Ask HN: How to deal with mechanical keyboard users in an open office plan?

by pearjuice on 12/9/2019, 6:19 PM with 6 comments

Hey -TAKTAKTAKTAK- does anyone have any advice on how to deal -TAKTAKTAKTAK- with mechanical keyboard users in an open office plan? It's getting out of hand and asking them to use a regular keyboard is -TAKTAKTAKTAK- not working because "they are much more productive".

How to politely deal with -TAKTAKTAKTAKTAK- this situation?

  • by tiredwired on 12/9/2019, 6:24 PM

    That's like asking the marketing/sales/CEO type people to tone down the volume of their calls.

  • by Miner49er on 12/9/2019, 6:21 PM

    Just ordered a mechanical keyboard for my open office space. I was sure to get silent switches out of respect for my coworkers. Maybe see if they would be willing to get a keyboard with silent switches? Maybe offer to pay for them too if you run the company - mechanical keyboards are not cheap. Keep in mind that silent switches have a different feel, and out of Cherry MX's only red and blacks have a silent version, I believe.

  • by hootbootscoot on 12/9/2019, 6:32 PM

    the issue is the open office plan, not the keyboard.

    do you really want to work in such an environment that demonstrates open contempt for the concept of "getting actual work done" ?

    +1 for actually informing them of your frustrations with this prior to resigning, pointless though it may be...

  • by sawaruna on 12/9/2019, 6:54 PM

    Ask them to get a desk or keyboard mat. Alternatively get a keyboard with even louder switches. Model M, Gateron blues, Kailh Box Navy, etc.

  • by ossm1db on 12/10/2019, 12:52 AM

    How did they deal with all of those typewriters in the 50s with an open floor plan? They didn't.

  • by verdverm on 12/9/2019, 6:22 PM

    Maybe don't get so triggered? You can always quit, the job market is great for seekers right now