Is this a board rule?

[Giraffe]

@Little Nemo

The thing is that I (and I assume other posters) actually attempt to follow the rules of the board. I never knowingly post anything that I believe is a violation of this board’s policies. So I guess from now on I won’t post anything that discusses violating of the rules of my employer (which I wouldn’t have done anyway). But I don’t like knowing that there are apparently “invisible rules” that are only revealed after they have been broken.

A thread closing is not the same as a warning. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

[samclem]

@Little Nemo

The thing is that I (and I assume other posters) actually attempt to follow the rules of the board. I never knowingly post anything that I believe is a violation of this board’s policies. So I guess from now on I won’t post anything that discusses violating of the rules of my employer (which I wouldn’t have done anyway). But I don’t like knowing that there are apparently “invisible rules” that are only revealed after they have been broken.

I doubt that this kind of action involves more than one post out of thousands. Post whatever you will. It’s no big deal.

@Little Nemo

I also don’t like the apparent arbitrariness of this rule. I’ve read the posted policies of the board and I assume they are the consensus of the Chicago Reader, the Straight Dope, Cecil Adams, Ed Zotti, and the collective wisdom of the moderators. Presumedly there were discussions on specific issues of what would and would not be allowed and where the limits would be set. But in this case, it appears that one moderator made a decision and declared that this decision is now board policy. If this is the case, then obviously this power is subject to abuse - to use the example I gave above, nothing appears to prevent a single moderator from deciding he is opposed to any mention of alcohol and declaring that board policy now prohibits it.

I don’t think your example is equal to the thread in question. Sure, a rogue moderator might go off on a tangent and start closing threads that violate their personal moral code, but can you not see the difference in the thread I closed and your example? I truly understand the concerns of the posters on the Board who don’t know what I might close down next, but I hope that we moderators only do this kind of thing in rare cases where we determine that the best interest of the Reader and the Board are being served. And I understand and appreciate that not every one will agree with me. But my job is not to have everyone agree with my decision-making process. Rather to do what I think best for the Board. Within limits.

[Bibliovore]

Thank you **SamClem ** and **Giraffe ** for your responses and for trying to clear things up a little. As **Little Nemo ** mentioned, I wouldn’t ever want to deliberately violate any of the rules of this board, and while I was surprised and a little dismayed at the decision to close my thread, I will abide by that decision and am prepared to let the matter drop.

I can totally understand SamClem’s nervousness at the topic. It’s a grey area that is open to interpretation and I suppose he was just playing it safe, but a little heads-up would’ve been nice. No matter - if I can’t access all those other sites, you can expect to see a hell of a lot more of me here on the Dope!

[scottkris]

@Book Monster

you can expect to see a hell of a lot more of me here on the Dope!

Doubtful…since the only time you seem to post is very early morning and noontime Central USA standard time, I would bet that the admin at your work space told you that the SDMB was “off limits” as well.

Now I may be wrong, but that isn’t really the main point. If you really have nothing to do for most of your day but “surf the net,” then perhaps your company should look into downsizing, and you should look nto getting a new job.

[Bibliovore]

@scottkris

Doubtful…since the only time you seem to post is very early morning and noontime Central USA standard time, I would bet that the admin at your work space told you that the SDMB was “off limits” as well.

I’ve already said that I asked for and received permission to access the SDMB. Are you calling me a liar? What would be the point? And why on earth would you assume that I’m based in the US anyway, hmmmm? :dubious:

Now I may be wrong, but that isn’t really the main point. If you really have nothing to do for most of your day but “surf the net,” then perhaps your company should look into downsizing, and you should look nto getting a new job.

And not that it’s any of your business or that it has anything to do with this thread, but the current slow period at work is a temporary, seasonal thing. I enjoy my job and have no intention of switching just yet, thanks.

[scottkris]

@Book Monster

I’ve already said that I asked for and received permission to access the SDMB. Are you calling me a liar? What would be the point? And why on earth would you assume that I’m based in the US anyway, hmmmm? :dubious:

It doesn’t matter; as I said, it wasn’t my main point…

@Book Monster

And not that it’s any of your business or that it has anything to do with this thread, but the current slow period at work is a temporary, seasonal thing. I enjoy my job and have no intention of switching just yet, thanks.

If work is slow, perhaps a temporary layoff is in order. I really do not care, as I said, but if a company is keeping personnel on the payroll just to “surf the net,” then they are losing money and should layoff “deadwood.”

I guess this is from a person who has not worked in a office in over 10 years, but I believe anybody that has time to “waste” on the internet is not really needed by the company.

Color me “radical.”

[Bibliovore]

@scottkris

If work is slow, perhaps a temporary layoff is in order. I really do not care, as I said, but if a company is keeping personnel on the payroll just to “surf the net,” then they are losing money and should layoff “deadwood.”

I guess this is from a person who has not worked in a office in over 10 years, but I believe anybody that has time to “waste” on the internet is not really needed by the company.

Color me “radical.”

You analysed my posting hours to come the the faulty assertion that I was a liar, so regardless of whether or not it was your main point, yes, it matters.

How I spend my time at the office and how my employers manage their resources are none of your fucking business and have nothing to do with the discussion at hand. I’ve already said that I would abide by the mod’s decision to close my earlier thread and was prepared to let the matter drop, so as far as I’m concerned the discussion is over. Did you have anything to contribute to that or did you just decide to stroll in here to be a monumental flaming dong?

And If you “really don’t care”, then let me suggest you do yourself a favour and don’t waste time posting in threads you don’t care about. That way we’ll both be happier.

[scottkris]

@Book Monster

You analysed my posting hours to come the the faulty assertion that I was a liar, so regardless of whether or not it was your main point, yes, it matters. .

Okie-dokie----It seems to matter to you, so I will pretend it matters to me.

I really don’t care if you “lied” or not; I just noted your posting times seemed suspicious.

@Book Monster

How I spend my time at the office and how my employers manage their resources are none of your fucking business and have nothing to do with the discussion at hand.

You are right. It is NOMB, but since you seem to REALLY be upset by this, you must be feeling guilty and afraid that you may lose your job. That was my point…

@Book Monster

I’ve already said that I would abide by the mod’s decision to close my earlier thread and was prepared to let the matter drop, so as far as I’m concerned the discussion is over. Did you have anything to contribute to that or did you just decide to stroll in here to be a monumental flaming dong?

And If you “really don’t care”, then let me suggest you do yourself a favour and don’t waste time posting in threads you don’t care about. That way we’ll both be happier.

Nope. You don’t get a “free ride” to bitch about your workplace. I get to tell you if I think you are being a dork if I think you are, and you are free to tell me as well.

At least in this forum. Deal with it.

[Bibliovore]

Horseshit.

If you “don’t care” whether I lied or not, why on earth would you go such lengths to suggest I did? Why bother checking my posting times against your time zone and then come in here to post your lame-ass accusation? Seems like you either cared enough to make the effort or you just felt like being a prick because I had the temerity to question you in that other thread. So which is it?

Again, it’s none of your fucking business, but my posting times might seem “suspicious” to you because I’m not posting from the US, you sanctimonious ass. My office hours will vary from what you might be expecting, so feel free to suspect away. :rolleyes:

And I’m not upset, nor “must” I be feeling anything other than bemusement at the fact that you’d take the time to wander in here, pull down your pants and shit in a thread that was for all intents and purposes finished, and for no apparent reason other than to try and get a rise out of me. But hey, you’re free to post in any thread you like, right? All I ask is that you *try * and post something germaine to the actual fucking discussion at hand instead of being a prick purely for the sake of being a prick.

BTW - this little discussion is filling up my free time quite nicely, thanks. I suppose I should thank you for giving me something vaguely amusing to do to pass the time…

[Cat_Whisperer]

@scottkris

<snip>I guess this is from a person who has not worked in a office in over 10 years, but I believe anybody that has time to “waste” on the internet is not really needed by the company.

Color me “radical.”

Yeah, you really haven’t worked in an office in over 10 years. Putting aside the fact that business decisions made by the company that Book Monster works for are none of any of our business, there are many positions and many times within other positions where there is a need for a warm body, and not always enough work to fill a day. Reception positions come to mind, especially night shifts. Then there are other times in the day when you’ve just crunched numbers for three hours, and you need to take a mental break, so you surf a little.

[Bibliovore]

@featherlou

Yeah, you really haven’t worked in an office in over 10 years. Putting aside the fact that business decisions made by the company that Book Monster works for are none of any of our business, there are many positions and many times within other positions where there is a need for a warm body, and not always enough work to fill a day. Reception positions come to mind, especially night shifts. Then there are other times in the day when you’ve just crunched numbers for three hours, and you need to take a mental break, so you surf a little.

Thank you. And kudos on being more civil than I’ve managed to be so far.