I worked as a systems engineer and programmer in an open office environment like that, in the 1970s. You get used to it, and chatting with those around you was allowed and friendly. Things were different back then, smoking was allowed, as well as ribald joking and laughter. We got things done. As you moved up the seniority ladder, you moved to better rows behind others and you could look upon the desks of junior workers. We had a bit more space between rows, to allow us to place stacks of printouts and system manuals in short bookcases. In the 1980s it all changed to cubicles and it had a lonely feel to the office.
They told me that Joe had had a heart attack, and been carted off a half hour ago. I didn’t know whether to feel bad about not being affected by my co-worker’s distress - or good about having been engrossed in what I was doing and not having noticed it.