I completely agree. If I'm in a coffee shop, I'm not going to catch a bit of a stranger's conversation focused on the app that I just rolled out, but that happens constantly at work, and I'm pulled away from what I'm thinking about.
a bit of a stranger's conversation focused on the app that I just rolled out
I find that this is the biggest problem: People can be actively trying not to interrupt you but it's no good because they're talking about something that's related to your work and you can't help but overhear. If they're in earshot and they're talking, distraction is inevitable.
It's a pity that at a time with such a high unemployment rate we can't manage to mobilize the resources to build every programmer a tiny office with a door that can close.
