Ask HN: Would you smoke weed on a virtual work happy hour?

7 points·treis··5 comments

Basically what the title says. A work event for socializing with your team over zoom. Somewhere between allowed and expected that you'd have a drink. Would you smoke? What would your reaction be if someone else did?

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I work with a number of people from Asia, so I'd have to say absolutely not. In fact I have never once mentioned marijuana to any of my coworkers because of fear that word could spread. Once people start to view you as a pothead, its tough to shake that impression - suddenly every late arrival to work, every code submission that takes longer than expected, every mistake you make is viewed through the lens of you being a lazy piece of shit pothead.

I'm in but will only partake of 420 vicariously and in spirit. I always dug the DiggNation concept, choose a craft brew or strain of the day and discuss the front page news. Just needs host as charismatic as Kevin Rose ;)

Are you socializing as in getting to know and enjoy your group, or more signaling your preferred method of socializing?

This gets really close to where "be yourself" and "vibe with others" can violently collide, and it's work-related in the end, which also raises the stakes. I think I'd make it less of a binary decision and take other steps instead. Maybe it's not if, but how, when, and where for example.

Yes I would and I would welcome it if I saw others doing it. This is what normalization is about. If alcohol use is somewhere between allowed and expected I would say cannabis use should be somewhere between allowed and expected.

Depends on the coworkers. I've had jobs where almost everyone smoked and drank together on break, other places were less open. I wouldn't be the first one to break out the weed at an event like this though.

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