woody-99 t1_jdepy9w wrote on March 23, 2023 at 9:24 PM

Makes me laugh a little bit every time I see one of these conversations discussing how bad it is to have to go back to the office.

A few years ago, the same conversations were about how awful it was going to be to have to work from home.
Reference: I worked from home for my entire long career.
Not everyone can self-manage themselves, and others suffer because of it.

dungone t1_jdg9v1h wrote on March 24, 2023 at 4:21 AM

You should look into the inflation that's happened since a few years ago. Housing prices up, car prices up, everything is more expensive now. The last thing worker want to do is spend thousands of dollars commuting just to kiss their boss's ass in person.

Super_Automatic t1_jdgbwmy wrote on March 24, 2023 at 4:41 AM

Working from home was awesome for like 3 years. I loved it. I felt like I won some sort pandemic lottery.

Now in it's 4th year, I'm dying to go back. Socializing with people from behind screens (no one even turns their camera on!) and owning equipment you can't hold or interface with, it's really lost its charm. Humans weren't meant to never leave their own house. We are social animals. I think this will have very long lasting negative effects, but I don't think there's a good path back because it's always all or nothing. It works when everyone is in the office, it works when everyone is at home, but it's really weird when it's everyone's choice on any given day.

I used to think WFH was a blessing, but now I think it's turning out to be a curse.

do_you_even_ship_bro t1_jdggnp9 wrote on March 24, 2023 at 5:34 AM

> Now in it's 4th year, I'm dying to go back. Socializing with people from behind screens (no one even turns their camera on!) and owning equipment you can't hold or interface with, it's really lost its charm.

I think people are having graduation glasses. everyone starts going back to the office 5 days a week and people will realize it wasn't as great as they remember...

Super_Automatic t1_jdgkv52 wrote on March 24, 2023 at 6:28 AM

Entirely possible. I was in the office for 9 years prior to 2020, and like I said - I was super happy to leave it behind.

do_you_even_ship_bro t1_jdgn6c6 wrote on March 24, 2023 at 7:00 AM

In a thread I saw someone say they were looking forward to everyone coming back to the office. But people pointed out traffic would be worse, the office would be loud, and other general annoyances. I’ve been mixed since it started and I can say when I start missing one reality hits and I realize I don’t. Home is just better for a lot of reasons, but for me it’s mostly sleeping in. And traffic just sucks.

Super_Automatic t1_jdgnw8k wrote on March 24, 2023 at 7:10 AM

There is a weird aspect of the human brain that we tend to forget minor nuisances. That doesn't take away from them sucking in the moment, but I commuted for 9 years and I can't recall any one specific commute, in the same way that I can't recall any one specific diaper I changed for my kids (and there were hundreds).

I think we gave up an experience which is better remembered, for an experience that feels better in the moment. The analogy of having kids comes to mind.