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No.

Just like every other communication tool, it's not the tool it's how you use it.




Did you read the article? Because the author specifically calls out this viewpoint as, while perhaps well-intended, ignoring the fundamental reality of how tools encourage you to work. When the straightforward, socially-accepted path is distraction hell, that becomes the norm for those in it regardless of one's desired use pattern.


Yes I did read the article. But until someone can show me how slack exacerbates behavior any better/worse than what email did when it first came out, or texting, or even typed memos and letters, I'd love to see it.


Points 11 and 12 of the article contrast chat with email, along with various other minor references.


What if the tool doesn't allow you to use it how you'd like?

I'm a member of a couple of Slack teams. Some I need to be on for 1 on 1s and the group chat is handy from a social perspective.

However, I see the same red badge on the icon when tabbing between apps when theres a cat photo as when theres an important message. That isnt good.


Yep, I get that there are a lot of emerging edge cases that need to have the UI and experience tweaked, but at the same time, it's on us to understand the ability of the tool and how best to use it.

Don't get me wrong, Slack needs to improve and adapt just like any other tool that has a growing user-base. But the SVN hand waving about culture isn't actually about Slack at all, it's just about teams not being well set up with clear goals and methods. You could sub out "Slack" with "email" and come up with similar issues.


... Well that's not a solution, that's just a statement saying a solution might be found.




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