Cubicles irk me.

Up until a few weeks ago I worked in an office that consisted of a big open room filled with desks. I never really saw this as any type of distraction nor as having an impact on productivity. Then the decision was made to wall us all up in cubicles. The powers that be felt that by enclosing our office desks it would cause everyone to focus more on their work. I really think that cubicles have the opposite effect because it makes everyone less visible so to speak. You really could sit in your cubicle and goof off half the day because there is no worry that anyone is watching you. Try doing that in a big open room. You have to wonder exactly how much more internet chatting and gaming is going on that didn’t before the introduction of the cubicles?