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Geeks, Commerce, Politics, and Fun with Technology | 9 comments
[new] Smoking, Drinking and Fun Spaces (Avg. Score: none / Raters: 0) (#2)
by amy on Tue Feb 17th, 2004 at 01:33:11 AM EURODISCORDIA TIME
(User Info) http://plagiarist.org

I think there are 2, possibly 3, separate issues here. Smoking and drinking - vs. fun spaces.

Are there fun spaces where you can hang out in corporate conferences held in expensive hotels?
Yes, but... it's hotel lobbies and hallways. It's more relaxing than sitting in a talk - but still a bit formal and definitely feels like a business meeting.

As to smoking and drinking: they are different animals in the US. Different from one another, and different from attitudes in Europe. Lets start with smoking: Europeans often see smoking prohibitions in the US as an example of government repression of a populace yearning to smoke. And in 1970's America, it would have seemed that way too. But people's attitudes in the states have changed a lot in the past 25 years. Most Americans don't smoke anymore, and really don't like having other people's smoke imposed upon them. The social onus used to be on the non-smoker to meekly ask the smoker to refrain from smoking - and often get an "I'll smoke if i want to" in return. Cigarette smoke nowadays is seen as both bothersome and unhealthful here; we don't mind that the government now prohibits use of asbestos in buildings - why would we feel bad about them prohibiting cigarette smoke? And if someone happens to smoke inside anyway, the greater risk is not the cops, but that they'll seem very rude to most other people.

Drinking is another matter though. If someone drinks in front of you, how does that harm you besides the possible inconvenience of looking at a drunk? The "no drinking outside of the exact place where drinks are permitted" thing *is* a moral constraint (i.e. repression). But there are lots of moral (or repressive) people in the US who support such things.

But, we should remember that constraints are relative to culture anyway. In Europe, you can drink and smoke in more places, but non-prescription medicines seem to be highly regulated. Why are cigarettes considered safer than Pepto-Bismol? And government regulation prohibits stores staying open in Sundays in many countries - sure it helps workers get a day off, but why does it have to be Sunday for all stores, regardless of the religion - or lack thereof - of the shopowners and employees?

Perhaps drinking and smoking (or at least drinking) is the answer to looser cultural activity after all - but I think that still leads back to the context: corporate and academic hosted converences are never going to be conducive to a "lets drink" environment, except afterward-conference meetings in bars, and even those are within the "professional networking" context - so people tend to be rather stiff with one another. I think a different context that can support real "hanging out" is needed.


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Geeks, Commerce, Politics, and Fun with Technology | 9 comments
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