Off topic but out of curiosity, how many people actually work in a data center? I’ve always wanted to work in one but got the impression that there are only a small number of people, maybe a dozen or so, dedicated to keeping the hardware running.
But hearing how it’s affected you makes me think it might not be the best choice for me. I worked from home for about 5 years up to and during COVID, and honestly can relate to feeling less comfortable in social situations after a while. I think the first year or so I was fine and then started to notice the decline of actually wanting to interact with other people.
I work in a very small datacenter and there are around 100 people overall. But majority of people usually work from home. I am one of 3 people on site who rotates shifts to have someone onsite at all times. But everyone comes to the datacenter for various things at some point
There are times where there are lots of people onsite and I do socialize but due to my position I am usually completely alone on the evening shifts
Im in the same boat. Perpetual screen time is fine if you have colleagues next to you that you can shoot the shit with. Without them? Brain becomes a spongey moss
It’s not just screen time in my case. Alone in the datacenter at night is like some liminal space and it feels like there is something inherently unhealthy standing amongst the whirring server racks. Even with hearing protection it just drives a guy mad in a way
I’ll second the volunteering, though I never really feel comfortable socializing among the volunteers, it still feels good actually doing something I think matters, but at the same time know I’m utterly replacable and no one would specifically need me to do any of it.
I dunno I thought I wanted this and took a job at a datacenter
Some days I don’t even interact with another human
5 years into this and it’s completely killed my social skills and therefore social life, im thinking about moving on for this reason actually
Off topic but out of curiosity, how many people actually work in a data center? I’ve always wanted to work in one but got the impression that there are only a small number of people, maybe a dozen or so, dedicated to keeping the hardware running.
But hearing how it’s affected you makes me think it might not be the best choice for me. I worked from home for about 5 years up to and during COVID, and honestly can relate to feeling less comfortable in social situations after a while. I think the first year or so I was fine and then started to notice the decline of actually wanting to interact with other people.
I work in a very small datacenter and there are around 100 people overall. But majority of people usually work from home. I am one of 3 people on site who rotates shifts to have someone onsite at all times. But everyone comes to the datacenter for various things at some point
There are times where there are lots of people onsite and I do socialize but due to my position I am usually completely alone on the evening shifts
If it pays ok, why not volunteer?
You get to socialise, you get to feel a part of your community, you get to feel like you’re making a difference, etc.
I don’t know why but the hermit nature of the job leaks into my real life and I tend to not want to socialize outside of work either
It’s all been a slow burn in this way
Im in the same boat. Perpetual screen time is fine if you have colleagues next to you that you can shoot the shit with. Without them? Brain becomes a spongey moss
It’s not just screen time in my case. Alone in the datacenter at night is like some liminal space and it feels like there is something inherently unhealthy standing amongst the whirring server racks. Even with hearing protection it just drives a guy mad in a way
I’ll second the volunteering, though I never really feel comfortable socializing among the volunteers, it still feels good actually doing something I think matters, but at the same time know I’m utterly replacable and no one would specifically need me to do any of it.