In addition to which, music in your ear can be just as distracting when actually trying to focus on learning something new as a co-worker blabbing on a conference call. The assumption behind open offices is that nobody will ever need to learn anything new: the exact opposite of what this new “knowledge economy” was supposed to be about.
I regularly wear earplugs with headphones over them, blasting white noise. That way I can block out the noise of loud conversations 10 feet away without (1) getting distracted by music or (2) damaging my hearing.
It's kind of ridiculous, but if I'm going to get focused work done it's my best option.
I'd get more done in a library-like space or an office for sure.
In addition to which, music in your ear can be just as distracting when actually trying to focus on learning something new as a co-worker blabbing on a conference call. The assumption behind open offices is that nobody will ever need to learn anything new: the exact opposite of what this new “knowledge economy” was supposed to be about.