[Cringing Negativism Network]

Likewise instant messaging can pretty effectively, short-circuit team dynamics in an office.

Rather than everyone talking about things, you get individuals with earbuds, in cubicles, sending instant messages between cubicles rather than working as a group.

[glyptol]

Yes the dreaded earbud, all trying to be Lt. Ohura. One Mgr. would sit there while you were talking to him as he typed away. Eventually, when he realized you had stopped talking he would look up from the keyboard ask you to repeat. If it was only me I would think I was doing something wrong but he treated everyone with equal disinterest. It was also fun when he would call people on their cellphone when their office was ten feet away. Cube Sweet Cube" was a sign a female coworker put up on her office but someone complained to HR and she had to take it down or suffer disciplinary action. "We will remember you are not a team player at your next review"