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I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

nytimes.com

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Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#141

Post by osekkat »

InXorWeTrust wrote: post #36
IvyMike wrote: post #21

So I can't find an online reference to this anywhere, but years ago I read a relevant anecdote about (I'm pretty sure) Isaac Asimov. He used to go into the most noisy environments he could find to write; places like a noisy restaurant or cafe. He found that this forced him to focus in a way that a quiet environment did not. For example, in a quiet environment, you occasionally still hear sounds, but it's rare enough…

> places like a noisy restaurant or cafe. This is an opinion, but it seems this can make it easier for some. Because it's a constant noise that doesn't often change much, you eventually tune it out. It feels like it's the sudden change in ambient noise that causes a break in concentration. I use white noise, or a rain noise generator (they both do well for me) to get this same effect while studying.

Would love to know which white noise generator you use. I use "nature sounds" from spotify (usually beach sounds, lakes, birds chirping etc...)

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#143

Post by jacquesm »

pg wrote: post #68

It's so true. I can do routine work with noise, but not the kind that requires insight. The sad thing is that noise is yet another example of the phenomenon of "the tragedy of the commons." Which means things tend to get noisier and noisier. In fact, what has surprised me most about living in Palo Alto is how noisy it is. You'd think living in the suburbs would at least be quiet. It is on weekends. But the problem wi…

I have a little farm-house at the end of a dead end street.

No traffic, nearest neighbor 100 meters and he's doesn't own a leafblower. Clear view of the fields in three directions for the next 5 miles or so, 20,000 sq ft lot.

It's been up for sale for 2 years, if you're interested ;)

http://www.funda.nl/koop/oudezijl/huis-4510315-oudezijl-1/fo...

Ideal spot for quiet hacking and that new YC EU headquarters!

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#144

Post by jacquesm »

pbz wrote: post #136
wisty wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not really the flexibility. Masonry is strong in compression, but heavy, and relatively weak in tensions. It tends to crumble under its own weight. But yes - brick is good in a hurricane, but a death trap in a quake..

In Europe pretty much any old house is made out of brick. They've been through many earthquakes, built hundreds of years ago and still standing; and this is without reinforcement.

Most earthquakes in Europe aren't all that strong. But when they are:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Vrancea_earthquake

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#145

Post by hvidgaard »

robomartin wrote: post #130
pg wrote: post #68

It's so true. I can do routine work with noise, but not the kind that requires insight. The sad thing is that noise is yet another example of the phenomenon of "the tragedy of the commons." Which means things tend to get noisier and noisier. In fact, what has surprised me most about living in Palo Alto is how noisy it is. You'd think living in the suburbs would at least be quiet. It is on weekends. But the problem wi…

I hate front lawns. With a passion. But, guess what, I had to fall in line and make mine "pretty", put in some sod and match the rest of the neighborhood. For now I have the greenest and neatest front lawn on the block. Why? We have a culture where you lose value if you adopt arid climate landscape when people expect grass and flowers and that's what everything around you looks like. We had a nice arid climate front…

A lot of people actually like it - they like to have a well kept lawn, and if they want to use their time or money to do that, why not? But I don't like that you're expected, if not directly asked to, to keep it as society wants it to be. However, I can understand that the bank is concerned about the value of the house if they're financing it.

Personally I'm looking for a house well outside the city and any far from busy roads. Lots of land and I can have the wild nature I love and grew up with. I can't think of anything that'll calm me down and unwind like a walk in the nature does.

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#146

Post by galaktor »

adamzerner wrote: post #20

1) Sound isn't necessarily distracting. Sometimes it could be helpful. Focus@Will ( https://www.focusatwill.com/science/science-primer/ ) is based on this. 2) You can usually find quiet if you want to rather easily. 3) If you're going to argue that society (or parts of society) should be more quiet, you have to be specific about what parts, and about why restricting sound outweighs the costs. The costs of restricting…

+1 for focus@will. It has become my default background "noise" for concentration, reading, sports ...

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#147

Post by __--__ »

pasbesoin wrote: post #83
pg wrote: post #68

It's so true. I can do routine work with noise, but not the kind that requires insight. The sad thing is that noise is yet another example of the phenomenon of "the tragedy of the commons." Which means things tend to get noisier and noisier. In fact, what has surprised me most about living in Palo Alto is how noisy it is. You'd think living in the suburbs would at least be quiet. It is on weekends. But the problem wi…

At this point, I'd gladly take the leaf blower. Car stereo sub-woofers and straight pipe Harleys: Two things that, in my opinion, should be outright outlawed. Live on a street where they are frequent, and your life will be difficult. Live next to someone who tinkers on them incessantly, and your life will be hell. Work is another problem. I wore out my health trying to cope with the "standard environment". (Which, of…

Work is another problem. I wore out my health trying to cope with the "standard environment". (Which, of course, was spun as "collaboration". [Cough - "cost savings" - cough.]) No more. For my own sake, as well as to no longer support people who promote such environments.

How's that going for you? I came to the same conclusion a few months ago, especially the "wore out my health" part. I quit my job in SV, moved back to rural NY and have been focusing on getting healthy again, both mentally and physically. I haven't found a full time telecommuting job yet and, in all honestly, I'm dreading it. I have difficulty believing that, even while telecommuting, any company is going to be truly different from the "standard environment."

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#148

Post by ohwp »

pg wrote: post #68

It's so true. I can do routine work with noise, but not the kind that requires insight. The sad thing is that noise is yet another example of the phenomenon of "the tragedy of the commons." Which means things tend to get noisier and noisier. In fact, what has surprised me most about living in Palo Alto is how noisy it is. You'd think living in the suburbs would at least be quiet. It is on weekends. But the problem wi…

Tonight I woke up at 4 because it was totally quiet in the city. It's strange that we feel discomfort when things are quiet.

It shouldn't be that way and it's one of the big problems to be solved. Electric transportation can help. And maybe electric leaf blowers are the next thing Tesla should promote.

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#149

Post by hkmurakami »

jacquesm wrote: post #143
pg wrote: post #68

It's so true. I can do routine work with noise, but not the kind that requires insight. The sad thing is that noise is yet another example of the phenomenon of "the tragedy of the commons." Which means things tend to get noisier and noisier. In fact, what has surprised me most about living in Palo Alto is how noisy it is. You'd think living in the suburbs would at least be quiet. It is on weekends. But the problem wi…

I have a little farm-house at the end of a dead end street. No traffic, nearest neighbor 100 meters and he's doesn't own a leafblower. Clear view of the fields in three directions for the next 5 miles or so, 20,000 sq ft lot. It's been up for sale for 2 years, if you're interested ;) http://www.funda.nl/koop/oudezijl/huis-4510315-oudezijl-1/fo... Ideal spot for quiet hacking and that new YC EU headquarters!

also doesn't hurt that it only costs 1/10 the (ridiculous) price of a normal house in Palo Alto.

Re: I’m Thinking. Please. Be Quiet.

#150

Post by ohwp »

jacquesm wrote: post #143
pg wrote: post #68

It's so true. I can do routine work with noise, but not the kind that requires insight. The sad thing is that noise is yet another example of the phenomenon of "the tragedy of the commons." Which means things tend to get noisier and noisier. In fact, what has surprised me most about living in Palo Alto is how noisy it is. You'd think living in the suburbs would at least be quiet. It is on weekends. But the problem wi…

I have a little farm-house at the end of a dead end street. No traffic, nearest neighbor 100 meters and he's doesn't own a leafblower. Clear view of the fields in three directions for the next 5 miles or so, 20,000 sq ft lot. It's been up for sale for 2 years, if you're interested ;) http://www.funda.nl/koop/oudezijl/huis-4510315-oudezijl-1/fo... Ideal spot for quiet hacking and that new YC EU headquarters!

I'm going to be your neighbor! Just have to convince my wife.

But serious: I've got family living 1 km away from your place and they always notice cars passing by because it rarely happens.

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