Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future

Subject: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Hamish
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 04:24 AM

Ah, well: my company has decided that Mudcat is a Chat site and has blocked access. And I can't really argue with that, can I? So I'll not be online to you all quite so regularly. Ah, well...

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: harlowpoet
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 04:46 AM

That happened to me as well. A shame really as it made the day go quicker.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Hamish
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 04:56 AM

When they had a technical glitch and my personal e-mail seemed to have been banned I reacted with righteous indignation. But Mudcat's pretty hard to make a moral case for.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: okthen
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 05:10 AM

Work is the curse of the surfin' classes.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Sooz
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 05:39 AM

I had the same problem - but I got it back!

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 06:06 AM

I'm lucky to be a music teacher- I can show that I do mostly research during business hours- really!

Allison

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: treewind
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 06:14 AM

If my employer decided selectively to restrict access for particular people or to particular sites, as the high priest of the server and firewall I'd be the person to implement it. Nobody else would know how.

Knowledge is power!

With a total body count of eight, though, everybody knows what everybody else is doing and there's nowhere to hide, so it's not an issue!

Anahata

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 11:27 AM

How do they block it, with filters? How do they know about it, watching over your shoulders?

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 11:30 AM

I don't answer to no one

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 11:37 AM

There are firewall programs where managers of LANs (Local Access Networks) can block any site they wish. There are also programs that log sites people visit. I know of incidents that happened where I work in which people were busted for downloading child pornography at work.

People can find all sorts of ways to be un-productive. Personally, I believe productivity should be the issue and not what one happens to be doing when one is being unproductive. (Illegal activities notwithstanding.)

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 01:36 PM

Sometimes the bosses just don't seem to appreciate how important Mudcat is, and what a wonderful contribution to humanity we make here.
Why, just yesterday, the wife dragged me away from my computer to haul firewood!!
[grin]
Actually, it does seem I have less time for Mudcat, now that I have a family to care for. Can't say that I mind it.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: treewind
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 01:59 PM

If I wanted to do it, I'd set it up in the firewall, by adding entries in the hosts file with IP addresses of 0.0.0.0. I have in fact used this technique with a long list provided in an attempt to block adverts. That doesn't seem to work very well because the list is far from complete, but it would work perfectly for blocking a specific site like www.mudcat.org.

True about the logs too - all DNS lookups are logged in the firewall, and I can see where anybody's been surfing, though I'm not sure if I can tell who it was in any particular case.

Joes's right though - there are lots of ways to be unproductive - the web is just one of many.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 02:00 PM

I could write a book on ways to be unproductive.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Amos
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 02:12 PM

Yeah, Kendall, you could....but are you going to? Mebbe one way to be unproductive is to reflect on all the things you COULD be doing!! :>)) One of my favorite excuses! :>)

A

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: NicoleC
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 02:14 PM

Ah yes... but there is also a list of users in the firewall who are allowed to BYPASS the filters :D

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 02:17 PM

Kendall--I can't believe that. I've read some of your stories. Unproductive? Ah..........no.

I was lucky that I worked at a university. Still do, but that is another story.

Sorry about your situation Hamish. Although you probably can't even read this. Does a friend, neighbor, or relative have a computer you could use?

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 02:45 PM

www.mudcat.org is blocked from my worksite - but the ip address isn't!

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: GUEST,rock chick
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 03:18 PM

I am my own boss so i do what i want when i want.....only problem is i really should work more and not keep going on Mudcat!!! O well i can alway do the work later, or so i tell myself ;o))

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: reggie miles
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 03:26 PM

Chronic unemployment is the only known cure for Mudcat blockage. That and plenty of bed rest.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: jacqui c
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 03:45 PM

My company allows staff to use the net for private purposes so long as we restrict it to breaks. I think that's fair enough and check into Mudcat for a short while during the day.

I agree that there are other ways to be unproductive. I work with a group of people who probably spend about two hours a day, every day, in non work related chat. Problem is that it is done very blatantly - chairs turned away from desks and obviously just relaxing and gossiping. Problem is that one of our number just retired and I've been off for six weeks following an operation and they are now complaining about work loads. Our MD, who obviously was, or had been made aware of their long breaks, has now refused to give them overtime! The situation won't get much better in short term as I will be back to work for three weeks and then off for at least a further six weeks for another op. and then go on secondment for three months. Maybe by the time I get back they'll be a little less unproductive!

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: breezy
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 04:58 PM

does this apply to e-mails from you hame?

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: bbc
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 05:49 PM

I had a problem w/ email for awhile, but not yet w/ Mudcat. I am careful to only access it during my lunch break or outside of school hours.

best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 05:52 PM

And how do you find out the IP address? For research purposes only, you understand?

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 06:27 PM

The web browsing and even internet chat aren't considered problems where I work. But recently we've had a spike in activity that they haven't been able to track down and is causing concern in the university's office of information technology. It appears that when someone in the library at some time was browsing, they accidentally downloaded "mal-ware" or some sort of program that is now busily trying to send tons of information to one particular location. We don't know who runs this computer, because we don't have the same address all of the time, we get what's available when we log on--John from Kansas will know the term for this setup. The library IT guys know where it's going, but not who has the probably-defective program (badly written software is a huge problem in this sort of situation, according to one of our IT guys).

The library IT folks can "sniff" the system and probably locate the source of the problem. But they're hoping instead that someone recognizes the name of the site and will let them know so the offending program can be removed. Chances are whoever uses that computer doesn't have any idea that this attempted download is taking place every day when they log on.

SRS

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 07:17 PM

It's true lack of productivity can occur for other reasons but the Internet can carry other "costs". Jeri mentioned one in ilegal activities but another concern could be bandwith usage both in the sense of how much it may cost to transfer non-work related stuff and in the possibility of internal slow downs because of the traffic. I doubt if I would be concerned with that if I had a company with few employees but in a larger organisation, I could well be.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: GUEST, GEST
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 07:34 PM

I must disagree with Reggie Miles, who wrote a few posts back, "Chronic unemployment is the only known cure for Mudcat blockage."

I would add retirement as another cure. It also eliminates guilt associated with lost productivity and theft of services. :-)

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 10:52 PM

Good call by the local administrators.....the share-holders should be proud at the effort to hold down expences.

I don't believe a recent article in the current Business Week bodes well for several denizons of the MC.

More "lock-down" should provide better formualted responces....and less of the schlockishness seen over the recently departed year.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Cluin
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 02:55 AM

Go, Hamish!

This is your chance. Be free!

Enjoy life! Soar! Ride like the wind! Take the world and shake it by the throat until it regurgitates success!

Shine on, you crazy diamond.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: reggie miles
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 10:21 AM

Guest, Gest, isn't someone retired in a state of chronic unemployment? ;0)

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: GUEST, GEST
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 08:15 PM

As you will, Reggie. :-)

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Hamish
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 03:20 AM

Ahah! They haven't blocked my personal page: so any thread I've got on tracer is still available. Like this one!

Yes I have a home PC, so I can still get in to the general pages there. It's just I have a slow dial-up line (and can't see the justification for £20+ pcm for broadband).

And no, Jonno, my access to personal e-mail is not (yet?) affected.

They seem to have a spider which recognised threads as being "chat" site. No I don't think they check outeach site that we ever visit: there are over 6000 of us in this company (slightly more than Anahata's 8!!). But if anybody "persistently" tries for blocked sites then they could be investigated. And, yes, we have sacked people for inappropriate use. I doubt I'd get sacked for Mudcat - but unproductivity could be another matter. I think I do all right, however: my last annual review the other week agreed!

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: paddymac
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 03:41 AM

I presently work as an unemployment compensation referee, and commonly see cases involving allegations of computer use and mis-use in the workplace. The issue is usually not actually computer usage, but time theft. Never, ever think that no one knows or can't find out what you do on your machine. Many employers now use key-stroke anaylsis to find out what you do, and where youy go. There are many different responses to the problem by employers. The best advice is just don't play when you're getting paid to work.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Bobjack
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 05:18 AM

get some work done you hippies!

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 05:44 AM

I find it hard to believe that people actually access Mudcat at work.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 06:00 AM

I find it difficult to believe that some people work while acessing Mudcat.

Robin

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: ard mhacha
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 06:06 AM

My company, the dog and cat, couldn1t care less.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: John Routledge
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 01:17 PM

Perhaps we should all post less frequently and the quality might improve :0)

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 02:39 PM

Mudcat is therapeutic; a change of screen scenery when you're working on something that is really tiring is actually very helpful. I think it would improve productivity. Better than going nuts or falling asleep out of boredom. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Hamish
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 02:53 PM

of course, if I post from the cunningly accessed thread via my personal tracer list, it wants to take me back to threads, and I'm rumbled. Guess I'll have to do all this stuff from home on an occasional nightly basis.

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: GUEST,Nancy King at work
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 03:34 PM

Here at the public library, I have often found Mudcat an interesting way to pass a few minutes while on duty and waiting for someone to come up and ask me a question.

A while back, Montgomery County (MD) decided it would block internet access on staff computers to keep employees from surfing while they were supposed to be working. Fortunately, some of our senior librarians pointed out that we are in the information business and have to be able to check out all kinds of sites in the line of work, so library computers were exempted from the ban. Good going, guys!

As a matter of fact, I have used Mudcat and the Digitrad in the line of duty to answer patrons' questions. Not often, mind you, but a couple of times.

Cheers, Nancy

Subject: RE: Mudcat banned!! - less from me in future
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 05:37 PM

I sent a non-musician friend to one of the threads today because it answered a question that came up in conversation.

I work in a university library and put together a regular list of new database resources, most of which require passwords. Since the list goes online, we have non-university visitors to the web site. They can't logon to the databases so I try to include a few interesting sites that are free to everyone. I often find them through links people have posted here.

SRS