Did it ever happen to you that your office-neighbor was too
loud talking to someone (over the phone or in person) to the point that you
could no longer think about your research?
Well, I was very lucky. My only office-neighbor was a retired
VIP, who helped to build this 8-story building and was given to a nice corner
office before I moved in. He had a sound system in his office, among other
things. He told me that if his music was ever too loud for me, please let him
know. I had no problem, because I had a door to shut out noises if I needed to
and his music was never too loud. (Though his meeting with his visitors was
loud from time to time, but I had a door.)
At my present office, noise is more a problem, because my
neighbors are all into PR, or outreach. Luckily, I have a door. Still, once or
twice, I have to step out to tell them: “Please, I cannot work (when you guys
are so loud).” It works like a magic ward, because no one wants to be “accused”
of bothering co-worker with loud talking/chatting, because this is a work
place, not a nightclub.
A junior colleague came to me for advice, because she has a
cubic and some of her “neighbors” are LOUD. I told her to stand up for her
rights: This is a work place, please lower your voice. If I were that loud
person, I prefer to be told than to be “hated” privately.