Gamer Fired for taking "Pokemon Breaks."

[keinechance]

Being addicted to nicotine is a physical addiction.

Being addicted to "smoking" is a psychological addiction.

Yes, and they're two very different things.

Nicotine is a very small part cigarettes. If you took it in a pure form then yes, it would be highly addictive. Just like if you consumed pure caffeine that would be monstrously addictive.

A person who smokes is not chemically dependent on nicotine, they're psychologically dependent on the act of smoking.

I guess we have to agree to disagree on this issue.

Both the physical and psychological components are part of the addiction.

Saying it is only one or the other is ignoring half the problem.

 

[keinechance]

I would argue that like most addictions there is a physical and a chemical side to the dependance. I would also argue that in most cases addiction is largely not an issue in this situation due to the lengths of time being covered. I've yet to meet a sizable amount of people that cannot go a couple hours without a cig.

That's the psychological dependency. The habit.

If it were a true chemical addiction your body would simply not be able to function without it.

I get irritable if I haven't busted a nut in a few days. That doesn't mean I'm chemically addicted to rubbing one out.

If you get "irritable", then you are in "withdrawel".

It doesn't kill you, but it is still noticable.

 

[jklinders]

I've worked in food service for over 12 years. Also I don't smoke. I'm not really a fan of the idea that smokers can seem to get more breaks than non-smokers to have a cigarette but in the places I've worked there was little trouble with taking an extra 5 or 2 so long as you were not putting others in a spot.


Your boss sounds like a bit of an ass for being a stickler on this but at the same time let me be clear on something. Extra breaks are just that. Extra. Not required to be given. So it is at your boss's discretion whether playing video games at extra breaks is appropriate. Don't like it? Fine, find a job where you can.

Life isn't always fair and sometimes it sucks. My advice, either suck it up or move on.

 

[Patathatapon]

I see a few people saying since its an addiction, its ok.
No offense but thats similar to saying "Since I'm addicted to it, it is perfectly fine to snort this cocaine in public" or "inject myself with heroine and leave the dirty needles in the park so some sucker can step on them".
I think there shouldn't be an exclusion just because some people aren't trying to get lung cancer.

 

[NightHawk21]

That's the psychological dependency. The habit.

If it were a true chemical addiction your body would simply not be able to function without it.

I get irritable if I haven't busted a nut in a few days. That doesn't mean I'm chemically addicted to rubbing one out.

Nicotine activates pleasure receptors in the brain (much like 'rubbing one out'). As I don't smoke I can't say whether the effects of short term withdrawal are enough to force consumption, but I will agree that it is largely psychological (in the short term). The point I'm trying to make however is that the times were talking about here are so short they really shouldn't be making a difference. IMO the only reason most (99.99%) of people smoke during work is because it helps them relax for a couple minutes, and not out of a need.

 

[razer17]

So junkies and pot heads should be allowed to take breaks too because they have an addiction that needs to be fed so they can be productive? Bullshit.

... Yeah. I'm against using pot. But it isn't addictive. At all.

It most certainly is psychologically addictive. Sure, it means that you might not have
physical withdrawal symptoms, unless you count crippling anxiety and being unable to cope without it as not being withdrawal symptoms...

Pot is actually the perfect example of why cigs are a habit not a true addiction.

The people that get addicted to pot are the ones who smoke it to the point of it becoming a habit.

'Just sat down, need to roll up.'

'Gonna go to bed, better roll a joint.'

It's psychological, and because people smoke cigs more habitually than they do pot. It becomes even more of a psychological addiction.

There is no true chemical withdrawal phase for those coming off cigs.

Are you kidding me? Tobacco, according to research, is the third most addictive drug in the world, behind heroin and cocaine. Admittedly, this also reported that psychological dependance is much higher thanm physical (2.6/3 compared to 1.8/3) however, 1.8 on the physical scale puts it above cocaine, and on a level with Benzo's and barbiturates.

 

[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?

Hey look, my six year old nephew is unsupervised on the internet. Better be doing your spelling whatsits lil' Jimbo.

I take it you didn't like my example?

 

[keinechance]

I see a few people saying since its an addiction, its ok.
No offense but thats similar to saying "Since I'm addicted to it, it is perfectly fine to snort this cocaine in public" or "inject myself with heroine and leave the dirty needles in the park so some sucker can step on them".
I think there shouldn't be an exclusion just because some people aren't trying to get lung cancer.

No, that's actually not okay since cocaine is illegal. I like this fantasy that many of you are living in that says smoking a couple cigarettes a day is just as bad as doing all sorts of highly illegal drugs and becoming a heroin addict. With your amazing powers of reason and logic I can totally see why you guys are stuck working in McDonalds.

So if we make cocaine legal, then it is ok for you?

 

[keinechance]

I see a few people saying since its an addiction, its ok.
No offense but thats similar to saying "Since I'm addicted to it, it is perfectly fine to snort this cocaine in public" or "inject myself with heroine and leave the dirty needles in the park so some sucker can step on them".
I think there shouldn't be an exclusion just because some people aren't trying to get lung cancer.

No, that's actually not okay since cocaine is illegal. I like this fantasy that many of you are living in that says smoking a couple cigarettes a day is just as bad as doing all sorts of highly illegal drugs and becoming a heroin addict. With your amazing powers of reason and logic I can totally see why you guys are stuck working in McDonalds.

So if we make cocaine legal, then it is ok for you?

...Not much of a reader, are you?

I guess not, since I must have missed your point.

 

[MasochisticAvenger]

Everyone should get the same amount of break time to do with what they wish. If you can't handle going without a cigarette outside of those times, maybe you shouldn't be working. Wouldn't it be considered discrimination to allow some people to have extra breaks because they smoke?

 

[Darth Rahu]

I think it's too much of associating games with a drug. Smoking is addictive and urges must be taken care of due to the physical drawback of withdrawal. Games are not analogous to drugs, despite what the mainstream media has to say about it. I'd say it's harmless on paper but the context leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[Ariseishirou]

You've identified one of the key reasons many shift workers start smoking. Employers (who often smoke themselves) completely overlook those paid breaks - which are a chance to socialize with coworkers outside, have a snack, or in this day and age whip out the smart phone ad check email/facebook too - whilst nothing of the kind is ever offered to non-smokers. As a result many non-smokers just start going out on those smoke breaks to chat or check email, even though they don't smoke themselves, as otherwise it's grossly unfair. And it doesn't take long before they're offered a cigarette, try it, and become addicted - or do so consciously because their employer gives them trouble for going out for the same length of time as the smokers, only not smoking.

I've seen some employers try to make this fair. When I worked as a barista we were allowed two coffee breaks (paid) of 15 minutes each, as well as an unpaid lunch. However, no "smoke breaks" were permitted, and everyone got these breaks. If you couldn't hand less than six cigarettes on an eight-hour shift (one before work, one right after, one on each coffee break and one at lunch) it was time to suck it up and slap on a patch, as someone else suggested, or find a new job.

So that's likely what I'd do if I were an employer myself. Offer a paid 15 minute coffee break to everyone, but smokers could in lieu of, not in addition to, said break take a few minutes to step outside every once in a while. That's perfectly fair for everyone involved.

 

[ZeroMachine]

So junkies and pot heads should be allowed to take breaks too because they have an addiction that needs to be fed so they can be productive? Bullshit.

... Yeah. I'm against using pot. But it isn't addictive. At all.

It most certainly is psychologically addictive. Sure, it means that you might not have
physical withdrawal symptoms, unless you count crippling anxiety and being unable to cope without it as not being withdrawal symptoms...

He's implying it's physically addictive (at least I think so as he's equating it with "junkies" which are usually associated with hard drugs). That's what I meant. EVERYTHING is potentially psychologically addictive.

 

[Quesa]

Missing the point +100

According to the OP it has nothing to do with smoking, he took breaks without asking.

 

[Jodah]

I've always been against smoke breaks that are in addition to regular breaks. I don't care if someone is addicted, that was and continues to be their choice. If they wanted to quit they would (with aid if necessary) or they should, at the least, get their addiction under control. They should not get preferential treatment just because they choose to smoke. During your normal breaks you can do whatever the hell you want.