FT-holism at work
 

This might be a silly topic, but I had to break down and share my guilt with the others, hoping there are others out there like me.

Here is my problem:
While at work, I can't help but log on to FT every now and then. It's really addictive. Just to lurk, just for a minute. Maybe five. Or maybe more. It actually usually turns out to be more (like now), and I can't help but feel guilty that it has been making me a bit less productive on the job. My company doesn't restrict or track individual internet usage (we do quite a bit of internet-based research), but we do track billable hours. I haven't noticed my productivity drop drastically, but seeing how I spend a significant amount of time on FT, tracking mileage offers, etc., I'm getting a little worried. Seeing that many other coworkers either send IMs all day, or waste time otherwise, I guess there is plenty of non-billable overhead to go around, but still...

Any advice for this FT-holic? Anyone else out there with the same problem? I could just log on at home in the evenings, but I have trouble restraining myself at work. Oh, but the guilt!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'm system admin and when all systems are running (which is fortunately usual) I have plenty of time to be an FT-holics. On the other hand, if something went wrong, I do not touch any point-like stuff until the problem is resolved.

But as I said: I try to keep the systems as healthly as they can be so I have more time for miles and points :-))

Absik001

Sounds like the modern version of the water cooler. At least you're not surfing the nasty sites. Now get back to work!

Yes... My name is _ _ __ __ and I can not stop checking these boards... even when I know I have important tasks at hand.

Ha...ha..ha ha hah ha....uh..ha ha ha I'm laughing cause I'm retired and I can stay and read and learn and post ALL DAY IF I WANT TO! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif (besides at my age they think it's senility if I spend too much time here, I can get away with anything http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif)

I just post between calls. I'm supposed to make 30 a day, so all I have to do is make four an hour. Thus, between calls, if I need a break, I just pop on here and go for it.

As long as you are getting your work done, who cares? Now, if it is interfering with your ability to get your work done, then we are talking about a different situation.

[This message has been edited by mdtony (edited 11-19-2002).]

GO Cold turkey for One week.

Perhaps after a brief (self imposed) "vacation" from the boards, you'll be able to return in moderation

I'm new to Flyer Talk and read it daily but I wouldn't say I'm hooked or anything...wait hold on...freaking phone's ringing...why do these people always call..don't these people know I'm trying to read FT? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif



[This message has been edited by phoebes99 (edited 11-19-2002).]

Yeah, but it'll help if you make it a Mileage Run! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

When I see all the people outside taking smoke breaks (at 10 minutes a pop) many times a day; I don't worry about a few minutes on FT here and there

I'm not addicted - I can quit anytime I want (yeah, right . . .)

Well, it's that darn MyPoints Where's MAX thread that has me checking here quite so often... and while I'm in S.P.A.M. I tend to visit other areas too. Before ya know it, 45 minutes has past and I haven't done any work. Doh!!

Well you know you just might uncover some really great deal that would be advantageous to the company! Sure would hate to miss it, you know!

Although I log onto FT almost every day, I have a learned A HUGE amount about how to travel more efficiently and cheaply.

Thanks to all FTers.

I'm not addicted, I quit every day.

(with respects to Mark Twain)

I tried that - it doesn't work. I just spent longer on FT when I returned to try to catch up with all the threads I'd missed. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

excellent topic!
my thinking is that at this period of my or your life, if someone is paying you to sit in front of a computer and they have either built in or not accounted for down time, then it is their fault you have found the FT!

USE IT, get the money and get miles!
when you lose your job or I lose mine, well, we will not have the fast interent connections anymore to post and so the addiction will slowly die away, maybe.

I have tons of down time but can always bill to a sort of general department code at the office for things that are not "projects"

I think that we have THIS addiction but I know some with others like games, sports, news and other stuff.
So be it. We are humans and hey, miles aint bad. If you boss gets on you, REFER HIM to something where you both get points and he will be happy with the free ticket he gets becaus eof you one day!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!

Marathon Man, be careful. Soon you will be accused of being a union lackey. I've already been given that label even though I have never belonged to a union in my life!

And if you lose your job, I have two wonderful phrases for you so that you can fulfill your need for speed and your addiction. DSL and cable.

good tips. I do actually have interent at home but it is much better to be here, getting paid and doing miles stuff.

Hey I'd love to be doing something else in my job. I could quit and go hunt for the better gig if it is (A) out there and (B) they can hire in this econ, but the things I was hired on for here are not happening and there have as of late been more days with people on each other's case than not.

See the movie OFFICE SPACE to get the idea of how I now chose to coast thru the weekdays. It will pass but I am still mile'n whilst I can!
Ha ha ha

As for the addiction, well, running is the same thing but at least it keeps me off my ars, so there is balance between my sit down typing time and my up and away from the PC time... Balance Danielson... Balance.
As for

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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!

Yo sysadmin, quit reading FT and get those SOPs and that system documentation updated!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Well when I have to install software and wait for it to finish or wait for programs to compile, etc., I do the same thing. I would otherwise be twittling my thumbs - enough time to skim an FT thread or two but not enough time to accompilsh a work task, so no guilt here.

I helped BUY the PCs we use for this department and got miles doing that on my credit card!
They love it and so did I!
everybody won!


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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!

Yes I am also a FT aholic. I find myself thinking and dreaming FT. Pity or pleasure I am not sure......

I didn't think I was, but then a couple of nights ago I dreamed about the excitement of finding AAdvantage Miles certificates on all kinds of different cereal boxes, even kids' cereals like Count Chocula... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

Iff,

do they still MAKE Count Chocula?
wow. Time to spend my time wisely and have kids and then I would know and be very busy with that. Brings back mememories though, huh?... you know, like when none of these marketing shcemes and deals on miles even existed. Ah, the good ole days...

About those Kelloggs certs, though: Do you think you could buy like 500,000 cereal boxes and then get this huge tax write-off...
(ONLY KIDDING! my gosh http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I AM glad my'other' thread got nipped in the bud, fer sure.)

Anyway, when I go running in the wee hours is when I think I start to think up some of my interesting miles things to post. This is because FT, like running, is addictive and a bit fun to be creative in the mind (which seems to make some upset while others might like it). I then jump in and start seeing what flies. I have definitely used some paid work time to do this so I am wondering what I should be doing for a career instead. Any thoughts?

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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!

"Hi, I'm boilermaker, and I'm an FT-aholic."

I make my visits a treat after tackling an important project. Sometimes, those projects keep me busy for days.

Here's my $0.02:
Open an important spread sheet in excel, like a budget review or something and keep it open on your desktop. Then open flyertalk and lurk to your heart's content. If the boss walks in, minimize your flyertalk screen immediately so that your spreadsheet remains and it looks like you've been hard at work cutting costs for the company.

Yeah, but what if it shows an increase?

I have real problems with any workplace where the boss is going to come around and get on someone for doing a little internet surfing. Sheesh. Talk about micromanagement, and a sure fire way to make your employees leave!

Who cares as long as you are getting your work done?

You worry because some bosses think surfing is bad? I had a boss at a very large former employer (whose stock is down ~96% since I left -- wish I could say that my departure was the cause ;-) who complained that we were wasting time any time he saw two employees workeing together to solve a time-critical problem.

Ha! Great minds think alike...

Here's more of my speak-this one is fun!:

open an Excel sheet and track your time on FT. If you have any software that tracks a project or time used in a certain application (some graphics companies have this) then use that too.

Be honest and enter in -or let it enter for you- the time you spend on miles stuff. At the end of the day, week, month, see if a ticket on airline Z was worth all that time and then factor in what you'd get paid by the hour.

If you are at the job, you are making out like a bandit! If not, time to start writing a book and getting paid for the words you print. (I am as guilty as the next person-oh yeah!)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!

There are some bosses who waste more time worrying about whether their employees are wasting time than they could save if they cut out all non-work related activities! Now take that sentence to those bosses and I'll bet you they couldn't figure that out.

When I've supervised people, my attitude has always been, I just want you to get the job done. If you can get the job done and have some time left over to surf the net, make a personal call, or whatever, go for it. Just get the work done well and I will be happy.

That's the way that I've always been, but as I know from personal experience, far too many bosses are not like that.

I could not agree more. I could just as easily be reading a magazine/staring at a blank computer screen, etc. My respect goes to managers who measure results, not means.

I've more or less been told that Internet usage is being tracked here. My review is on January 7...we'll see if FT comes up. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I know I'm hooked.
So to prove to myself I could do it - I made myself stay off for four days.

While I was gone the BA $20 fare hit the news. Dang.

So much for the "staying off" idea.

Got to go - read some more. ha.

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TANSTAAFL - but if you work it right, FF miles comes pretty close.

FT helps keeps me sane (I am a full time Dad) and I would be addicted if I was allowed to be but 3 years olds don't take kindly to not being the center of their parent's universe for more than a few minutes at a ti

....from a slightly different take -- while on mileage runs or vacations, I PAY to log on in part so I can read the flyertalk entries!!!

Uh..you actually mean that first hour in the office in the morning is meant to work? Not to slowly skim through the email while getting the Flyertalk update?

More like, I hate when workaholism interferes with my FT time. Since I'm usually working in all global time zones, I get to check in on a 24 hr. basis. It's about the only "perk" I can think of, outside of the trips/miles!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I learned on the UA board how to avoid alienating customers...

At other times when the external and internal "customers" get to me, I fly away to FT...

Nope. You're the only one.