Do you/did you use a computer during office hours for personal purposes?

Yeah, nothing better to do much of the time. I come here and other places.

Hell yes! I use this time to screw off on SC! I minimize it and changed my personal screen preferences to match my CAD program and I switch back and forth when nobody is looking.

I use a computer to chat with people during their work hours. I am a slacker's assistant.

Yes, when I used to work I'd (legally) use it at breaks and part of lunchtime. During work hours when it was really slow, and most of the time if I thought the boss was going to complain. But since we often had really slow periods, one of my bosses was okay with it until work came in. I'd play with my photos mostly.

Lately, yeah.

I did the opposite, I used the computer for work after hours in my personal time. I did also spend that time customizing my machine though.

Now I just go between work and distraction (like eBay or forums) as I feel like it. At times I really get on a roll with my work, in which case I have no interest in distractions, and at other times my whole day is solid distraction with some excuse of research and follow-up.

Yes, but only very occasionally to check my bank account

I don't work in an office... If we get the laptops out in Theology or Philosophy I'll check out here or something. I was meant to be doing Graphics work when I reasonabled this yesterday.

my work and personal are intertwined, parasitic.

No I can only use our computers at work for business only , I do Federal Express and make labels for the candy

i use it when i am at work to check email and to read some blogs when i am slow.

On normal shifts I always had far too much work to do! I would occasionally do a little browsing during my break when I was on nights, but a slow night shift can really drag because you can't even potter round and find little jobs to do. Most night shifts weren't like that though - and we often wouldn't get a break at all. I did write most of my application for medicine whilst working a block of quiet night shifts though. Trying to sell yourself in the early hours of the morning doesn't always work out very well. One draft of my personal statement came out as though Jane Austen had written it

Yes, if I have some down-time... I turn around to my home computer and get online.

I'd be thrilled to hire Jane Austen

I wonder what kinds of jobs she's go for if she was a modern woman.

No, I don't work, but I do use the computers at school for this because they allow it when we're done, but there's no email, I can't log in to anything and many things are blocked.

omg, I'd love to meet the one person in the entire world who works in an office with a computer and doesn't use it for personal purposes and give him a lamp.

The same range of possibilities exists, so I'd have to say still a fiction writer. If her interests were elsewhere it would have shown then. Judging by her stories, she already was a modern woman.

She may have been a modern woman, but I don't think that meant she had modern opportunities. The same jobs may have existed but they wouldn't have been options for her. Working at all would have been very unusual for a woman of her class - about the only things she could have got away with was writing, music or art.

If she were interested instead in farming, healthcare, engineering design, sports, or any other field it would have been evident even within the limited scope of her options then.
The only thing I can imagine her also having an interest in today (not that I know her life well) might be politics.

Yeah at lunch. I'm allowed.

Yes. When I am at the office I do SC, email or a game in between clients. It's not a big deal, it isn't like there is anything else going on there. If the office manager is there, I stay out of her way. (it is a very small office) but usually on my days I am there alone, or my Mary is doing paper work.

I feel a bit used.

If I was still at the nuclear power plant...that would be me.

I'll be your friend, ...for $20/year! $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

OK, deal.

Hey, you're pretty cheap!

True,some friends cost more. My friendship is optimized and efficient.

Yes, when I have no work to do. I surf news sites and forums.

My last nursing job I did play solitaire a few times but was usually way to busy for it to be a regular thing.

Yes, although "office hours" has a totally different meaning for me.

In fact........ I'm using one right now........
Mwahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!! *sigh* Mista Bossman doesn't keep me busy enough......

.............................. Why a lamp? Can I have a gift certificate instead?

[Diogenes] used to stroll about in full daylight with a lamp; when asked what he was doing, he would answer, "I am just looking for an honest man." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes_of_Sinope)