# Jackson, Mississippi library computers, no e-mail allowed. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 14, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023 "2003-02-14T07:40:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![senor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@senor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senor)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/1 "2003-02-14T07:40:31Z")
This happened to me about two years ago, when I was living in Jackson, Mississippi. At this time, I had no access to a computer, so I used the computer in the Jackson public library. These asshats have a rule stating that I can not use e-mail! I knew of this, and was stopped by one of their staff doing this like I was looking at porno. I complained and was told it was just “policy”. I was looking for a job to get myself out of Jackson, Mississippi! Why would they implement such a stupid rule?! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/2 "2003-02-14T07:42:27Z")
This happened two years ago and your just ranting about it now? Did it take you that long to find another internet connection? Does sound like a stupid rule, though. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/3 "2003-02-14T12:33:42Z")
I saw a beautiful 1959 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud in Jackson when I was there. I started to buy it, but got suspicious of it when the seller said that its engine had been rebuilt, and he wanted less than a hundred-thousand dollars for it. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/4 "2003-02-14T16:01:45Z")
**Lib** : Seeing as you have that kind of money to throw around, is there any chance that you’d adopt me? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/5 "2003-02-14T16:15:16Z")
I’d just like to say that the Eudora Welty Library in Jackson is my favorite library in the world. I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/6 "2003-02-14T16:22:57Z")
My library back home in CA didn’t let people use e-mail. It’s to prevent stupid people from downloading viruses. And it’s a damn good rule. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/7 "2003-02-14T16:48:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*My library back home in CA didn’t let people use e-mail. It’s to prevent stupid people from downloading viruses. And it’s a damn good rule. \*\* 1. That’s why there are anti-virus programs, some of which integrate with e-mail programs. 2. By doing web mail ONLY, one reduces the chance of a virus. 3. It’s a fucking stupid rule. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/8 "2003-02-14T16:54:27Z")
How could they block web mail? I mean they could block sites like hotmail, etc… but lots of small sites have their own web mail… ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/9 "2003-02-14T16:59:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mockingbird \* > \*\*1) That’s why there are anti-virus programs, some of which integrate with e-mail programs. > > 1. By doing web mail ONLY, one reduces the chance of a virus. > > 2. It’s a fucking stupid rule. \*\* No, it’s not a stupid rule. And you are an idiot for thinking it is a stupid rule. In fact, your reason #1 paints you as one of those idiots who would probably end up downloading a virus into the library system. Virus protection programs are not perfect. Most businesses have them. Yet, when a new virus or worm comes along, even those businesses with virus protections are affected. So, to recap. 1. Anti-virus programs aren’t perfect. Not even close to being perfect. Especially when stupid people are using the computer. 2. Reduces, not prevents. Again, stupid people = viruses. 3. It’s a good rule. You are an idiot. Please shut up now. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/10 "2003-02-14T17:05:41Z")
Actually, that was a bit harsh. I take back the last two sentences. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/11 "2003-02-14T17:14:56Z")
Could the virus risk be somewhat lessened by using a amil proggie like MUTT or PINE, rather than one of the heavy graphics jobs? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/12 "2003-02-14T17:15:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kal \* > \*\ ***Lib** : Seeing as you have that kind of money to throw around, is there any chance that you’d adopt me? \*\* What do you mean? Less than a hundred-thousand dollars could be anything between $99,999.99 and $0.01. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/13 "2003-02-14T17:32:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UnwrittenNocturne \* > \*\*Could the virus risk be somewhat lessened by using a amil proggie like MUTT or PINE, rather than one of the heavy graphics jobs? \*\* Maybe, but why should they have to go through all that? Just don’t use the e-mail. The internet access is supposed to be used for online research in most cases, anyway, not random browsing. If you want to use your e-mail, go to an internet cafe and pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/14 "2003-02-14T17:51:51Z")
Yes, **Lib** , but you were going to buy it until you became suspicious because it was less than $100,000. That leads me to believe that you were willing to spend at least $100,000 on a car. Adopt me, please, I need the allowance. As an added bonus, I’ll do any coercing you may need done. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/15 "2003-02-14T17:54:27Z")
Now, Kal. If I adopted you, the first thing I would teach you as my child is the Noncoercion Principle. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/16 "2003-02-14T17:57:15Z")
The policy could just reflect very limited resources. We’re fortunate enough to have quite a few public internet stations in my library but we still had to designate one as an “E-mail express” machine. The research stations are booked by the hour but the e-mail computer for only 15 minutes. The problem wasn’t so much e-mail itself as how many people were tying up machines for a whole hour on it. Demand exceeded supply. After some near-fights on the public floor for computer time–high _demand_ is an understatement–we finally had to channel the e-mail traffic aside. Our reasoning was that reserach is more central to our core mission. Just a thought. Veb ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/17 "2003-02-14T17:58:01Z")
Never mess with **Lib**. You never know what sort of giant sentient squids or light house-shaped stuff he’s got in that cadillac trunk of his;) ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/18 "2003-02-14T18:12:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Now, Kal. If I adopted you, the first thing I would teach you as my child is the Noncoercion Principle. 😉 \*\* And what if I don’t wanna learn it, huh? You can’t tell me what to do, you’re not my real dad! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/19 "2003-02-14T18:24:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mockingbird \* > > 1. That’s why there are anti-virus programs, some of which integrate with e-mail programs. I don’t suppose it has even occured to you that a public library might only be able to stretch its staff so far before they just can’t do any more in the way of computer support, has it? > [@](#): > > 1. By doing web mail ONLY, one reduces the chance of a virus. Yeah, and by not allowing it at all, you reduce it to zero. > [@](#): > > 1. It’s a fucking stupid rule. And yet life goes on. Interestingly, job searches were performed for years without e-mail. I assume from your petulant attitude that you are too young to remember this antediluvian era, but I assure you, it is possible to find a job without ever once using e-mail. I have (I am grateful to say) not been without gainful employment since I graduated college going on 13 years ago, and I have never once used e-mail in getting any of the jobs I’ve had. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023/20 "2003-02-14T19:15:59Z")
**Lib** , e-mail me next time you come thru and I will buy you lunch at the Elite. Or wherever you like. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jackson-mississippi-library-computers-no-e-mail-allowed/155023.md?page=2)