Self-centered remote working journalist complains about coffee shops having loud music: 'I can't hear myself think, let alone do Zoom calls here'

Ally Perry • Writer and Editor

Aug 21, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

I'll be the first to admit it: as somebody whose job requires little more than a laptop, a phone, and the world-weary cynicism of somebody who has spent too much time on the internet, I have frequently worked in places that many would not consider workplaces. From trains to cafes, to particularly quiet bars, I have often been that annoying person furiously typing in the corner. While none of these are my first choice of place to work, they can make a welcome change of scene every so often.

However, it has to be said that it's important to have an awareness of the vibe before you start dedicating a leisurely three hours to answering your emails in a public space. Plenty of establishments don't take kindly to you hogging one of their precious seats at peak times, and they also aren't the most practical place to work, either. This didn't deter one determined remote worker, who faced the heat after complaining on social media about not knowing how to ask a coffee shop to turn the music down so he could do his job. Not everywhere is going to revolve around your digital nomadism.