Nerf guns don't matter
mikecr.it
Nerf guns don't matter
1–10 of 57 posts
Re: Nerf guns don't matter
#2Flamebait?
Re: Nerf guns don't matter
#3Nerf guns matter to me! (I type this while sipping on a free can of Diet Coke)
Re: Nerf guns don't matter
#4Flamebait?
Hmm, did I come across to strong? I definitely didn't mean for it to seem like flamebait. :/
Re: Nerf guns don't matter
#5The reality is we spend most of our waking lives at work. Other than those we had before we started, most of our friends (and even romantic partners) will be made there. Enforced work socializing is counterproductive, but enforced non-socializing is even worse. A good workplace should accept that people are social, that being able to play around for a few minutes in the middle of the day makes you more rather than less productive. That a workplace offers nerf guns does not prove that it will be a nice place to work, but it does at least show you that it's not stuck in joyless "professionalism" that would guarantee that it isn't one.
Re: Nerf guns don't matter
#6The reality is we spend most of our waking lives at work. Other than those we had before we started, most of our friends (and even romantic partners) will be made there. Enforced work socializing is counterproductive, but enforced non-socializing is even worse. A good workplace should accept that people are social, that being able to play around for a few minutes in the middle of the day makes you more rather than le…
> but it does at least show you that it's not stuck in joyless "professionalism" that would guarantee that it isn't one.
I agree with most of your comment but I disagree with that. I think you have to define what a "joyless, professional" work environment really means. To me, it means nobody enjoys their work, nobody feels challenged, nobody feels heard, rather everyone is just a cog/code monkey. If that's the case, throwing in some nerf guns and free soda won't change anything.
However, to you, a "joyless, professional" work environment seems to mean one where people aren't friendly with each other, and nobody has any fun when they're at work but not currently working. In that case, some toys actually might help a good deal.
So I guess it's a subjective topic and both are equally valid definitions depending on your values.
Re: Nerf guns don't matter
#7The reality is we spend most of our waking lives at work. Other than those we had before we started, most of our friends (and even romantic partners) will be made there. Enforced work socializing is counterproductive, but enforced non-socializing is even worse. A good workplace should accept that people are social, that being able to play around for a few minutes in the middle of the day makes you more rather than le…
> but it does at least show you that it's not stuck in joyless "professionalism" that would guarantee that it isn't one. I agree with most of your comment but I disagree with that. I think you have to define what a "joyless, professional" work environment really means. To me, it means nobody enjoys their work, nobody feels challenged, nobody feels heard, rather everyone is just a cog/code monkey. If that's the case,…
I think "professionalism" is one of many factors that can lead a workplace to be joyless; I didn't mean it's the only way to cause that (as I know from personal experience).
Re: Nerf guns don't matter
#8[deleted]
Re: Nerf guns don't matter
#9I worked at a place once where we were forced to work 12 hour days for about 5 months straight. As exempt employees, we were not paid more, and our pay was already below industry standard.
In exchange, we got free soda, nerf guns, and they would buy you dinner. They also had a beach party once... on a saturday. Also raffles for free swag.
Despite the fairly pleasant social atmosphere and talented co-workers who were in the same boat as you, I left after 7 months. It didn't matter as much as having time to spend with non-work friends and loved ones and a better paycheck. Apparently most agreed - the turnover rate was over 200%.