[joshstrange]

> I don't like to be in a space where I can't see who is coming in and out of it, for my own safety as well as to minimize jump-scares.

This! I am extremely jumpy and I hate being snuck up when I'm deep in thought/in the zone which I am as often as possible. If I notice you approaching me you can probably assume I am between tasks or took a break because when I am programming I have my music turned up and I can't hear people walking up and even my peripheral vision is limited in these situations. I can't tell you how many times someone has walked up next to me and I haven't noticed except for when I turn my head to see my laptop screen (where I keep all my chats) and catch them in the corner of my eye and almost fall out of my chair.

I try to not let this affect my level of focus because I really do think that's more important than a few scares a day but if I had my back to a wall then I wouldn't have to worry about it at all.

[temp-reply]

> I can't tell you how many times someone has walked up next to me

> almost fall out of my chair

> a few scares a day

Preach, my easily startled brother, preach. But yet your co-workers don't catch on that you jump-scare so easily?

We should make little signs or banners for people's desks. "Deeply Absorbed Programmer: Do Not Sneak Up On." Issue little handbooks on how to safely interrupt a programmer, as we do currently with sleepwalkers.

If I have to interrupt someone in an open-plan office and can't just message them to get their attention (seriously, what's wrong with just messaging people for non-urgent issues?), I am careful to approach them from the front or peripherally-viewable side and try visual cues first (hand-waving, etc.). I would NEVER use a physical alert method (touching them, knocking on their desk, dropping papers in on their keyboard, etc.). This is one of my several guarantees to the nation.

[joshstrange]

> But yet your co-workers don't catch on that you jump-scare so easily?

They do and they ask me "How can I come over without startling you" to which I reply "Message me on chat that you are coming over or get me a desk where I have my back to a wall".

I really dislike when someone walks over and stands behind me waiting for a good break point. While they may have good intentions I don't like being observed without my knowledge and it's probably just going to freak me out more when I "feel" your presence and turn around.