You'd be surprised, it doesn't seem like a lot but there is a big difference between having to stand up and walk over and leaning over, or kicking your chair over.

Yeah, a lot of our random chats start because of a stray thought said aloud, not even to anyone. If someone nearby needs a break, they pick up on it.

Wouldn’t you agree it’s much more practical and inviting if you could just turn around a talk?

I’d imagine that if I needed to get up, walk up there and knock on my coworker’s door, I’d rather just message him.

And a text conversation and face to face one are very different and could lead it to different places.

My experience has been the opposite. People in open offices tend to avoid in-depth conversations because they don't want to disturb their neighbors; instead, they take conversations into conference rooms. The only people holding conversations in the open space are those talking about non-work topics (usually TV shows, movies, or sports), and seemingly lacking all awareness that they're disturbing the people trying to be productive.

And since all conversations require a conference room, the conference rooms are always full of people talking.

Unless the conference room has already been booked by someone wanting a private office for a few hours.

>Wouldn’t you agree it’s much more practical and inviting if you could just turn around a talk?

No. Even when I visit my less fortunate comrades in the cube farms, I constantly feel guilty for opening my mouth because I know that there are 10 other people in earshot who probably don't have any interest at all in the discussion we're having.

>And a text conversation and face to face one are very different and could lead it to different places.

I agree, which is why I think it's important to make it easy to have face to face conversations by making sure that there's space to do so without disturbing my coworkers.