Do you read blogs on your work computer? Tweet from work? Write blogs posts at work? Use an instant messaging program to chat with friends while at work?
This past week one twitter friend got into hot water at work and another blogging friend lost her job because of what she was doing with company IT resources.
Do YOU know your employers internet use policy? Here are some snippets from mine
(2) You consent to the following conditions:
(a) Employer routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this information system for purposes including, but not limited to, blah blah blah.
(b) At any time, the employer may inspect and seize data stored on this information system.
(c) Communications using, or data stored on, this information system are not private, are subject to routine monitoring, interception and search, and may be disclosed or used for any employer-authorized purpose.
(d) This information system includes security measures (e.g., authentication and access controls) to protect employer interests—not for your personal benefit or privacy.
Certain unacceptable uses are spelled out as well
(1) Submitting malicious code or hacking.
(2) Copying proprietary software.
(3) Installing unauthorized software.
(4) Conducting a commercial business on an Army IS.
(5) Unethical uses (e.g., profanity, sexual content, gambling, soliciting funds).
(6) Accessing unauthorized sites (e.g., pornography, spam, streaming video, gaming, eBay).
(7) Using unauthorized services (e.g., peer-to-peer, chat, instant messaging except AKO and other authorized government messaging systems used for official business).
(8) The improper use of e-mail (e.g., mass mailing, chain letters, hoaxes, auto forwarding).
Veronica the HR expert pointed out that even if your employer doesn’t spell out an internet use policy, most people fall under a policy called “employment at will”. Unless you work under a contract or are a member of a union, chances are that you’re employed at will. What this means is that your employer can terminate your employment without cause at any time. (No, you can’t be fired because of your age, or your gender, or your sexual orientation, etc.) Be forewarned, your internet habits at work could be used against you.
I like blogging, tweeting, naughty emails and chats as much if not more than the next guy. But I also know what I can and cannot get away with at work.
Do you?
Why I Comment
Because there’s an interesting discussion that I feel I have something to add to
Because I want to lend some support or encouragement
Because there’s really no good reason at all, but I felt like it anyway
Or even because she looks really good naked and I want to encourage her photo sharing
Don’t tell me that you’re surprised by that!
But you know why I don’t comment? Because of some “blogger etiquette” that compels me to comment on someone’s blog for the sole reason that they commented on mine.
Yesterday I remarked on twitter “Wow based on blog stats & (lack of) comments, you really don’t care when naughtiness is implied instead of explicit for #WantonWednesday”. It wasn’t meant as a gripe about lack of comments, it was meant as more a reflection of what kind of content is likely to generate comments, though I can see how it might be misinterpreted. That’s okay though.
It turns out that my tweet was a conversation starter, leading someone else to make the “blogger etiquette” comment.
Am I guilty of doing that in the past? Yes, no doubt, but it didn’t take me long to realize how the game was played. There were people who sat back waiting for comments, then whoever commented would get the “courtesy” of a comment in return. There were the equally meaningless “nice photo” comments as well.
I understand, commenting is part of self-advertising. You’ve started a blog and you’d like to develop a readership, so you visit (or have already been visiting) bloggers with similar interests. You hope that people will wonder who you are and visit your blog to find out, and that they’ll like what they see and stick around.
I don’t know about other blogs, but I looked at my stats and in the history of this blog (and it’s wordpress.com predecessor) only about 1% of visitors will leave a comment. “Lurkers” are a fact of blogging life.
Leave a comment if you’d like, or don’t, it’s okay either way.
But if you’re commenting only because you’re expecting me to reciprocate, please don’t.
There are a lot of reason why I may leave a comment, but a sense of obligation isn’t one of them.