When do you Log On? 5

[keano]

I was just wondering how often do you Log on to Eng Tips.com.
I was looking at one members profile which detailed over 4,000 log on's in less than 5 years, or an ave 11 Log-Ins
a day.
When do you Log on at work or at home?

If you log-in at work is it ethical,or are you wasting your employers time and money?

 

[AndrewTX]

I usually log on from work because I am looking for work related information. I usually log on about every other day if I can.

 

[jheidt2543]

Just a few thoughts:

1. If you use Eng-Tips as it is intended, that is as an educational and research tool, then I can't see how it is a waste of time, unless you are on it 11 times a day.

2. Surfing Eng-Tips is certainly better use of your time than surfing many of the other web offerings, particularly if you are a straight-laced, no nonsense, in the box engineer type, who wants to think out of the box. And, it is legal!

3. Just think of all the information your employer has access to through your use of Eng-Tips' website. Where else can you have your questions answered in such a timely way by experts in their field at no cost to you? Really, we need to find a way to get Professional Development Credits for our time using this website!

4. Now to actually answer you main question, personally, I usually log on early in the morning or late at night. When I have a burning question to ask or topic to research, I'll get on during the day. Also, if I'm on the web for another reason and I have recieved an e-mail notice from Eng-Tips of a thread response, I'll check it then.

 

[vonbad]

I usually log in after I finish all correspondence.

I have found that this site is a great way to increase my knowledge in another field. My background is electrical, although I have been doing mechanical designs for 10 yrs.
I am now in the fluid and heat transfer arena.

This site has helped me greatly in that area. So I do not think of it as wasting time or unethical, but a very valuable learning tool.

 

[swertel]

I log on first thing in the morning, before I technically start my work day. I also log on during the day if I posted a question and the email notification pops up.

Sometimes, if work is slow, I'll also log on during lunch.

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376

 

[haggis]

keano,

I usually log on at lunch but I have been known to have a quick look during working hours. We all know that we shouldn't use company time to do it but sometimes we look for genuine reasons pertaining to work. Eng-Tips is definitely a tool as opposed to surfing other sites. My employer states that a "reasonable" amount of time on personal stuff including e-mails is acceptable as long as there is nothing offensive. Interpretation of "reasonable" is up to the indivdual but it shouldn't be abused. Show me a guy who hasn't logged on at work and I'll show you someone without internet access.

Hagis

 

[Bearingbuster]

I do a sneak every now and then. When the boss is out of the office.

 

[IRstuff]

Log-ons are sometimes rather transparent. There is a time-out, so if you leave your window open and it times out, when you click a new thread, with autologin, you've logged on again, unknowingly.

TTFN

 

[haggis]

Big brother is the guy who stops people from abusing internet access at work although there are lots of people who don’t do it by virtue of their work ethic. One of my sons works for a major IT company and is based in the company where I work providing our IT support. I quizzed him about “big brother” with questions like is a workstation flagged when too many or lengthy internet log ons happen. He said that they don’t have the time or resources to monitor internet usage and the only way someone gets fried is if they are suspect and a request to monitor is put in. On quiet days however, they can do random checks and even look into peoples C:\ drives for distasteful or offensive downloads. Again, general snooping apparently does not go on but I wouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Use of a network can be very revealing.

 

[jgailla]

My boss encourages the reasonable use of eng-tips. I usually log on at lunch or at the end of the day when I'm waiting for traffic to die down and am not slammed. Can you really get useful work done while you're eating anyway? I occasionally check personal e-mail or pay bills during work. I don't feel dishonest because I work until the work is done and am not tied to a 9 to 5 position.

 

[buzzp]

I think every boss should encourage visits to eng-tips to some degree. I have learned alot since visiting here several years ago.
I log on twice during a day. At least once is on company time. Yes my boss gets a log of my internet activity whenever he wants it. He can even watch me live if he chooses.

 

[HVAC68]

I log on 4 times a day.

1. At home, first thing in the morning.
2. At work, twice during the course of work - I don't find anything wrong with this, since this is to increase knowledge on work related issues.
3. At home, just before I hit the bed.



HVAC68

 

[TheTick]

One would think an engineering professional would be a little better at math. 4067 logins over 770 days (as of this post) = 5.3 logins per day. (I'm still working on the equation that determines what business that is of yours.)


It's easy to rack up logins when you turn on the "remember password" option. It's automatic. Plus, sometimes the counter counts a login when you don't think it should, such as when the "back" button on the browser is hit. Sometimes I close the browser to look up an answer for a response and come back.

I'll admit I go beyond strictly professional use. It's a bit of a compulsion for me, really. A good distraction when my mind gets spinning a little too fast in one direction. Sort of like a mental cigarette break. Speaking of compulsions, my time spent here is less in quantity and far less destructive to health and productivity than the multiple cigarette breaks I used to need.


That, and I enjoy the company of most of you good people.

I could be the world's greatest underachiever, if I could just learn to apply myself.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

-SolidWorks API VB programming help

 

[metengr]

It is easy to accumulate logins. I start out each day no matter where I am - at work, home, etc with a fresh cup of coffee and the Eng Tips forum. This forum is probably the best around with knowledgeable people that are friendly, and provide hands-on solutions and excellent advice to daily problems.

After I get my morning "fix", I keep the forum running in the background throughout the day at work, and when I come home from work, after checking the internet, I get my last "fix" of the day on my PC.

Even when I travel on business I make at least one attempt in the AM and PM to satisfy my fix.

I believe that most of the engineers that frequent this forum derive great satisfaction in helping fellow engineers with advice or having shared similar experiences. Ah....if I can only get paid by the hour for being on this forum, I would have the best job in town.

 

[SacreBleu]

I have no guilt about logging on frequently. My peers log onto the latest sports, news, movie times, soft-core porn, whatever....This Eng-Tips is better than interrupting other engineers in the office, in many cases, because it avoids those pesky little disruptions of office quiet where everyone is quietly focused on doeing their jobs.

 

[whyun]

I log on every time I need a break, whether at work or at home. I feel that one need not make a concious effort to log on during lunch or official break time. I do not feel that visiting this site is "not working".

As professionals, of course, we shouldn't abuse anything. If one is a regular 8 to 5 type engineer who is on eng-tips 4 hours a day at employer's time, certainly something's wrong here. But 5 to 10 minute sessions at several intervals in a day, I think, is reasonable...

So much good knowledge base here.

 

[UcfSE]

I figure I'm on here trying to learn something or help someone out. Like SacreBleu pointed out, I'm not here playing games for hours a day nor am I looking at porn or downloading mp3's like my coworkers, not to mention chatting on a messenger program. I get my work done on time and correct so the boss is happy - that's what counts. Besides, it's good to have a break instead of slamming the calcs or drafting 480 minutes a day.

 

[bimr]

How did you come up with 11 log-ins per day?

If you logged-in on workdays, that would be 4,000 divided by 5 years*250 days per year or 3.2 times per day.


If you logged-in on every day, that would be 4,000 divided by 5 years*365 days per year or 2.2 times per day.

Of course, the monkey may be logging-in at night, but those log-ins should not be counted.

My 2 cents is that you should look at it as continuing education to keep your mind sharp.

 

[BobPE]

I am addicted to it, it is kinda like heroin...I am on all the time....big brother be damned....

Bob

 

[Roadbridge]

Keano's right found a member with over 8,000 double what he/she said.