#164Microsoft has a solution to that problem: Teams. It is so painful to use and to do anything in it that it encourages people to actually use the bug tracker or other venues to discuss any serious topic.
I honestly don't think it's that bad. I've used both Slack and teams simultaneously for a few years, and I honestly don't see a lot of differences.
Re: Can Slack-mania be cured with systemized discipline?
#165The solution to Slack is Twist.
Re: Can Slack-mania be cured with systemized discipline?
#166Microsoft has a solution to that problem: Teams. It is so painful to use and to do anything in it that it encourages people to actually use the bug tracker or other venues to discuss any serious topic.
I honestly don't think it's that bad. I've used both Slack and teams simultaneously for a few years, and I honestly don't see a lot of differences.
Search is horrendous across the board, list of conversations is where messages go to die, the "teams" part which is a weird hybrid forum has an awful UI and no way to not collapse messages by default (and little to no options). What works well is A/V meetings planned in the outlook calendar. There is no third-party reliable API that we can use to have anything else than the web (or electron) client), which happen to be fairly buggy and very heavy, while at the same time leaking unwanted information to other people. Calls are intentionally crippled on firefox to make sure you use chrome, their web browser, or their app.
But I guess it allows management to spy on employees while being integrated with the microsoft ecosystem, so it gets a free pass.
Re: Can Slack-mania be cured with systemized discipline?
#167This doesn't really sound like a problem with Slack, but rather a personal or cultural problem with a lack of setting or respecting boundaries. Slack has options to communicate: - that you're away - that you're on a call or in a meeting etc. - to pause notifications for an hour or whatever - to star the most relevant channels - to mute less-relevant channels - to leave irrelevant channels - to sideline conversations…
"You just need discipline" is a common phrase, which usually masks the root problem. Why does something need continuous effort? Is it the best place to put our energies? Are there any other ways of solving the problem?
See "Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength" (https://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Huma...) on willpower as a resource that can be drained, often pointlessly. Having a constant temptation is one of the core cases (e.g. candies on your sight).
Instead of helping us, a flawed tool forces us to work against the current. For the Sauron's ring, this constant test of the hobbit's strength of will was unavoidable. For Slack... it is much easier to throw it into a volcano.
Re: Can Slack-mania be cured with systemized discipline?
#168I'm tired of constant chatting. Slack encourages quick, stream-of-consciousness, short responses. Plus, it's hard to find past discussion, and it's hard to jump in after being gone for a few days (or, even a few hours). Threads are absolutely the answer. But, the defaults matter - Slack isn't encouraging threaded, long-form messages. Instead, it makes all messages feel urgent - and it makes the cost of sending a mess…
The name is not great.
The photo on first page is bad.
And I couldn't find a demo at all.
I was curious because forums where my go-place for online discussions growing up.
Re: Can Slack-mania be cured with systemized discipline?
#169This doesn't really sound like a problem with Slack, but rather a personal or cultural problem with a lack of setting or respecting boundaries. Slack has options to communicate: - that you're away - that you're on a call or in a meeting etc. - to pause notifications for an hour or whatever - to star the most relevant channels - to mute less-relevant channels - to leave irrelevant channels - to sideline conversations…
All the options you mention are designed in order to reduce the main problem: that it requires synchronous communication. That is, after you "come back" from a meeting or being away, you can't just work in peace and when you want just send a reply: no, you are expected by design to engage in a conversation. I'm not interested in engaging in a conversation at all unless there is something really extremely important th…
I don't understand the attitude where it's lazy not to write an email but it's an unreasonable chore to respond to a question on Slack? In mind Slack is preferable to email for many things because the issues are resolved in public and I can later look back on what questions have been asked etc.
Re: Can Slack-mania be cured with systemized discipline?
#170One thing I have not seen mentioned here is the “slack status”. I find that it has a subtle stress inducing effect:
* if it’s green are people expecting me to reply right away? And if I don’t respond do they feel anxious? * do employees feel pressure to keep it green to show they are working?
I told my team that I will keep my status to AWAY always, and they can feel free to do the same. Just because slack provides a surveillance method doesn’t mean you have to use it. This also reduces expectations of immediate replies and keeps it more async