Respecting people while working at coffee shops
In the past couple of days, a lot of chatter has been happening around the Twittersphere in Vancouver on the topic of places (specifically coffee shops) where we can hide from the (record-setting) scorching heat wave that is tormenting Vancouver (and no, I’m not complaining, because I know that our winters suck too, so I’m all about the heat).
Credit: Librarian by Day
Sometimes we need to work elsewhere for a change. Clearly, this is an important topic for the many of us who make our working lives portable.
Today I made my way to the Waves on Kingsway and Paterson to do some work in an air-conditioned atmosphere (I like working at this particular Waves because it is fairly isolated from anything else. I don’t get any temptations to go and visit friends, even though I know that Derek and Air do live near by).
Credit: readerwalker
… Students. Yeah, those students that come here to study for long hours. And disrespectful ones at that. Several of them are hogging booths (when clearly they can be seated at a table) and others have spread their papers through the long tables that have the power outlets in such a way that they are occupying the area reserved for three people). As I made my way to find a seating area with an outlet, I asked a young woman whether *that* seat was occupied.
… [awkward silence and nodding affirmatively]….
… [more silence, as I approach the seat]…
Suddenly, she turns to me and asks “do you want to sit here?”. My response? I thought to myself “Um. YEAH? Of course I want to sit there! I know that you have got your 4 books and 3 notebooks and your purse and your cell phone and sun glasses all spread around so that instead of using ONE seat you use FOUR, but um, I kind of need to be connected to the power outlet and I have as much right to sit here as you do, so….”
I just smiled politely while she [VERY SLOWLY] pulled her materials towards her.
… [Awkward smiles back and forth]…
I sit down and decide to give the Waves another look around. Yeah, instances of flagrant violations of basic coffee shop manners are a dime a dozen. Yes, the problem is that we don’t seem to have a set of rules for working at coffee shops. Here is Raul’s quick-and-dirty, I’ve-been-working-in-the-heat-thus-I’m-kind-of-cranky set of suggestions.
1. Don’t hog the booth if you’re coming alone. Sorry, I know that this is sometimes the best way to work (heck, I was writing a PhD thesis and I needed lots of table real estate) but this is a crowded coffee shop. Please maximize the number of people who can be seated. Brownie points and karma will be your rewards.
2. Don’t block access to power outlets. And while you’re at it, don’t monopolize them all. Please don’t charge your iPod, your cell phone AND your laptop at the same time if the coffee shop is crowded. Trust me, we ALL need to be called, listen to our iPods and power our laptops. Which means, I, too, need to power my electronics. Please try to stick to using only ONE outlet.
3. If you have to have conversations, please don’t YELL. And please don’t talk SUPER LOUDLY to your BFF loudly while I’m trying to do some work. Admittedly, it’s a public space and you have a right to talk. But… YELL? Please, don’t. Just don’t.
What other basic “co-working at a coffee shop” rules should be included here? Have your say in the comments section.
Related posts:
- More coffee shops around Fraser Street, please :)
- The culture of working at coffee places
- Caffeine crazed – The tradition of working at coffee shops
- Coffee shop review – The Wicked Cafe
- Coffee shop review – Cedar Cottage Coffee House
I completely agree. The Waves at 10th & Main … everyone was being pretty good. Now I’ll had a tip that will make you everyone’s friend. bring a small multi-outlet plug. I bring my three-plug power bar all the time. Talk about making friends when you don’t use an outlet, you provide two more!
Don’t go to the Benny’s in Kits, no air conditioning there.
Raul, have you tried the library? Usually cooler there and you might be able to bring coffee/beverages in there in a spill-proof mug (I know for sure you can at UBC’s libraries, not sure about VPL…if not they may change the policy in the future, all libraries are eventually going to become internet cafes anyways)
Haha I’ve never gone to that waves to get work done… I know too many social butterflys from SFU CAC that love to occupy that space.
Good for you for standing your ground so to speak, Raul! It reminds me of s similar issue on busses/skytrain when ppl sit on the inside aisle, beside an empty window seat when the bus/skytrain is getting full. Sometimes if I’m in a Mood, I’ll make a point of asking them for the seat. It’s irritating!
My own rule #1: BUY STUFF. The coffee shop needs to stay in business to provide these great places. When someone builds a big nest but doesn’t spend any money, the shop is prevented from making money to someone who leaves because there’s nowhere to sit.
If I have to sit at a big table because the small spots are taken and I’m alone, I try to make eye contact with people who are looking for a place to sit so I can invite them to share my table.
Stash stuff like backpacks/bike panniers under your chair instead of on another chair. Your bag isn’t a person & doesn’t need its own seat.
Smiles, manners and kindness go a lot further than righteous indignation in getting a seat from someone who’s hogging real estate. Sounds as if you used that successfully, at least this time
.
My booster plug for anyone who may visit Spokane, WA: We have great coffee hangouts in Spokane, including Coffee Social, all the Rocket Bakery locations (our local success story “chain”), Rockwood Bakery, Madeleine’s, Taste, and many more. They’re definitely THE place to run into people you know (and the city’s civic, volunteer, business, and elected leadership, too).
@BarbChamberlain