Gamer Fired for taking "Pokemon Breaks."

[IamLEAM1983]

This just seems like a flimsy form of argumentation to me. Smokers are *addicts*, first of all. Socially acceptable addicts, yes, but addicts nonetheless. Take them off their drug of choice and productivity decreases. Because nicotine use is socially acceptable, companies go out of their way to provide cigarette breaks. Yes, it's completely bonkers of anyone to willingly get addicted to a bunch of chemicals that combine into a carcinogenic mess, but that's not exactly a reason to fire anyone.

If you're looking for technicalities, I'd say smokers aren't fired for their addiction because everyone remembers how, not so long ago, people used to smoke everywhere, even in the workplace. Like I said, society's started perceiving smoking as being okay. No matter how Owyn may have a decent argument in saying they should technically be fired for doing something that's harmful to themselves; the fact is society just doesn't see it that way. As irrational as it may seem, cigarettes are indeed equated to glucose tests and insulin shots. Turning that argument around would not, however, invalidate the idea that gaming works as an addiction as defined by workplace rules.

Gamers, however, aren't classified as addicts, no matter how some studies would want to make us believe that the WoW crowd is on something worse than crack. We simply haven't reached the point where gaming is considered as a "problem" that needs to be fixed with some sort of allowance. I sincerely doubt we ever will, as nobody requires several five-minute "Pokémon breaks" to remain productive. We aren't chemically imbalanced to such degrees as to physically require gaming to keep going on our nine-to-five.

The short of it is anyone who'd attempt something like what's theorized in the OP's post isn't really doing it for the sake of equating games to drugs (which is already pretty bad for our collective reputation) - but they'd really do it for the simple reason of being able to get away with playing games on company time without suffering the associated consequences.

All of which feels rather stupid to me. You're that desperate to sneak some game time in? You *may* have some problems, then. I've been a lifelong gamer and never once did I think "Hey, maybe I could get away with pulling my iPod touch out to play Canabalt outside of my break time, if I get sly on the supervisor!"

If we could tack games onto the list of things employers have to provide flexibility for, where would we stop? "Oh, um, hey boss; I can't really come in today. Y'know how it is; New Game Plus with Mass Effect 3 and all... Yeah. I'll need my two weeks off, if you don't mind."

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Pokemon isn't a physical addiction, so I feel he was not justified in his desire for a Pokemon break.

But firing him for suggesting it is wrong.

On the other hand, his creepy monitoring of his fellow employees is a damn good reason to fire him.

It's not creepy, it's science!

...Well, maybe like, 2% creep. But the fictional man observes a fair point--three to five minute breaks every couple of hours in addition to a lunch break isn't exactly unreasonable.

 

[Captain Pirate]

1. Do you think people should be allowed to take breaks like this? Is it unfair that just because someone smokes, they get to take extra breaks? Even if they're only for a couple minutes at a time.
2. Given some of the news stories we've seen on this site, would you actually be surprised if a story like this popped up for real, and what do you think the general reaction would be?

1. No. Definitely not. I mean yes, you could argue that they don't function as well without a cigarette every once in a while, but it's still an entirely personal choice, and they shouldn't be given anything special over it as if it were an unavoidable medical condition. It's very unfair.

2. I wouldn't be surprised, no, and I reckon the general reaction would be quite similar to what people are saying in this thread.

 

[wintercoat]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

 

[keinechance]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

 

[wintercoat]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

 

[keinechance]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

 

[wintercoat]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

 

[keinechance]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

 

[wintercoat]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

So...don't walk up to them and put yourself in a position to be bothered by them maybe?

 

[keinechance]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

So...don't walk up to them and put yourself in a position to be bothered by them maybe?

So...don't smoke when there are non-smokers around, and no one will bother you.

 

[wintercoat]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

So...don't walk up to them and put yourself in a position to be bothered by them maybe?

So...don't smoke when there are non-smokers around, and no one will bother you.

Last I checked, a smoker standing by themselves isn't bothering anyone.

 

[keinechance]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

So...don't walk up to them and put yourself in a position to be bothered by them maybe?

So...don't smoke when there are non-smokers around, and no one will bother you.

Last I checked, a smoker standing by themselves isn't bothering anyone.

Correct, if there is no non-smoker around when you smoke, you are not bothering anyone.

But if you are standing 3 meters away from a non-smoker while smoking, than you are not by yourself.

 

[wintercoat]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

So...don't walk up to them and put yourself in a position to be bothered by them maybe?

So...don't smoke when there are non-smokers around, and no one will bother you.

Last I checked, a smoker standing by themselves isn't bothering anyone.

Correct, if there is no non-smoker around when you smoke, you are not bothering anyone.

But if you are standing 3 meters away from a non-smoker while smoking, than you are not by yourself.

And if I'm by myself smoking, and a non-smoker appears, I am not obligated to stop smoking because they might be bothered.

 

[keinechance]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

So...don't walk up to them and put yourself in a position to be bothered by them maybe?

So...don't smoke when there are non-smokers around, and no one will bother you.

Last I checked, a smoker standing by themselves isn't bothering anyone.

Correct, if there is no non-smoker around when you smoke, you are not bothering anyone.

But if you are standing 3 meters away from a non-smoker while smoking, than you are not by yourself.

And if I'm by myself smoking, and a non-smoker appears, I am not obligated to stop smoking because they might be bothered.

If they are "appearing" just to bother you, than I absolutely agree with you.

If they "have" to be there, because they have to work there for example, then I would disagree with you.

 

[wintercoat]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

So...don't walk up to them and put yourself in a position to be bothered by them maybe?

So...don't smoke when there are non-smokers around, and no one will bother you.

Last I checked, a smoker standing by themselves isn't bothering anyone.

Correct, if there is no non-smoker around when you smoke, you are not bothering anyone.

But if you are standing 3 meters away from a non-smoker while smoking, than you are not by yourself.

And if I'm by myself smoking, and a non-smoker appears, I am not obligated to stop smoking because they might be bothered.

If they are "appearing" just to bother you, than I absolutely agree with you.

If they "have" to be there, because they have to work there for example, then I would disagree with you.

Well considering the majority of work places have designated smoking areas, there should be no problem. If you're a non-smoker in a smoking area, you chose to stand in the smoking area rather than in a non-smoking area. We're both being inconvenienced. You, by choosing to stand where it would be bothersome for you, and the smoker because they choose to have a cigarette on their break and are therefor restricted to a small area.

However, outside of work, say, at a bus stop, if the smoker is waiting for the bus and is having a cigarette, they are not obligated to stop smoking if a non-smoker arrives.

Also, just to let it be known, I quit smoking 2 years ago. Those people who make a show out of their dislike for smokers are worse than any smoker I've ever known. How do you come to the conclusion that harassment and being a nuisance is the proper way to go about things? I get that some people are just dicks, but becoming more of an annoyance than the smoker isn't exactly smart.(not targeted at you, just a general gripe)

 

[keinechance]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

So...don't walk up to them and put yourself in a position to be bothered by them maybe?

So...don't smoke when there are non-smokers around, and no one will bother you.

Last I checked, a smoker standing by themselves isn't bothering anyone.

Correct, if there is no non-smoker around when you smoke, you are not bothering anyone.

But if you are standing 3 meters away from a non-smoker while smoking, than you are not by yourself.

And if I'm by myself smoking, and a non-smoker appears, I am not obligated to stop smoking because they might be bothered.

If they are "appearing" just to bother you, than I absolutely agree with you.

If they "have" to be there, because they have to work there for example, then I would disagree with you.

Well considering the majority of work places have designated smoking areas, there should be no problem. If you're a non-smoker in a smoking area, you chose to stand in the smoking area rather than in a non-smoking area. We're both being inconvenienced. You, by choosing to stand where it would be bothersome for you, and the smoker because they choose to have a cigarette on their break and are therefor restricted to a small area.

However, outside of work, say, at a bus stop, if the smoker is waiting for the bus and is having a cigarette, they are not obligated to stop smoking if a non-smoker arrives.

Also, just to let it be known, I quit smoking 2 years ago. Those people who make a show out of their dislike for smokers are worse than any smoker I've ever known. How do you come to the conclusion that harassment and being a nuisance is the proper way to go about things? I get that some people are just dicks, but becoming more of an annoyance than the smoker isn't exactly smart.(not targeted at you, just a general gripe)

I see it this way:

A smoker has the legal right to smoke in a public area. ( Annoying the non-smoker )

A non-smoker has the legal right to complain that the smoker is polluting the air in a public area. ( Annoying the smoker )

Take that for what you will.

 

[wintercoat]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

So...don't walk up to them and put yourself in a position to be bothered by them maybe?

So...don't smoke when there are non-smokers around, and no one will bother you.

Last I checked, a smoker standing by themselves isn't bothering anyone.

Correct, if there is no non-smoker around when you smoke, you are not bothering anyone.

But if you are standing 3 meters away from a non-smoker while smoking, than you are not by yourself.

And if I'm by myself smoking, and a non-smoker appears, I am not obligated to stop smoking because they might be bothered.

If they are "appearing" just to bother you, than I absolutely agree with you.

If they "have" to be there, because they have to work there for example, then I would disagree with you.

Well considering the majority of work places have designated smoking areas, there should be no problem. If you're a non-smoker in a smoking area, you chose to stand in the smoking area rather than in a non-smoking area. We're both being inconvenienced. You, by choosing to stand where it would be bothersome for you, and the smoker because they choose to have a cigarette on their break and are therefor restricted to a small area.

However, outside of work, say, at a bus stop, if the smoker is waiting for the bus and is having a cigarette, they are not obligated to stop smoking if a non-smoker arrives.

Also, just to let it be known, I quit smoking 2 years ago. Those people who make a show out of their dislike for smokers are worse than any smoker I've ever known. How do you come to the conclusion that harassment and being a nuisance is the proper way to go about things? I get that some people are just dicks, but becoming more of an annoyance than the smoker isn't exactly smart.(not targeted at you, just a general gripe)

I see it this way:

A smoker has the legal right to smoke in a public area. ( Annoying the non-smoker )

A non-smoker has the legal right to complain that the smoker is polluting the air in a public area. ( Annoying the smoker )

Take that for what you will.

And on that, I can agree.

 

[keinechance]

You should have kept doing it anyway, then sued when he/she fired you.

Good luck. I believe there are smoke break regulations that allow employees them by law but no such thing for a nintendo DS.

Smokers get more than enough shit already, people here have seriously suggested banning smoking in one's own home (I thought they were making a reductio ad absurdum argument against the smoking bans at first). Leave Britney alone.

Yeah, I know. I've never bought onto this need to bully smokers. It's exactly their choice, and their right, to do what they want with their own lives. The disgust these forumites are expressing are ridiculously over the top; this is the type of irrational hatred our country needs to protect our minorities from, even minorities like smokers who are unfashionable to defend.

I agree, if you agree that your freedom to smoke stops at blowing your smoke into my face.

Don't stand in my way if it bothers you. [..]

Does that also go for you when I fart in your face?

Good job snipping the important point of the post. I'm not standing in front of people and blowing smoke in their direction. I'm standing outside with plenty of free space blowing upwards and standing away from a bus stop if others are on it. I deliberately don't draw smoke from the cigarette if I'm passing children on the street. You have absolutely no right to complain, and if you fart in my face you're just a dick, there's no involvement of rights in the equation.

You are taking an action that some people find distasteful.

If you are smoking in private then I don't have a problem with that, just like I said before.

But if you are smoking when others are present, and they don't like it, then you are bothering them, even if you "don't go out of your way to annoy people".

And if your response to that is "Don't stand in my way if it bothers you." then you are acting antisocial.

If no one else is present when you smoke, than no one stands in the way of your smoking.

Being that smoking is perfectly legal, other's 'distaste' is irrelevant in a public area that allows smoking. The smoker has as much right as the non-smoker to be there. The smoker isn't causing a problem, the people who make it an issue are.

You are correct, it is legal, but it is still not very considerate of your fellow humans.

So the question is, if someone asks you, politely, to stop smoking, will you do it?

And if I told you, politely, no, and please don't ask again, would you push the issue?

Since you have demonstrated that nicotine has a higher priority for you than humans, I wouldn't waste my time pushing the issue.

No, not being randomly bothered by strangers has a higher priority to me. Get off your high horse.

Not being randomly bothered by smokers has a high priority to me.

So...don't walk up to them and put yourself in a position to be bothered by them maybe?

So...don't smoke when there are non-smokers around, and no one will bother you.

Last I checked, a smoker standing by themselves isn't bothering anyone.

Correct, if there is no non-smoker around when you smoke, you are not bothering anyone.

But if you are standing 3 meters away from a non-smoker while smoking, than you are not by yourself.

And if I'm by myself smoking, and a non-smoker appears, I am not obligated to stop smoking because they might be bothered.

If they are "appearing" just to bother you, than I absolutely agree with you.

If they "have" to be there, because they have to work there for example, then I would disagree with you.

Well considering the majority of work places have designated smoking areas, there should be no problem. If you're a non-smoker in a smoking area, you chose to stand in the smoking area rather than in a non-smoking area. We're both being inconvenienced. You, by choosing to stand where it would be bothersome for you, and the smoker because they choose to have a cigarette on their break and are therefor restricted to a small area.

However, outside of work, say, at a bus stop, if the smoker is waiting for the bus and is having a cigarette, they are not obligated to stop smoking if a non-smoker arrives.

Also, just to let it be known, I quit smoking 2 years ago. Those people who make a show out of their dislike for smokers are worse than any smoker I've ever known. How do you come to the conclusion that harassment and being a nuisance is the proper way to go about things? I get that some people are just dicks, but becoming more of an annoyance than the smoker isn't exactly smart.(not targeted at you, just a general gripe)

I see it this way:

A smoker has the legal right to smoke in a public area. ( Annoying the non-smoker )

A non-smoker has the legal right to complain that the smoker is polluting the air in a public area. ( Annoying the smoker )

Take that for what you will.

And on that, I can agree.

Two people AGREEING on the internet?

Is it still the 1st of April where you are?

 

[chadachada123]

Regularly sanctioned breaks should be allowed for everyone, not just smokers.

It maximizes productivity for all while staying fair.

That, or I'd just go out to smoke a cigarette even though I'm not addicted, because fuck the system.