Was curious to something. I know we have a few upcoming new MMO releases in the next few months and I know lots and lots of peeps will be calling in sick for the first week to play them so this got me thinking.

What games did you do a sick-out for in the past? And for bonus, what excuse did you use for not going in?

Last one I did this for was AOC and I told my boss I had hurt my back moving a couch for the wife so I would be out a few days. Felt good to be paid to sit at home and play a game.

So lets see what others have to say to this topic.

Playing games don't pay my bills. I go to work.

Originally posted by grunty

Playing games don't pay my bills. I go to work.

Unless

Calling in sick for a video game is a serious indicator that you have a problem balancing important things like real life from silly little things like games.

If you call in sick to play a game than it's unhealthy for you to be playing that game.

I don't think there is anything wrong with calling in sick to play a new MMO with friends for a day or two, however it is a bit stupid to waste a "sick" day on a single player game. We honestly spend way too much of our lives working anyway, and if you can afford it and you can get away with it, it's probably healthier for you to take a little time off doing what you love.

Personally, I've never felt the draw. The few times a year I call in sick, it's either because I really am (at least a little bit) or I just felt like needed a day to sleep in a few extra hours.

I had hurt my back moving a couch for the wife so I would be out a few days. Felt good to be paid to sit at home and play a game.

Originally posted by Hazelle

Calling in sick for a video game is a serious indicator that you have a problem balancing important things like real life from silly little things like games.

If you call in sick to play a game than it's unhealthy for you to be playing that game.

Or it's unhealthy for you to be working so much.

No one said that it is healthy to work 40+ hours every week, in typical 8 hour days, 5 days a week. In fact, some people would argue that it is unhealthy and taking off work to play games is a healthy move for most Americans.

No one ever said it was healthy, they merely said it was normal.

Please do yourself a favor and stop for a second, step out of these social norms binding you, and look at an abstract perspective of your own reality. Just because it's the "healthy norm" (a norm healthy people follow) doesn't make it healthy, it only makes it a norm.

Originally posted by LeegOfChldrn

Originally posted by Hazelle

Calling in sick for a video game is a serious indicator that you have a problem balancing important things like real life from silly little things like games.

If you call in sick to play a game than it's unhealthy for you to be playing that game.

Or it's unhealthy for you to be working so much.

No one said that it is healthy to work 40+ hours every week, in typical 8 hour days, 5 days a week. In fact, some people would argue that it is unhealthy and taking off work to play games is a healthy move for most Americans.

No one ever said it was healthy, they merely said it was normal.

 

Please do yourself a favor and stop for a second, step out of these social norms binding you, and look at an abstract perspective of your own reality. Just because it's the "healthy norm" (a norm healthy people follow) doesn't make it healthy, it only makes it a norm.

Yeah, there's a bunch of people that think that up here and depending on their age we call them either the unemployed or dependants.

The socail norms binding most of us are called bills and payments and when balanced with what we call income we are able to afford a certain lifestyle for ourselves and our dependants and jeopardizing that balance over something as silly as a video game means that there's something unhealthy going on in our minds.

I think there's certainly a lot of middle ground between someone who works 80 plus hours a week and feels like they spend too much of their time doing something they don't enjoy and those who flat out refuse to work at all or refuse to work full time when given the choice.

As long you're able to get away with it, and especially if you are using the leave you earned, it's good to have a little mini-vacation a couple of times a year. However I agree that it is a slippery slope. Those that take the time off and spend nearly all of it just playing a game and nothing else are probably not doing themselves any favors. 

The other side of that coin is that when you agree to work for somebody you're obliged to make your best effort and calling in sick and screwing them over with lost man hours over a bloody video game is a bunch of crap.

Taking sick pay from them when you're not sick is the exact same as stealing money.

If you have a sniffle and don't want to show up that's one thing but not showing up to work so that you can play a game just makes you a thief.

Originally posted by Laserwolf

I don't think there is anything wrong with calling in sick to play a new MMO with friends for a day or two, however it is a bit stupid to waste a "sick" day on a single player game. We honestly spend way too much of our lives working anyway, and if you can afford it and you can get away with it, it's probably healthier for you to take a little time off doing what you love.

 

Personally, I've never felt the draw. The few times a year I call in sick, it's either because I really am (at least a little bit) or I just felt like needed a day to sleep in a few extra hours.

to play a game?  no thanks

if i ever call in sick,  would be for a better reason.  such as going out somewhere nice.   or to visit some friends and going out afterward.  calling sick to stay at home playing a game would be a total waste.   of time and money

Well depends where you live and what your contract is I guess.

If you're payed while being sick and you hate your job and your boss abuses you very bad then go ahead I would say. You should get atleast 2 weeks of sickness per year.

If you're not payed, or if you love your job and you got responsilibities ... then I guess you won't need my advice :)

Originally posted by Man1ac

Originally posted by grunty

Playing games don't pay my bills. I go to work.

Unless

You can't be serious......I can't believe he shelled out $100k, then someone else shelled out $635k. 

 I don't see the problem with taking time off to play an MMO if I let my boss know ahead of time. People all the time take days off so they can go out to concerts or watch sports games.. what's the difference between that and video games? People have a different value on what they call entertainment..

Though I don't think I'd play hooky as that can put a lot of unexpected work on others shoulders.. regardless if it's playing a newely released MMO or whatever.

I had hurt my back moving a couch for the wife so I would be out a few days. Felt good to be paid to sit at home and play a game.

Even on the jobs I've disliked immensely, I wouldn't just call in sick over a video game. The money is just too important, and even if I were sick I'd still rather make the extra dole.