I work in an office, my coworkers at pretty chatty and I am not. They don’t really seem to understand that head phones in mean I am listening to something or in a meeting…. Basically “don’t bother me”
I also have adhd and find it hard to concentrate so sometimes I put my AirPods in and listen to white noise while noise cancelling. Sometimes music can be to distracting when I am trying to focus so white noise works great.
One coworker in particular likes to yell across the building to other coworkers and then laugh about how loud they are…
Anyways, I was reading a book with my headphones in, and white noise on. I guess my coworker came around behind me and saw on my screen I was listening to white noise and got upset that I was intentionally blocking them out with white noise vs music…
AITA for listening to white noise?
Additionally I don’t really participate in group conversation because they gossip a lot and I don’t want to give them any ammo to talk about me.
NTA! It’s work, not high school and if that’s what you need to do to work efficiently, that says more about them than you.
I have sensory issues and also find it difficult to concentrate when there’s a lot of stimulation but am a nurse, so I wish I could do this lol 😂
NTA
You aren’t harming anyone or bothering anyone, you just want a moment to yourself.
You do you.
NTA Are your coworkers young and immature?
No… they are over the age of 50…
Wow, they are really looking for reasons to be offended, aren’t they? How rude of them to read over your shoulder in the first place, and what business is it of theirs what you’re listening to? Literally how does it affect them in any way?
If for some odd reason you end up having to listen to music instead of white noise, I suggest looking for a channel that does binaural beats music that is specifically designed to help people with ADHD focus; I like it a lot of the time, though sometimes it can be a little overstimulating. But seriously, they are being really really weird about this, and if they don’t drop it you should just focus on that: tell them that they are being super weird about this.
NTA.
NTA.
What’s with people’s egos leading them to believe that others should want to listen to their conversations?
NTA your coworkers are ableist shits.
I don’t think they’re ableist…. They don’t even know I have adhd.
NTA, their conversations are making it difficult for you to work and white noise is a reasonable solution. Gossipy people will always find a reason to gossip, try not to worry about it.
The only caveat is to be approachable and take out your headphones if someone needs your input for a work matter.
NTA. I usually have headphones in to either listen to a tv show or a radio station. I need that to concentrate.
NTA, fuck what they think and sorry they subject you with their annoying mouth noises.
NTA
NTA, co worker is for being a nosy git. What does it matter what you use to block out the banshees?