Are Computers a Good or Bad Thing?

[M Swanson]

After a few years of using a computer, I'm beginning to show signs of ulna nerve damage in the hand and arm I use to operate the mouse. Not very pleasant. I Googled the subject and was amazed at the number of health issues that spring from this marvel of modern technology. Everything from carpal tunnel, to piles, to thrombosis of the backside. Ouch!

We were discussing this at work today and I was amazed to discover I spend between 15 and 20 hours a week pounding the keys. That's a part-time job, for some. Admittedly, more often than not I'm ducking in and out of the web, but it's still a lot of time. The conversation moved on to whether we thought that overall, the arrival of computers has been a good, or bad thing. On the one hand there's the potential for addiction which can be harmful; Internet fraud, which costs millions of pounds and untold misery, a negative impact on children and the spread of porn and the harmful effect it can have., etc. On the other hand, it can be an excellent tool to educate; provide a lot of entertainment, have a great commercial value and good way to communicate. The computer is here to stay, but is it really all it's cracked up to be? What do you think? And how much time do you spend in cyberspace?

[RagnarRocks]

I do have one computer that's very bad it stays out late doesn't do what it's told and is generally misbehaved! :0))

[Phill]

Internet porn, RSI, Wrist, Arm.

It's a tragedy.

[Kodiak]

Computers are neither good or bad, it is what people do with them that is good or bad.

[M Swanson]

I do have one computer that's very bad it stays out late doesn't do what it's told and is generally misbehaved! :0))

Internet porn, RSI, Wrist, Arm.

It's a tragedy.

Blimey!

[RagnarRocks]

I thought about making a living out of my laptop she is a MacBook Pro but I've heard it's illegal to live off immoral earnings ! Life used to be so easy

[billmoseley]

computers are fine it's when some people hook up to the net they become a problem

[cherokee]

I'm a complete "technophobe" (or "Luddite" !), I only use t'net as and when I need it. Must admit that I'm starting to find all the technology, and what it is capable of, quite scary !

[ducati]

I like the web on the 'phone. Much more prat, lampost, interfaces.

[Shaggy]

Internet porn, RSI, Wrist, Arm.

It's a tragedy.

I must have a different model from yours, i often get friction burns and cramp using mine

[Shaggy]

After a few years of using a computer, I'm beginning to show signs of ulna nerve damage in the hand and arm I use to operate the mouse. Not very pleasant. I Googled the subject and was amazed at the number of health issues that spring from this marvel of modern technology. Everything from carpal tunnel, to piles, to thrombosis of the backside. Ouch!

We were discussing this at work today and I was amazed to discover I spend between 15 and 20 hours a week pounding the keys. That's a part-time job, for some. Admittedly, more often than not I'm ducking in and out of the web, but it's still a lot of time. The conversation moved on to whether we thought that overall, the arrival of computers has been a good, or bad thing. On the one hand there's the potential for addiction which can be harmful; Internet fraud, which costs millions of pounds and untold misery, a negative impact on children and the spread of porn and the harmful effect it can have., etc. On the other hand, it can be an excellent tool to educate; provide a lot of entertainment, have a great commercial value and good way to communicate. The computer is here to stay, but is it really all it's cracked up to be? What do you think? And how much time do you spend in cyberspace?

I've had a tender area with burning pain in my forearm just in front of the elbow joint for a few years now. Doc told me it was RSI so i just got on with it but reading your post led me to google the ulna nerve and although im no medical expert it sounds exactly like the problem i have and yes it is probably caused by constant use of computers

[Phill]

There was also moisture damage also but I keep the Kleenex handy now.

[joxville]

The way things are for me at the moment, I have to say computers are a good thing. The following will explain why.

In June last year, during changes within my company, there was a blanket ban imposed on overtime throughout the country, and we also got a manager from another depot overseeing us temporarily. After a couple of months I was called one Saturday night by him asking me why I wasn't at work, there was no-one on the weighbridge to despatch anything, I told him I'd no idea what he was talking about, that there was no work because overtime had been banned. Long story short, there was work but because I'd had a drink, and the other two guys were not answering their phones, he had to get someone from another depot to cover for us, but he was angry and said he'd get it sorted during the following week.

And so he visited us during the next week, told us occasionally there will be work which will require us to work overtime. He told us that he would notify us by 2pm every Thursday if we were needed. If yes, one of us would need to cover it, and if he didn't notify us we could all claim a full shift payment for making ourselves available. Myself, and Paul and Perry who cover all three shifts between us, agreed to it. Those conditions carried on, and when we got a second temporary manager, we made him aware of the agreement, which he continued with.

On 1st Jan 2013, we were taken over by another division, but that we'd still be doing work for the previous division. Again, I made my new permanent manager aware of our overtime conditions, and that we'd needed someone to notify us if we were required. He said to continue, and he'd deal with it. Yesterday, I got a call from Paul informing me that he and Perry had been called in to the office. The manager had said he'd tried to claim back our overtime payments from the other division, who claimed they knew nothing of the agreement made last year, then both temp. managers were contacted and both denied having knowledge of such an agreement.

It was then that Paul, Perry, and indirectly myself, were accused of fraud, because every week we'd been marking our time cards for O/T payment due because no notified us. Three managers deny knowing of such an agreement, and my supervisor denies knowing of a conversation that took place a few weeks ago between myself and my present manager, a conversation the supervisor was party too, when I was telling him of the agreement made last year. I've clarified it with both my opposite numbers, that a definite accusation of fraud has been made, and that the company wants the money paid back.

There is a meeting next week between the Area Manager for the previous division, my new manger, and myself and Perry. Paul can't make it due to him covering late shift. But Paul and Perry have been worried sick, that they are going to have to pay back a couple of thousand pounds, and that this will be on their work record. Today I was able to reassure them they had nothing to worry about. When the original agreement had been made verbally, the then manager set out those conditions and emailed it to each of us, an email which I had the foresight to keep hold of!

What the mangers don't know is we are going in to the meeting next week with a printed copy of the email, and a demand that we get an apology for the accusations made against us. Someone's arse is going to get kicked, but it won't be ours :-)

So sometimes computers can be good.

[Shaggy]

nice one hehe, yeah computers do have their uses at times

[squidge]

The way things are for me at the moment, I have to say computers are a good thing. The following will explain why.In June last year, during changes within my company, there was a blanket ban imposed on overtime throughout the country, and we also got a manager from another depot overseeing us temporarily. After a couple of months I was called one Saturday night by him asking me why I wasn't at work, there was no-one on the weighbridge to despatch anything, I told him I'd no idea what he was talking about, that there was no work because overtime had been banned. Long story short, there was work but because I'd had a drink, and the other two guys were not answering their phones, he had to get someone from another depot to cover for us, but he was angry and said he'd get it sorted during the following week. And so he visited us during the next week, told us occasionally there will be work which will require us to work overtime. He told us that he would notify us by 2pm every Thursday if we were needed. If yes, one of us would need to cover it, and if he didn't notify us we could all claim a full shift payment for making ourselves available. Myself, and Paul and Perry who cover all three shifts between us, agreed to it. Those conditions carried on, and when we got a second temporary manager, we made him aware of the agreement, which he continued with. On 1st Jan 2013, we were taken over by another division, but that we'd still be doing work for the previous division. Again, I made my new permanent manager aware of our overtime conditions, and that we'd needed someone to notify us if we were required. He said to continue, and he'd deal with it. Yesterday, I got a call from Paul informing me that he and Perry had been called in to the office. The manager had said he'd tried to claim back our overtime payments from the other division, who claimed they knew nothing of the agreement made last year, then both temp. managers were contacted and both denied having knowledge of such an agreement. It was then that Paul, Perry, and indirectly myself, were accused of fraud, because every week we'd been marking our time cards for O/T payment due because no notified us. Three managers deny knowing of such an agreement, and my supervisor denies knowing of a conversation that took place a few weeks ago between myself and my present manager, a conversation the supervisor was party too, when I was telling him of the agreement made last year. I've clarified it with both my opposite numbers, that a definite accusation of fraud has been made, and that the company wants the money paid back. There is a meeting next week between the Area Manager for the previous division, my new manger, and myself and Perry. Paul can't make it due to him covering late shift. But Paul and Perry have been worried sick, that they are going to have to pay back a couple of thousand pounds, and that this will be on their work record. Today I was able to reassure them they had nothing to worry about. When the original agreement had been made verbally, the then manager set out those conditions and emailed it to each of us, an email which I had the foresight to keep hold of!What the mangers don't know is we are going in to the meeting next week with a printed copy of the email, and a demand that we get an apology for the accusations made against us. Someone's arse is going to get kicked, but it won't be ours :-)So sometimes computers can be good.

Well done Jox. Well done indeed! I was getting all righteously indignant on your behalf as I was reading that lol

[RagnarRocks]

That's pretty much how companies work nowadays the managers have targets imposed by the accountants and agreed by the senior management, these are based usually on wildly optimistic growth figures which someone plucks from the air. The managers are then given bonus structures based on these figures and it trickles down, only problem being the accountants have taken their piece of cake so have the senior managers, the middle managers squabble over the agrees then force the employees to hit these targets by the do,whatever it takes principle. So lying is acceptable as long as you achieve your bonus target whether that be by getting free overtime or extra sales. Invariably it doesn't matter what the employee feels as in the current job market they are expendable and market forces prevail. Now most meetings are kept verbal until its time for a monthly review or such like when you're usually required to sign off on your targets,overtime or whatever it is your job performance is based on when the denials will begin and most will sign off just to keep the peace and so it becomes modern business's dirty little secret. You then have modern HR depts which act more like the Spanish Inquisition ruthlessly enforcing very PC agendas and easing out and perceived trouble maker, no longer do you have staff depts or personnel just HR so you have a double whammy and very little recourse unless you meticulously detail every little event which depending on the industry can be nigh on impossible if you're work is covered by the data protection act or any such legislation. Hence the lying bullying people whose face fit climb the ladder whilst the honest people tend to get ground down. I think somewhere you'll find a survey that links sociopaths and leaders of business as very similar personality types, based on the ruthless way they will enact take overs and redundancies without much bother to their conscience, which to me makes sense as I couldn't make thousands redundant or trash a career without a good few sleepless nights and much deep thought on whether its justified. So I whole heartedly recommend that when dealing with companies use that keyboard and ensure you always have everything confirmed in emails and print them off . But at the same time be careful what you send as that's equally useable against you. Computers are double edged swords in the modern business environment.

[ducati]

That's pretty much how companies work nowadays the managers have targets imposed by the accountants and agreed by the senior management, these are based usually on wildly optimistic growth figures which someone plucks from the air. The managers are then given bonus structures based on these figures and it trickles down, only problem being the accountants have taken their piece of cake so have the senior managers, the middle managers squabble over the agrees then force the employees to hit these targets by the do,whatever it takes principle. So lying is acceptable as long as you achieve your bonus target whether that be by getting free overtime or extra sales. Invariably it doesn't matter what the employee feels as in the current job market they are expendable and market forces prevail. Now most meetings are kept verbal until its time for a monthly review or such like when you're usually required to sign off on your targets,overtime or whatever it is your job performance is based on when the denials will begin and most will sign off just to keep the peace and so it becomes modern business's dirty little secret. You then have modern HR depts which act more like the Spanish Inquisition ruthlessly enforcing very PC agendas and easing out and perceived trouble maker, no longer do you have staff depts or personnel just HR so you have a double whammy and very little recourse unless you meticulously detail every little event which depending on the industry can be nigh on impossible if you're work is covered by the data protection act or any such legislation. Hence the lying bullying people whose face fit climb the ladder whilst the honest people tend to get ground down. I think somewhere you'll find a survey that links sociopaths and leaders of business as very similar personality types, based on the ruthless way they will enact take overs and redundancies without much bother to their conscience, which to me makes sense as I couldn't make thousands redundant or trash a career without a good few sleepless nights and much deep thought on whether its justified. So I whole heartedly recommend that when dealing with companies use that keyboard and ensure you always have everything confirmed in emails and print them off . But at the same time be careful what you send as that's equally useable against you. Computers are double edged swords in the modern business environment.

Good grief! What a load of paranoid ...... I'm glad I've never worked anywhere you have.

[RagnarRocks]

Good grief! What a load of paranoid ...... I'm glad I've never worked anywhere you have.

It's quite obvious you haven't. The level of paranoia you showed this morning on the other thread about opening a link is amusing but I am interested to know which major corporate entities you've ever held a senior position in to make such an enlightened comment or is it as I suspect non, and that comment was possibly just the left overs from the baked beans yesterday !

[ducati]

It's quite obvious you haven't. The level of paranoia you showed this morning on the other thread about opening a link is amusing but I am interested to know which major corporate entities you've ever held a senior position in to make such an enlightened comment or is it as I suspect non, and that comment was possibly just the left overs from the baked beans yesterday !

Blimey I must have rattled your cage in some way. A number and in a number of countries and domestic cities. Not opening links is because a) it is a pointless waste of time because people just hunt for sites that support their point of view. If I disagree with said point of view it's hardly going to influence me is it?

b) I usually can't be bothered

see, not paranoid

[RagnarRocks]

Oh Really !