If you disliked a co-workers clicky/loud keyboard how would you handle it?

[supamesican]

I was reading through reddit's mechanical keyboard sub(I know first mistake) and there was a thread about how someone's co-worker passively aggressively suggested something to make their mx blue keyboard quieter.  It just devolved from there in to people basically saying "I don't like my co-workers mx blue noise but I'm too much of a little ***** to tell him/her"

This in turn got me to thinking, what would the appropriate thing to do be? Telling them directly, or talking to management about it, or what?

Personally I love clicky keyboards and really can't understand how one could fine blues loud, maybe buckling springs but even then not that loud, so I'd be okay with it but not everyone is.

[azhdar]

"hey , your keyboard sound is distracting can you do something about it ?"

Talking issues out isn't that hard

[exitfire401]

Just bring it up to the person kindly. 9/10s of the community would either be willing to switch out the board. Going to management with something this little/petty would typically result in everybody being relegated to rubberdomes and/or having something that isn't ergonomic/slows productivity being forced upon everyone. I've had 1 coworker complain about my blues. I swapped that board out for vintage blacks, and then Topre. Since I have my own office, I now just use my blue alps, but I do have a coworker out in the office that uses a model m. Somehow, nobody complains about that one.

[hwood34]

Tell them directly. Passive aggressiveness is one of the most aggravating things in existence

[n0rvig]

I'd steal it & sell it on e-bay to support my own keyboard habit.

However, +1 for the direct approach. I think the direct & polite approach would be best.

[CPTBadAss]

"Hey bro, your keyboard is too loud. Can you do something about it? Thanks"

When you hear that, your brain should instantly go:

HOLY ****, I CAN BUY A NEW KEYBOARD NOW!





....that's part of the reason why I ended up with my 1800 . Clears are so quiet!

[byker]

"Hey bro, your keyboard is too loud. Can you do something about it? Thanks"

When you hear that, your brain should instantly go:

HOLY ****, I CAN BUY A NEW KEYBOARD NOW!





....that's part of the reason why I ended up with my 1800 . Clears are so quiet!

This guy knows how to think like an addict. 

[Huxley2500]

Unplug it.

[hwood34]

"Hey bro, your keyboard is too loud. Can you do something about it? Thanks"

When you hear that, your brain should instantly go:

HOLY ****, I CAN BUY A NEW KEYBOARD NOW!





....that's part of the reason why I ended up with my 1800 . Clears are so quiet!

This guy knows how to think like an addict. 

There are worse things to be addicted to

[Psybin]

Suggest O-rings haha.

I actually sold my Ducky Shine 2 to a co-worker that works in the same area. I can always tell when he is pissed and writing a strongly worded email. There are three of us in there and for the sake of the third I only use my white MX board. The green and blue boards stay at home.

[nubbinator]

Blues annoy the hell out of me.  They're shrill and loud.  If it got to the point of annoying me, I'd say something.

And o-rings do nothing to help.

[derb2k2]

first, congratulate them on having a mech board. Then chat a little about switches and slowly let the conversation devolve into those that make noise etc...

I personally cannot deal with blues at work. I had my blue board for a week and tried to work with it but it's just so conspicuous.

[monotagary]

Just let them know that it's loud and bothersome. I brought a blues board into work, someone told me right away that it was just too loud for them to focus. I switched it out the next day for my HHKB and everyone was happy. 

[meztek]

I deal with my neighbours playing music too loud all night long so I hate to be this guy, but for me the clickyness of my keyboard is part of what helps me focus

Realistically though, if a co-worker approached me about my keyboard and let me know politely it is bothering him/her, I would most likely bring in a quieter keyboard or otherwise ask if there's something I can do to be less distracting.  So if the same happened to me, as in, if I were being distracted by a co-worker's keyboard, I would likely go up to them, start a conversation, and politely let them know.  This is the way I would handle any other work-related issue so I don't see why it would not work for keyboard noise. 

[Novus]

I'd take his keyboard and smash him or her over the head with it.
Then I would plead mental insanity due to MX blue stimulus.

[fohat.digs]

I had my blue board for a week and tried to work with it but it's just so conspicuous.

Are you kidding? Everybody, including the boss, can hear how hard you are working!

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

I'm surprised my co-worker hasn't complained about my Model M yet... we share the same office... and he uses an Apple Aluminum 

I did have the ex-IT guy complain about it... not about the noise, but about the ISO layout...

[Data]

Hey, sweet mech bro. Are those MX Blues? (Bonus points if he says Greens) They're super loud, have you ever tried [insert quieter/modded switch type]?

Continue conversation like so. Mention several more times how loud the damn switches are. He'll get the hint and buy another board out of respect for your vast knowledge and mutual appreciation of mechs.

Because talking to people is hard.

[saturnotaku]

"I don't like my co-workers mx blue noise but I'm too much of a little ***** to tell him/her"

Because reddit. 

Anyway, the direct and polite method works best. Don't act like a tool, and 99 times out of 100, you'll be fine. Maybe you can even make a new friend with whom you can share your keyboard hobby.

[bueller]

I'm surprised my co-worker hasn't complained about my Model M yet... we share the same office... and he uses an Apple Aluminum 

I did have the ex-IT guy complain about it... not about the noise, but about the ISO layout...

Haha people at my work hate using my machine, GH60 on a Mac with a Windows layout. Oh, and I swap my Ctrl & Caps lock

[Novus]

I'm surprised my co-worker hasn't complained about my Model M yet... we share the same office... and he uses an Apple Aluminum 

I did have the ex-IT guy complain about it... not about the noise, but about the ISO layout...

Remember you are sisko not picard

[demik]

dont work in a company full of entitled cry baby *****es that need others to change because they don't want to. even though it's their problem.


but we don't live in a fantasy land. so that'll never happen.


just get topre. that's all you need anyway.

[0100010]

Well, in my work environment - I am 'that guy' with the loud clicky keyboard.  Always in the past I have been in my own office, so my typing noise was limited to if you happened to be walking by my door.  Our building just went through its phase of a corporate wide office redesign, where there are less offices and more, smaller, shorter cubes.  So now in this grand new design, where I am out amongst the cube farm - you can hear me typing halfway across the building even with the white noise generators.  I am in a corner and I take up three of the new cubes; so I think the glass walls behind and beside me probably serve to amplify the keyboard noise.

No one has said a word to me; they all know I love my keyboards.

[minh278]

I would tell the person cause if it bothers you enough no point in avoiding it, as has been said earlier most people are willing to switch out to a more quiet mech(it also gives most of us an excuse to get a new one). I personally find clicky keyboards amusing because you can guess on what the person it doing from the amount of clicks per a time period and how hard the keyboard bottoms out.

[smknjoe]

How would someone bothered by keyboards have possibly kept a job in the 90's and 00's? Does the phone ringing bother them too. Must you keep it on vibrate only?

[Polymer]

Because it was common back then (more like 80s and 90s)...You also had typewriters/word processors pounding away...Now they're not and they'll stand out and yes, they'll be annoying.

Personally, I'd be happy to see someone with a Mech board..would probably start a conversation about it...bring in some other stuff...maybe convince them to go another direction and if not, just let them know it is pretty annoying.  Most people, if they didn't realize it before, will realize how annoying it will be then..and if they don't care, *shrug*, I don't care about a formal complaint then...The thing is, the person would have to be completely clueless and completely self important to not take anyone else (their co-workers) into consideration so it is likely to never get to that stage...

[sidel]

As has been stated many times in this thread,  I'd simply be upfront and let the person know it was bothering me.  I've yet to have a problem with anyone else's typing, but in my general experience most people respond favorably to an earnest request.

[chyros]

In the theoretical case I'd be annoyed by someone's loud keyboard, and I'd be just a normal guy who knew nothing about mechanical keyboards, I'd just say "Hey man, your keyboard is really loud and pretty distracting. Would you mind typing a little softer, or otherwise, to get a quieter keyboard, please? Cheers mate."

Not that hard, really.

[Ngt]

I brought my Poker 2 w/ blues right when I received it at my previous job. Nobody said anything on the moment because it was my last day but at the end of the day they told me it was too loud. I won't use any clicky board at work again.

[Defect]

I brought my Poker 2 w/ blues right when I received it at my previous job. Nobody said anything on the moment because it was my last day but at the end of the day they told me it was too loud. I won't use any clicky board at work again.

My last day was during a slow week and I had been using my Choc mini with blues for 2 years.  Everyone told me how much they hated the noise.  But they never wanted to complain because they liked having me around.

[Ngt]

I brought my Poker 2 w/ blues right when I received it at my previous job. Nobody said anything on the moment because it was my last day but at the end of the day they told me it was too loud. I won't use any clicky board at work again.

My last day was during a slow week and I had been using my Choc mini with blues for 2 years.  Everyone told me how much they hated the noise.  But they never wanted to complain because they liked having me around.

That's a pity they didn't have talked to you about it. So they thinked you'll leave the company if they told you that you have a noisy keyboard, did they? Would you have change your keyboard or just leave the office?

[hking0036]

I brought my Poker 2 w/ blues right when I received it at my previous job. Nobody said anything on the moment because it was my last day but at the end of the day they told me it was too loud. I won't use any clicky board at work again.

My last day was during a slow week and I had been using my Choc mini with blues for 2 years.  Everyone told me how much they hated the noise.  But they never wanted to complain because they liked having me around.

That's a pity they didn't have talked to you about it. So they thinked you'll leave the company if they told you that you have a noisy keyboard, did they? Would you have change your keyboard or just leave the office?

Haha, I'd love to see that go down, someone making a scene in the office over their keyboard. "Don't you DARE make me take my keyboard away or I'm quitting!"

[Ngt]

I brought my Poker 2 w/ blues right when I received it at my previous job. Nobody said anything on the moment because it was my last day but at the end of the day they told me it was too loud. I won't use any clicky board at work again.

My last day was during a slow week and I had been using my Choc mini with blues for 2 years.  Everyone told me how much they hated the noise.  But they never wanted to complain because they liked having me around.

That's a pity they didn't have talked to you about it. So they thinked you'll leave the company if they told you that you have a noisy keyboard, did they? Would you have change your keyboard or just leave the office?

Haha, I'd love to see that go down, someone making a scene in the office or their keyboard. "Don't you DARE make me take my keyboard away or quitting!"

Yeah I guess that'd be quite unusual at least to me.

[Defect]

Nah they were just all nice people who didn't like to complain unless it seriously affected their day.

I did financial modeling so there was a lot of clicking... If I knew it bothered them I would have swapped boards...

Choc mini has lubed 62g Blacks now so I can use it at work haha. 

Left the company for non keyboard reasons.  On great terms.  Amazing people.

[Ngt]

Nah they were just all nice people who didn't like to complain unless it seriously affected their day.

I did financial modeling so there was a lot of clicking... If I knew it bothered them I would have swapped boards...

Choc mini has lubed 62g Blacks now so I can use it at work haha. 

Left the company for non keyboard reasons.  On great terms.  Amazing people.

Yeah I don't see anybody that could make a scene if people complain about his keyboard. Well perhaps Demik I guess haha. But it seems unlikely that someone complains about Topre switches considering you can make them really quiet with a Type-S or some silenced modding.

[derezzed]

I'd take his keyboard and smash him or her over the head with it.
Then I would plead mental insanity due to MX blue stimulus.

We can call that legal maneuver the Winkey defense.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkie_defense

[Nai_Calus]

"Hey, sweet mech, aren't they great? I hate to say this though but the clacking from those blues is getting a bit distracting, I mean I've got them at home but it's kind of awkward here. If it's not too much bother, do you have a quieter one? Browns or ergoclears or something? You'd still get the feels but it'd be a little quieter."

That'd be the proper way to respond I'd think.

The incorrect way is to bring your own loud keyboard and clack on it louder than they clack.

This is probably a factor in why my last job didn't let us bring in keyboards. It was a call centre. You don't want CLACK CLACK CLACK in the background of the calls of everyone within ten cubes of the guy who brought in a board with Blues. Which was a shame since we were all using iMacs and they had those awful chiclet flat things.

[inanis]

I use blues in the office (Poker II). I have repeatedly asked everyone around me if it bothers them, and everyone always tells me it is no problem at all. I have made efforts to use something quieter, since sometimes on really quite days it makes me worried that even though no one is telling me it is too loud, it really is. So far though, I always go back to my Poker.

If at any point someone told me the Poker was too loud, I'd swap it out instantly. I have a JD40 with Clears and a MQC V60 ready to go (actually, I'm currently using the JD40 but I'm not super efficient with it. It is only day one, so I'm not giving up yet).

People are so friggin sensitive. I don't know why we can't be more direct with each other in an office environment. We are all grownups. I'm not saying be a ****, but people should be allowed to be direct without instantly being labeled a jerk. Office politics is the worst.

[JaccoW]

I've never had any comments on the noise in any office environment but I have always been an intern thus far. If people had a problem with the noise I would do something about it but I have always used Clears and especially the FC660M is probably one of the quietest boards you can use with the exception of aluminum customs.
But good luck dragging 3-4 KG's to work everyday.

[Ngt]

I use blues in the office (Poker II). I have repeatedly asked everyone around me if it bothers them, and everyone always tells me it is no problem at all. I have made efforts to use something quieter, since sometimes on really quite days it makes me worried that even though no one is telling me it is too loud, it really is. So far though, I always go back to my Poker.

If at any point someone told me the Poker was too loud, I'd swap it out instantly. I have a JD40 with Clears and a MQC V60 ready to go (actually, I'm currently using the JD40 but I'm not super efficient with it. It is only day one, so I'm not giving up yet).

People are so friggin sensitive. I don't know why we can't be more direct with each other in an office environment. We are all grownups. I'm not saying be a ****, but people should be allowed to be direct without instantly being labeled a jerk. Office politics is the worst.

Yeah I brought mine only a few days but that's what I would do if someone told me it was too loud. Actually when I brought it I asked everyone in my office if it was too loud and like nobody told me it was. However at the end of the day they told me, that it did bother them. I guess they just wanted to be nice with me. Now I know that it can bother some people so I'll just stick to quieter board for official office environment.

I've never had any comments on the noise in any office environment but I have always been an intern thus far. If people had a problem with the noise I would do something about it but I have always used Clears and especially the FC660M is probably one of the quietest boards you can use with the exception of aluminum customs.
But good luck dragging 3-4 KG's to work everyday.

Is that what weigh a TKL aluminium case? Do you know if it possible to modify an existing board to change his case? I love how the Pexton low profile case looks so I'd like to check if it is possible to have something similar but for a TKL board. 

[JaccoW]

I've never had any comments on the noise in any office environment but I have always been an intern thus far. If people had a problem with the noise I would do something about it but I have always used Clears and especially the FC660M is probably one of the quietest boards you can use with the exception of aluminum customs.
But good luck dragging 3-4 KG's to work everyday.

Is that what weigh a TKL aluminium case? Do you know if it possible to modify an existing board to change his case? I love how the Pexton low profile case looks so I'd like to check if it is possible to have something similar but for a TKL board. 

I think aluminum cases for TKL are generally between 2-4 Kg, where the 4 is for the more expensive cases with a solid wedge.
As for your second question, it really depends on the model. There are some universal models when it comes to customs and there was this fairly affordable Filco case but most of the time you will have to desolder everything and use the custom plate.
It's not as easy as with the 60% models where you just unscrew it from the plastic case and bolt it into the alu case.

[Ngt]

I've never had any comments on the noise in any office environment but I have always been an intern thus far. If people had a problem with the noise I would do something about it but I have always used Clears and especially the FC660M is probably one of the quietest boards you can use with the exception of aluminum customs.
But good luck dragging 3-4 KG's to work everyday.

Is that what weigh a TKL aluminium case? Do you know if it possible to modify an existing board to change his case? I love how the Pexton low profile case looks so I'd like to check if it is possible to have something similar but for a TKL board. 

I think aluminum cases for TKL are generally between 2-4 Kg, where the 4 is for the more expensive cases with a solid wedge.
As for your second question, it really depends on the model. There are some universal models when it comes to customs and there was this fairly affordable Filco case but most of the time you will have to desolder everything and use the custom plate.
It's not as easy as with the 60% models where you just unscrew it from the plastic case and bolt it into the alu case.

Alright I'll post more questions on a dedicated thread. I don't want to hijack this one more than I already did.

[Altis]

There's someone nearby at my office (which I'm not at often, fortunately) who's spacebar sounds like a springboard. Every time she hits space, it goes "boing". Enough to drive us all mental. I'm tempted to just replace it when she's not there with a new one that doesn't do it.

As for using mechs, I certainly won't be bringing any clicky switch to the office in a cubicle environment. MX Blue, Alps Blue, and buckling spring are all too inconsiderate in my opinion.

Topre would be on par with the sound level of other keyboards, and MX Brown/Red would probably fall under the radar for the most part but I still think it's kind of loud.

Ultimately, I've been in offices that use all Apple keyboards (laptop scissor style) and it's dead silent. However, you'll just start hearing other noises to drive you mad. Offices are full of disruptive people.

[JaccoW]

There's someone nearby at my office (which I'm not at often, fortunately) who's spacebar sounds like a springboard. Every time she hits space, it goes "boing". Enough to drive us all mental. I'm tempted to just replace it when she's not there with a new one that doesn't do it.

As for using mechs, I certainly won't be bringing any clicky switch to the office in a cubicle environment. MX Blue, Alps Blue, and buckling spring are all too inconsiderate in my opinion.

Topre would be on par with the sound level of other keyboards, and MX Brown/Red would probably fall under the radar for the most part but I still think it's kind of loud.

Ultimately, I've been in offices that use all Apple keyboards (laptop scissor style) and it's dead silent. However, you'll just start hearing other noises to drive you mad. Offices are full of disruptive people.

And that is ultimately true. I would actually prefer the background noise of a hundred people typing on mechanical keyboards. I do better with some background noise, as long as it's more or less constant.

[Ngt]

There's someone nearby at my office (which I'm not at often, fortunately) who's spacebar sounds like a springboard. Every time she hits space, it goes "boing". Enough to drive us all mental. I'm tempted to just replace it when she's not there with a new one that doesn't do it.

As for using mechs, I certainly won't be bringing any clicky switch to the office in a cubicle environment. MX Blue, Alps Blue, and buckling spring are all too inconsiderate in my opinion.

Topre would be on par with the sound level of other keyboards, and MX Brown/Red would probably fall under the radar for the most part but I still think it's kind of loud.

Ultimately, I've been in offices that use all Apple keyboards (laptop scissor style) and it's dead silent. However, you'll just start hearing other noises to drive you mad. Offices are full of disruptive people.

Just get yourself a closed headphone and listen to one of those "Focus" playlist on Spotify. You won't be hearing them any longer I assure you .

[Doyniish]

Get him one of these:

[Kira]

I'd ask what keyboard they have xD

[Ngt]

Get him one of these:

Show Image

Haha that is so ... I don't know how to call it to be honest! Disgusting is the first word that came to my mouth.

[aceps00]

Secretly take their keycaps!  )

[Ngt]

Secretly take their keycaps!  )

That is hard to do something secretly when it takes 10-15min to perform it  .