3 ms·

I've recently quit smoking and I am feeling a little out in the cold (figuratively speaking) because my network that I've developed over the last 4 years has su

by bliss 16y ago

I've recently quit smoking and I am feeling a little out in the cold (figuratively speaking) because my network that I've developed over the last 4 years has suddenly been reduced to a simple wave when I pass them rather than meaningful conversations. The smoking shelter is much like the golf course in my opinion, smokers share an out of work interest and that creates a bond. I know that the interest is a horrifically addictive drug, but it's the (decreasingly) acceptable face of drug taking. For the bosses that think a smoke break is bad for productivity... You're wrong, things get done on smoke breaks, being away from your desk in a different context gives your unconscious time to work. Instead of grumbling about smokers taking time out, I'd recommend that non-smokers take up the habit. By which of course I mean the habit of social breaks.

_delirium 16y ago
In some settings, I've actually gotten some of the benefits of the smoke-breaks without smoking by simply accompanying smokers who I knew. I suppose it might be awkward if it were 8 smokers plus me as the only non-smoker, but I've mostly worked in offices with very few smokers, who might otherwise be standing outside smoking by themselves, so I ask if I can join them, if it's someone I at least sort of know already. It does add slightly more social awkwardness, since I sort of have to explain why I would want to join them on a smoke break if I don't smoke, but I actually do genuinely enjoy getting out of my chair and going outside for a few minutes, and maybe swinging by the coffee cart on the way back, and it seems to have worked out well with at least a few coworkers I've had.
- mst 16y ago
  Several offices I've worked in now I've intentionally invited non-smokers out to join me - "fancy getting some fresh air while I pollute mine?" is often a good way to phrase it - and with a little care one can arrange for the non-smokers to stand upwind of the smokers to ensure they're not breathing stale smoke. The reason for this was multifold - it got them a break, it got us a few minutes to chat, and while there was often some socialisation, in a group of programmers there was also almost always useful discussion of the stuff we were working on and brainstorming. Here at Shadowcat, my development team is geographically distributed but our business guy (co-founder, non-smoker) and sysadmin (fellow smoker) are on site, and all three of us often go out for breaks together and use that time to update each other on where we're up to with stuff (or what we're stuck on) - the end result is as much as anything else an ad-hoc miniature stand-up meeting except with strictly optional carcinogens available at the same time :)
  - _delirium 16y ago
    Ah yeah, I've seen that too. I feel smokers, and some non-smokers, are often worried/nervous about that "upwind" aspect, though. If everyone's a smoker or nonsmoker you don't get that, but if it's mixed, people can feel self-conscious about it one way or another. I think it partly works out okay for me because I don't care much about it, because due to a particular history I actually sort of like second-hand smoke, at least in modest amounts, and have a decent story to convince people of why. (More or less: Although I was born/raised in the U.S., half my family's Greek, and I spent a lot of my childhood summers there... and almost nobody I knew in the U.S. while young smoked, while almost everyone I knew in Greece smoked, so I've developed positive associations with cigarette smoke, where it seems totally natural for an outdoor, lounging-and-discussing setting, and reminds me of long dinners by the waterfront and other such pleasant things.)
Psyonic 16y ago
Depends. In an office job, you're right. In many jobs, 15 minutes lost is 15 minutes lost.

by bliss 16y ago

_delirium 16y ago

In some settings, I've actually gotten some of the benefits of the smoke-breaks without smoking by simply accompanying smokers who I knew. I suppose it might be awkward if it were 8 smokers plus me as the only non-smoker, but I've mostly worked in offices with very few smokers, who might otherwise be standing outside smoking by themselves, so I ask if I can join them, if it's someone I at least sort of know already. It does add slightly more social awkwardness, since I sort of have to explain why I would want to join them on a smoke break if I don't smoke, but I actually do genuinely enjoy getting out of my chair and going outside for a few minutes, and maybe swinging by the coffee cart on the way back, and it seems to have worked out well with at least a few coworkers I've had.

mst 16y ago
Several offices I've worked in now I've intentionally invited non-smokers out to join me - "fancy getting some fresh air while I pollute mine?" is often a good way to phrase it - and with a little care one can arrange for the non-smokers to stand upwind of the smokers to ensure they're not breathing stale smoke. The reason for this was multifold - it got them a break, it got us a few minutes to chat, and while there was often some socialisation, in a group of programmers there was also almost always useful discussion of the stuff we were working on and brainstorming. Here at Shadowcat, my development team is geographically distributed but our business guy (co-founder, non-smoker) and sysadmin (fellow smoker) are on site, and all three of us often go out for breaks together and use that time to update each other on where we're up to with stuff (or what we're stuck on) - the end result is as much as anything else an ad-hoc miniature stand-up meeting except with strictly optional carcinogens available at the same time :)
- _delirium 16y ago
  Ah yeah, I've seen that too. I feel smokers, and some non-smokers, are often worried/nervous about that "upwind" aspect, though. If everyone's a smoker or nonsmoker you don't get that, but if it's mixed, people can feel self-conscious about it one way or another. I think it partly works out okay for me because I don't care much about it, because due to a particular history I actually sort of like second-hand smoke, at least in modest amounts, and have a decent story to convince people of why. (More or less: Although I was born/raised in the U.S., half my family's Greek, and I spent a lot of my childhood summers there... and almost nobody I knew in the U.S. while young smoked, while almost everyone I knew in Greece smoked, so I've developed positive associations with cigarette smoke, where it seems totally natural for an outdoor, lounging-and-discussing setting, and reminds me of long dinners by the waterfront and other such pleasant things.)

Psyonic 16y ago

Depends. In an office job, you're right. In many jobs, 15 minutes lost is 15 minutes lost.