I personally don't like all the "fun" calls extroverts seem to want to have all the time. But for short huddles I've often gotten unblocked 10x quicker by simply seeing if someone had 5 minutes to talk through something 1-on-1. Then I have their undivided attention and I don't have to wait for them to get around to me on Slack or email which understandably take a back seat.
Both this assumption and the gp's assumption are just that: assumptions. It's fascinating how a few years of half-hearted attempts with status quo management all too eager to revert to at-location is used as a way to support this.
It's still way too early to make such a bold statement.
It's everyone. Not 'especially' programmers. Everyone. Flip the tables and expect the other side to adapt to the context instead, and we'd be calling management terrible at communication. Software development seems fairly unique in expecting developers to bridge the gap instead of management, when such expectations are not put on several other fields. Regardless of the mental strain put on those professions.
Heck, it's stunning we have so many customer-facing type jobs in software development only to expect developers to adapt. The heck you getting paid for if you're not actually a mediator between two different contexts like, you know, almost every other field?
Now most meetings are bad, I’ll give you that. But a well-run meeting, with purpose, which doesn’t faff on and respects the participants’ time, is still a very effective way to get something done.
It is a fallacy that every meeting can be replaced with email. I hate email more than I hate even a mediocre meeting.
I view meetings as next to worthless as nothing is retained as nobody writes anything down (and I am not willing to pay attention enough to do it as a rank and file dev who won't be blamed for it).
Because a lot of people have a pathological need for social interaction. In my opinion this is extremely unhealthy, a person should not be dependent on other humans to be comfortable and happy, but society sees it as normal and even desirable.
Human interaction is fundamental to being a human, and people should be expected to desire it regularly.
I do, however, agree people shouldn't be dependent on their office for that. I have no desire to make friends with coworkers, unless it just happens to occur organically because we like each other.
It's a weakness that needs to be fixed, not something that should be encouraged.