NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay, so I work in an office for a couple of days a week besides university, and we only just very recently got internet connections at all our work stations.

It's a small department, basically only my boss in one room and I and sometimes one or two other students in the adjoining room, so it's not like I could surf the net all day without anybody noticing. Plus, and most importantly, we actually always have an awful lot of work to do, so when I waste time being online, work just piles up even more, which sucks.

Nevertheless, it's awfully tempting to "just quickly check in" on NS a few times, and I have to really hold myself back from logging in and posting anything.

From another forum I know that - at least in the US - many people actually do go online almost exclusively during their work hours (that forum is dead on the evenings and weekends).


So, questions to all of you reading/posting from work:

How do you do it?
How do you even get any work done when you spend hours posting on NS (sure, not everybody spends "hours" doing that, but some do)?
Am I just doing something wrong or are there actually that many jobs where people have a workload that is small enough to allow them that much leisure time?
If so - what jobs are those? :p
And wouldn't your boss and colleagues eventually notice that you're obviously underworked?


Give me a moment - I'll add a poll, because I'm actually interested to see how the numbers break down.

*grumble*

Summat else.
I may have a nice seat - but when there is actually work to do, that tends to involve getting out of that seat.

Such as dealing with someone who wishes to suicide, for example.

That involved getting to him at 2000, and case closed at 0400 the next morning.

I post from school when I have free time, so on the poll I checked the light work/yes/student..

When I have nothing left to do I ask to go to the library and just go on the computer.. nationstates.net is actually blocked at school, but the forums arent, yay!

From January - June I'll be on the computer all day learning programming and writing programs, which I can take all the time in the world to finish, so you bet I'll be on here! I can't wait.

And seriously.. don't poke fun at poor people.. it's funner when you throw hot coffee in their face.

*grumble* Aw, don't grumble, jolt did it. *points finger*

Also, at least you're not the one who just made a poll without realizing it doesn't have an option they themselves could actually vote for. :rolleyes: :p I'll just have to improvise and vote for the one kinda closest to the truth.

Maybe I should have stayed in bed after all. >.<

I do it to get away from work a bit. Small breaks, it's kind of like when people go outside to smoke; I spend the same amount of time reading (and occasionally posting) when I'm at work :)

I have a heavy workload, but I couldn't get through the day without taking a breather or two. And I won't go on NS when the work starts piling up. (Except during lunch- or ice cream breaks :p)

And, of course, like right now, when the entire system is down and messed up... (The system is spectacular, right now! If I open a document it is automatically terminated! Yay, technology is my friend! :rolleyes: )

And seriously.. don't poke fun at poor people.. it's funner when you throw hot coffee in their face. :eek: Ruffy, I know you're just kidding, but please don't tell me that poll option doesn't read like obvious sarcasm?

:eek: Ruffy, I know you're just kidding, but please don't tell me that poll option doesn't read like obvious sarcasm?


He was sarcassing the sarcasm ;)

I work nights at a service job in a computer lab, and generally there ain't many people needing my services overnight, so I tend to have a lot of time to do whatever I want on the computer.

:eek: Ruffy, I know you're just kidding, but please don't tell me that poll option doesn't read like obvious sarcasm?
Oh it screams "capitalism rocks!", teh hah!

And I edited my other post so it actually answers your questions..:eek:

*smacks self for being on topic*

I do it to get away from work a bit. Small breaks, it's kind of like when people go outside to smoke; I spend the same amount of time reading (and occasionally posting) when I'm at work :) Oh, okay, that kinda makes sense. So how often do you make these small breaks and exactly how small are they? Like, 5 minutes, 15 minutes? Because I still couldn't really see doing it without work piling up, my boss noticing etc.

But then again, I only work once or twice a week, meaning I always come in to huge amounts of "stuff to do today" and usually work about ten hours a day (with maybe a twenty minute lunch break), so I guess if it were a full time job instead, I'd probably be able to spread out the work more and likely find some time for small breaks, too. Hmmm.

And, of course, like right now, when the entire system is down and messed up... (The system is spectacular, right now! If I open a document it is automatically terminated! Yay, technology is my friend! :rolleyes: )Ugh, had that last week, too - of course it was no use, because the internet had crashed right together with everything else. :rolleyes:

My workload is variable. Sometimes I'm very busy, so don't troll the interweb. Other times I'm just programming the odd thingamyjig, so it's pretty light. Also, I'm the only person here who understands how long programming takes, so there's no need for me to work myself into an early grave. Especially as everyone (for some reason) thinks I'm dead useful regardless...

1) my school's blocking software is rubish nomatter what the say; its utter rubish. the only time i've seen them block a website that wasn't malicious was some online comic site and that was just to anoy people because that particular member of staff can be a bit of a sadist.

2) its the summer holidays at the moment.



3)off topic but ammusing and falls into the "abuse of company/collage computers" catagory - net send - it encourages normaly mildly stupid people to do unbelivebly stupid things. take this example: somone at my school sends the message "you are gay" to "*". the problem is that "*" meant everyone on the network. members of the senior staff were on the network. :(

He was sarcassing the sarcasm ;)
Oh, I know that he was, I was just concerned that, if he thought of doing that so immediately, the option might not read like sarcasm after all. [/overly-complicated thinking-too-much :p]

When I have nothing left to do I ask to go to the library and just go on the computer.. nationstates.net is actually blocked at school, but the forums arent, yay! o.O That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. But hey, good for you! :p

I work nights at a service job in a computer lab, and generally there ain't many people needing my services overnight, so I tend to have a lot of time to do whatever I want on the computer.
Okay, that makes sense.

Oh, I now that he was, I was just concerned that, if he thought of doing that so immediately, the option might not read like sarcasm after all. [/overly-complicated thinking-too-much :p]
Go have some chocolate.

But keep in mind how all those poor people work so hard just to buy.. hersheys.

Go have some chocolate.

But keep in mind how all those poor people work so hard just to buy.. hersheys.
I imagine that over here nice chocolate is much cheaper anyway :D

Okay, that makes sense.

I have the unfortunate habit of making sense a lot of times. ;)

o.O That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. But hey, good for you! :p
:eek: :rolleyes:

When I finish all my school work for the class of that period, if there's atleast 10 minutes left, I'll go to the library and log on here.

Understand?

Oh, okay, that kinda makes sense. So how often do you make these small breaks and exactly how small are they? Like, 5 minutes, 15 minutes? Because I still couldn't really see doing it without work piling up, my boss noticing etc.

But then again, I only work once or twice a week, meaning I always come in to huge amounts of "stuff to do today" and usually work about ten hours a day (with maybe a twenty minute lunch break), so I guess if it were a full time job instead, I'd probably be able to spread out the work more and likely find some time for small breaks, too. Hmmm.
I could always just shut the door to my office and start posting away :p
(It's nice to have your own office!)

But I'm not talking about more then 5-10 minutes here. I only browse a select few threads, and I usually don't post anything unless I've got more free time - just waiting for different reasons, lunch, etc.

And it's probably about 5-10 minutes every two hours on a normal day, I guess? Combined with reading newsarticles and comics online, so I don't feel that I spend too much time here while I should be working. And as long as I don't fall behind, my superiors won't mind ;) (I hope!)

Ugh, had that last week, too - of course it was no use, because the internet had crashed right together with everything else. :rolleyes:
The joys of the computer...

Go have some chocolate.

But keep in mind how all those poor people work so hard just to buy.. hersheys.
I think I'm all out of chocolate, and going out to buy some would involve getting dressed and stuff, so that's out for another tired hour or so.

And honey - if thy're spending their hard-earned money on Hershey's *shudder*, they're not only poor, they're stupid. :p

I imagine that over here nice chocolate is much cheaper anyway :D
Then Toblerone.

:p

:eek: :rolleyes:

When I finish all my school work for the class of that period, if there's atleast 10 minutes left, I'll go to the library and log on here.

Understand?
Duh. I meant it doesn't make sense for your school to block nationstates.net but not the forums, silly. :rolleyes: :p

I think I'm all out of chocolate, and going out to buy some would involve getting dressed and stuff, so that's out for another tired hour or so.

And honey - if thy're spending their hard-earned money on Hershey's *shudder*, they're not only poor, they're stupid. :p
Welcome to America. :)

Welcome to America. :)

"land of the poor, home of the stupid"?

Is that what you're saying? :p

Duh. I meant it doesn't make sense for your school to block nationstates.net but not the forums, silly. :rolleyes: :p
Oh.. because NS has "game" in the discription, I think.. the blocker is total shit though.. so it is possible to get on NS, if you find the right computer..

Combined with reading newsarticles and comics online, so I don't feel that I spend too much time here while I should be working.
That's some fancy logic you got there. :p

But yeah, I can see how those "reading/posting habits" you described could actually work.

I post from work on my break. Once I posted when I was supposed to be working. The guilt was so bad that my wang shrunk and I never did it again.

"land of the poor, home of the stupid"?

Is that what you're saying? :p
Should I just say "Welcome to Bushland"?

*gets shot*

I can also note that in my last job I had access to MSN - I don't where I am now. But I spent a lot more time chatting then I do posting & browsing the forum ;)

*Sigh*
I miss my MSN :p

I post from work on my break. Once I posted when I was supposed to be working. The guilt was so bad that my wang shrunk and I never did it again.

You have earned the General Forum WTF Award for this post. Congratulations. :)

I can also note that in my last job I had access to MSN - I don't where I am now. But I spent a lot more time chatting then I do posting & browsing the forum ;)

*Sigh*
I miss my MSN :p
Oh my God. I don't even get MSN for my home computer because I would never log off ever again, ever, for the rest of my life, until I toppled off the chair dead.

You have earned the General Forum WTF Award for this post. Congratulations. :)

Thank-you George Michael.

Thank-you George Michael.

Most people thank their family or friends when they receive awards, but I suppose that's one way to go. :p

I post from work on my break. Once I posted when I was supposed to be working. The guilt was so bad that my wang shrunk and I never did it again.
Don't worry, you soon get used to it :)

That's some fancy logic you got there. :p

But yeah, I can see how those "reading/posting habits" you described could actually work.
Fancy logic? What do you mean?

I think they do work. :) It's only good for you to take some short breaks from your work every once in a while, and as long as I only attend NS for short amounts of time (Do a runby fluffle once a day perhaps?) then all is well :p

Now other days I might not have time to visit at all... So then it's all about the work. That's just the way it is. :)

Oh my God. I don't even get MSN for my home computer because I would never log off ever again, ever, for the rest of my life, until I toppled off the chair dead.
You're worse then I am :D

Oh my God. I don't even get MSN for my home computer because I would never log off ever again, ever, for the rest of my life, until I toppled off the chair dead.After a few weeks, you'd get bored of it, and let it rest for a bit. ;)

Hey, all the Americans are still at work, let's bump this thing.

I post during slack times, and when I'm waiting on something/someone. I have periods when I'm always posting here, and other periods when I'm too busy to check in here. Usually, it's in-between.

So, questions to all of you reading/posting from work:

How do you do it?
How do you even get any work done when you spend hours posting on NS (sure, not everybody spends "hours" doing that, but some do)?
Am I just doing something wrong or are there actually that many jobs where people have a workload that is small enough to allow them that much leisure time?
If so - what jobs are those? :p
And wouldn't your boss and colleagues eventually notice that you're obviously underworked?


Give me a moment - I'll add a poll, because I'm actually interested to see how the numbers break down.

First answer: I work in alternate windows. As my work usually is read the information agencies and rowork and redact the news for there, I find both tasks, (working and posting) easy to do at the same time. I post for five minutes, then I work for five minutes. I also have to read, edit and correct what those below me write, but that usually do not take me more than five minutes each. Even as I have short deadlines, I manage myself just fine. I even have enough time to work on the column I get published in a magazine each weekend and fix forward my own radio show. Sometimes the forums also help me to get an broad idea of the international matrix of opinion around certain topics, and I also get some extra information too.

I don't underwork, as I said, I just manage to do both. If I get pressed, I have trustworthy underlings to rely, in any case.

I am Press Manager, Information Chief and main editor, so, although here are other bosses, they are horizontal to me, and not over me, so they don't care what I do in my office, or how I get my work done. They are satisfied with the results, and that's all that matters to them. Plus, even if they could want to protest, their words wouldn't be superior to mine in the matter.

They are satisfied with the results, and that's all that matters to them. Well, that *is* all that should matter, too. And if you manage to combine both work and the forum in a way that still gives you optimal results, that's great.

I guess my problem in wrapping my head around how that could work is really simply because in my job right now it wouldn't.

But hey, that's exactly why I started the thread, after all.:p

Well, being a college student in a small town with no jobs, I cook at the local KFC. It doesn't pay much, but I get whatever hours or time off that I want and it's pretty easy. I get about $1200/month (in a town where rent is about $400) from the VA while I'm in school, so I don't really need the job, but I have a taste for expensive beer. And it is kinda funny seeing the looks people give me when I drive up to work in my MX-5.