Samhain

Well, sorry all, I'm moving away from the normal moral questions around here and posing a trivial one having more to do with ethics and principles than morality. Anyway, onward...

A question that has always nagged the back of my mind since I started posting at II was the ethical question of posting at work. I'm at work right now, and, well, honestly, I should be working, right? I was out sick from work yesterday, and I have a ton of work to catch up on, but, well, I just can't feel motivated to do work rather than post here. It's not like I'm sitting on my arse and doing nothing else, but my work productivity has slipped some, if not significantly. I usually make up for my work, but I'm just more rushed now, and time seems to pass by more quickly that way, anyway. A large reason for me joining II had mostly to do with refining my reason, logic and grammar (I'm a Philosophy/English double-major).

So, I guess you're all probably confused at this point as to what the question is, well, I'll try to state it as clearly as possible: For purposes of refining reason and logic, is it ethical/moral/etc. to use work time and work internet to post on II if posting on II seems more important for the reasons listed above, or is work time strictly work time, and I should stop posting here due to ethical/moral/etc. reasons. Like I said, I get my work done, if not as timely as I used to, but I still complete it by the end of the week, and you can subtract the possibility of getting caught out of the situation as well. BTW, if any of you are interested, I work with a bunch of stuffy CPAs, but hey, they pay well, and they're nice, so I can't complain in that respect.

Just interested on your thoughts, etc. Like I said, sorry about this one, I just felt it was kind of interesting

freemonkey

IMO, it all depends on what is expected of you by your employers. They are paying you to do a certain amount of work within a certain amount of time with resources that they are providing. If they have rules against it, you should respect them.

If there are no rules, you are not inconveniencing anyone else and you are meeting your deadlines/workload it may not be a problem.

Samhain

freemonkey:

Should my own personal values be considered in the matter? I mean, if I value refinement reason and logic over my own business ethics in the matter, should that not also play a role in such a decision? The movie "Office Space" seems to portray an extreme version of my feelings on the whole work situation. I'm feeling economically oppressed, alienated, as Marx would say, a slave to capitalist society, a slave to my wages. This is not necessarily something which I enjoy doing, then again, I don't dislike it either. I just feel like what I'm doing at this point in my life as far as work is an enormous waste of time, I'm stir crazy, I'm only satisfied when I'm at my university, in class, discussing, or here, discussing. Of course, once I "complete" my education, then I'll be able to work in a career in which suits me better, and which I enjoy, right now, though, I'm just bored to death.

MadMordigan

Fine, decide to betray a relationship you established with your employer. But consider how you would feel if your boss told you he hadn't found time to sign your paycheque because we was busy 'refining his logic and reason'.

In any event, if you are prepared to accept the results of your actions, then go for it. I wont be suprised to see you begging for change or eating the food I throw away.

freemonkey

Of course your own personal values should be considered. By being honest with yourself, you've realized that you are not doing the right work for you. But you must also realize that your employer values a strong work & business ethic, and you risk losing your job. You have to weigh all your options.
You're not alone.
Well, you just said pretty much what I was going to say. It's only temporary. There is always another job out there. Hell, you might even start your own business.

All I meant to say with my first reply to you is that your employer has certain expectations. If you fail to meet them, your employer may be jusitified in disciplining/dismissing you. That's just business.

[ May 14, 2002: Message edited by: freemonkey ]</p>

Samhain

freemonkey:

Understood. I wouldn't hold it against them to either, though, of course, it would suck, but I'm putting myself into said situation, and must accept responsibility if disciplinary actions were to arise. Of course, at the same time, while it would cut my spending short for a while, it might be a good thing, considering how I'm currently feeling about my working status.

I don't know. As usual I have problems putting what I'm thinking into words, I was trying to portray a general feeling rather than a personal one, one having to do with the self-apparent pointlessness of working in/for a capitalist society. Education seems shunned instead of praised, your status has to do with your checking account, not your values, ideas, education, wisdom, intelligence, etc. And in order to gain the said status, one must, in turn, sacrifice a part of themselves (in many situations, of course, there are exceptions, though) in order to make the money which helps one to survive in such a harsh environment. While claiming to be the land of opportunity, I feel like opportunities are significantly cut short because of these things.

Samhain

*Chuckles* Sorry, Mordigan, I found this rather amusing, considering how vague I was on the subject, oh well *shrugs*. As I said, I productivity may not be as consistent as it was before, but I still get my work done I have a job, and I get it done, rather well in many cases as well. I don't say "screw work" and just jump directly on II and chat with everyone, I mean, my employer allows things such as AIM, ICQ, personal email, etc. I don't see this as very different. Disciplinary action is non-existent unless my productivity drops significantly.

Perhaps begging for change and eating your trash may be more genuine living, the true "good life" perhaps.

Viti

They can fucking fire me...since my bosses are in LA I don't give a shit...I am the boss of this office.

Samhain

Perhaps if I convinced my employers that I was god I could eliminate the possibility? I just don't see that as happening, though, I work with a bunch of JW's

freemonkey

Ahhh, gotcha....