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Re: Beer

#101

Post by lucisferre »

mgkimsal wrote: post #46

The beer culture is very very weird to me, and something I just don't get. I don't understand why companies don't promote an ice cream culture. Have custom flavors available throughout the day, a stocked freezer, etc. Sit back and have a sundae while discussing code problems. Try new toppings/sauces now and then, etc. I don't drink beer. When I was younger, it was mostly a financial issue. As I'm older, I just don't…

Why must these things be mutually exclusive. I enjoy good coffee, good beer (I brew as well and own a good coffee tools) good wine too. I love food and checking out new places around town. I can enjoy all of these things with colleagues and co-workers too, a number of whom don't drink, which is perfectly fine with me. Oddly enough I'm not into sweets so ice cream doesn't interest me (though a good gelato is pretty awesome).

I dunno is the "I don't drink" stigma a US thing? The people I know who don't drink in Canada don't seem to have a hard time of it.

Either way I don't see why we can't say to each their own _and_ help those with alcohol issues to get help without judging. Oh and especially call out harassment no matter the reason or cause because no. Too much to ask?

If that is too hard for an organization well then it has some serious room for improvement.

That said, not having beer at work would never be a deal breaker for me.

Re: Beer

#102

Post by jiggy2011 »

bambax wrote: post #81
tptacek wrote: post #9

Is the subtext here about hostile frat culture, or, worse, about harassment? That's what I think it is. Like a lot of things, I think beer is fine if you're adult about it. We've got quite a lot of beer in our Chicago office (we haul crates from Russian River and Three Floyds and Jolly Pumpkin). But nobody drinks while they work, and nobody drinks whole bottles; we open a bottle and a bunch of people taste. If it's F…

> Like a lot of things, I think porn is fine if you're adult about it. We've got quite a lot of porn in our Chicago office... > Like a lot of things, I think guns are fine if you're adult about it. We've got quite a lot of guns in our Chicago office... (I'm sorry, did I misquote you?) Just because some things are fine if you're adult about it, doesn't make them appropriate at the office. Why would you have alcohol in…

Unless your company offers private offices with headphones,tissues and a strict knock-first policy you can't have porn because it will at best distract and at worst offend the people nearby.

Re: Beer

#103

Post by evacuationdrill »

andrewcooke wrote: post #50
mgkimsal wrote: post #46

The beer culture is very very weird to me, and something I just don't get. I don't understand why companies don't promote an ice cream culture. Have custom flavors available throughout the day, a stocked freezer, etc. Sit back and have a sundae while discussing code problems. Try new toppings/sauces now and then, etc. I don't drink beer. When I was younger, it was mostly a financial issue. As I'm older, I just don't…

coffee seems like a decent substitute. or rather, cafe culture. which could include a beer, or wine, of course, but widens the options.

I've seen posts on /r/coffee where people's workplaces have half a dozen or more brewing methods available to them, including grinders, espresso machines, and steam wands. If my work had that, you can guarantee I'd have a spreadsheet to track what tastes best to me.

Re: Beer

#104

Post by Tichy »

bbarn wrote: post #63
Tichy wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But then, if you don't like it, why work there? Personally I hate ties. I hope I'll never have to work at a place where I'd be forced to wear a tie. Yet I am not calling for all offices to ban ties.

Personally, I agree. I'm a huge fan of beer. I think a better point though in the context of startups is who are you not getting to work there by embracing the culture? Is it worth it?

Absolutely - although in the case of beer maybe you'd also lose a few people by not offering beer.

Re: Beer

#105

Post by kin »

Everyone in my office knows how to enjoy beer. As a result, we have a fridge full of it. Do we ever get drunk at work? No. Do we ever let it affect our productivity? No. Do we drink it every day? No.

That being said there are numerous occasions where we've just fought some fires and feel like unwinding for the last 2 hours of the day. So we all grab a beer and hang out in the kitchen to socialize and bond. It's been a great team builder. No one grabs their 3rd beer. After 1 or 2, everyone goes back to their desk.

And you know what? Every company I've spoken to works in a similar manner. So, I really don't think it's a problem, nor have I read of it being a problem in any work environment. It just so happens to be a common thing many people love, man or woman, and as responsible adults I don't find it inappropriate to advertise an in office keg.

Re: Beer

#106

Post by mcguire »

tptacek wrote: post #9

Is the subtext here about hostile frat culture, or, worse, about harassment? That's what I think it is. Like a lot of things, I think beer is fine if you're adult about it. We've got quite a lot of beer in our Chicago office (we haul crates from Russian River and Three Floyds and Jolly Pumpkin). But nobody drinks while they work, and nobody drinks whole bottles; we open a bottle and a bunch of people taste. If it's F…

So, in other words, you could stop providing beer and nobody would notice, or care if they did?

Is there anyone in your office who doesn't partake? Mormons, Moslems, Baptists, alcoholics, people who just don't care for beer?

Re: Beer

#107

Post by gweinberg »

Having beer in the office fridge isn't that different from having a ping pong table. I can see how many people would never use it, but I'm not understanding the hostility.

Re: Beer

#108

Post by bambax »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #102
bambax wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Like a lot of things, I think porn is fine if you're adult about it. We've got quite a lot of porn in our Chicago office... > Like a lot of things, I think guns are fine if you're adult about it. We've got quite a lot of guns in our Chicago office... (I'm sorry, did I misquote you?) Just because some things are fine if you're adult about it, doesn't make them appropriate at the office. Why would you have alcohol in…

Unless your company offers private offices with headphones,tissues and a strict knock-first policy you can't have porn because it will at best distract and at worst offend the people nearby.

But beer, and people drinking beer and talking louder and louder as they drink, isn't distracting in a place of work?

Re: Beer

#109

Post by gknoy »

bambax wrote: post #100
oh_sigh wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Like a lot of things, I think coffee is fine if you're adult about it. We've got quite a lot of coffee in our Chicago office... (I'm sorry, did I misquote your misquote?) Just because some things aren't fine if you're adult about it, doesn't make all things inappropriate at the office. Why would you have coffee in the office? What about all the people who can't drink coffee, because of their religious beliefs(Mormo…

> You seem to think that the only reason to drink beer is to get drunk. I'm not saying that and I'm not thinking that either. I don't like beer very much but I drink it occasionally. I prefer wine. > Are you really saying that it isn't possible to work after drinking one beer? Yes, I'm saying that, absolutely. You (I) can't do creative thinking (or any kind of thinking) after one glass of alcoholic beverage. > And ar…

> You (I) can't do creative thinking (or any kind of thinking) after one glass of alcoholic beverage.

I believe you might be incorrect. I recently read that a moderate amount of alcohol (~2 beers, which in my mind is a lot...) led test subjects to perform BETTER at tests of creativity. [1]

You or I might not want to work after having alcohol (I'd rather nap), but apparently it can help some people. It's not inconceivable that one might have some beer, and then go back to work for another hour or so.

1: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/244065.php

Re: Beer

#110

Post by jiggy2011 »

bambax wrote: post #108
jiggy2011 wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless your company offers private offices with headphones,tissues and a strict knock-first policy you can't have porn because it will at best distract and at worst offend the people nearby.

But beer, and people drinking beer and talking louder and louder as they drink, isn't distracting in a place of work?

You can drink a beer at your desk without being having to talk any louder or having to talk at all.
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