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No matter if it's colleagues sharing the latest update on their crush or the news in the radio, I can't help but get distracted by conversations where I can understand what is being said. It doesn't matter how un-interesting the topic is to me. If it's just low or far enough for me not to get what they are saying, I couldn't care less.
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How about someone who sits only one desk away and speaks so loudly on the phone that he almost does not need the phone anymore? Only half a conversation, but then twice as loud to compensate.
They all must be descendants of a long line of market criers. 
I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.
His last invention was an evil Lasagna. It didn't kill anyone, and it actually tasted pretty good.
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My problem is when I can understand the words, even if I don't understand the topic.
If it's just loud voices but I can't understand what they are saying (like in a mall's food court) I don't have a problem.
But if someone is talking normally 3 cubicles away and I can understand what they are saying, I'm doomed. It doesn't matter if they are talking about their dog's diarrhea, the latest discovery in Quantum's mechanics or what did Descartes really meant when he said "Cogito ergo sum".
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Wanted to post this in lounge for long time but I keep forgetting.
Just wanted to know what our techies are listening to?
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White noise, to block out ambient noise.
/ravi
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In no particular order (depending on the mode)
Grunge
Glam
Hard Rock
Rock 'n Roll
Blues
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When I already have a crystal clear idea of the code I'm writing I like silence to just hammer it out. If I'm in the zone but doing some design, working out kinks, or generally thinking about a problem I like a moderate amount of noise. I feel like it helps me have a clearer head and consider a wider range of options - not hyper focus on one solution. Similar to how ideas come to you when you aren't single-mindedly focused on them like when in the shower or restroom.
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... no problem with all this, as long as I'm not on the phone with my terrible bad headset 
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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once I am in the zone I plug in my headphones and play music that I like but turned up enough to turn the outside world off completely.
I have tried noise cancelling headphones and just used silence but I found that still lead to me being easily interrupted by other thoughts. maybe there is some scientific study that explains why the music playing loud enough permits me to concentrate on other tasks more easily?
Now if I could just get some people to understand when the headphones are on and music is playing do not tap me on the shoulder or wave a hand near me.
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Although I have the ability to tune out even loud conversations near me, I find that music and hiding behind my screens cuts me off from the world. I can't have my back to a walkway as I react each time someone walks behind me.
Some prefer music without words (instrumental) but I can listen to heavy metal or 80's pop equally well -- I tune out the voices -- I'm aware of them but don't "hear" them. But I will find myself tapping or bouncing to the music.
YouTube is less useful for this due to the interruptions. I've been using MusicBee as I can set a playlist and it will run for hours.
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More as ambient background noise than anything else. Just loud enough to discern the words if I want to.
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This is what I use most of the time.
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I like a little ambient noise in the background. I work from home, and in my office I like it silent. But I run the TV (usually a news channel such as CNN) in the living room as a bit of "ambient" noise. If it was absolutely quiet, then every little bird tweet, horn honk, etc. becomes a distraction. Having that bit of continuous sound helps to blend it all together, and I don't notice anything...
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I voted (5 points !) - but the reality is that when I'm 'in the zone' I don't really notice the background. At least if no one assaults me. I don't notice time or hunger, either. I'm not alone in this.[^]
Now, it could be that certain horrors (such as rap, country, religious music) could distract and goad me into shouting obscenities - those hateful sounds fall into the class of assault.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Nailed it.
The only drawback is the spike in adrenaline when someone abruptly snaps you out of your trance.
INTP
"Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence." - Edsger Dijkstra
"I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks. " - Daniel Boone
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it doesn't matter if people voices or lyrics of the songs.
I don't care about some sounds, and I like instrumental music in a low volume. But... No voices, please
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Depends on... when I switch my brain to English Mode (which includes programming: One of the things that frustrates me is program code in (quasi)English with comments in another language. I can't understand comments even in my native language, Norwegian, when I am reading English source code. Switching brain mode back and forth for every line takes too much mental effort), I cannot listen to vocal music or vocal background sounds in English. Any other language is fine.
Similarly the other way around: If I am writing something in Norwegian, there may very well be English vocals in the background. Or German. Or Spanish. Or Hindi or whatever.
Somtimes, it is an advantage not having English as one's native language: We know that there are other languages. If you suggest to a USAnian to select vocal music in other languages than English, he might give you a quizzingly look: Other languages? Where do you find that? I never heard of any!
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In our market, you do have to look a little. Spanish / Spanglish isn't that hard to find.
I need something in-novel or I will pick at the thread - and there goes the zone.
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I have a quiet office, but I hear the voices all the time. 
 ![Java | [Coffee]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/coffee.gif)
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Nothing like it in the world for meditative concentration when I m in the zone at work. Never in a million years did I think it would work. It is also the only time I listen to it - at work.
I usually select the tracks that are instrumental only.
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I've done sitar track - usually they're like 20-30 minutes each. No vocals - but the sound almost demands thinking continue. Even old Ravi Shankar tracks (when he's not explaining things) can do the deed. Or Jefferson Airplane.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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When I'm thinking hard, all I need is a gentle background of keystrokes, and the occasional cat / delivery / vehicle passing the window.
Loud is bad - it can break your concentration.
Sent from my Amstrad PC 1640
Never throw anything away, Griff
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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