How did people waste time in work before the internet?

Aard · 04-07-2006 12:45PM #1

There's only so many times you can go to the water-thingie or the bathroom or go for a cigarette. Don't tell me that people actually did an honest day's work before the internet!

KTRIC · 04-07-2006 12:50PM

Aard wrote:

There's only so many times you can go to the water-thingie or the bathroom or go for a cigarette. Don't tell me that people actually did an honest day's work before the internet!

[back_in_my_day_rant] I'm in the work force for 10 years now and when I started working you actually had "work" all day. People these days don't know how easy they have it when it comes to slacking.[/back_in_my_day_rant]

DOLEMAN · 04-07-2006 12:51PM

A friend of mine used to jerk off at his desk (seriously.)

TerrorFirmer · 04-07-2006 12:52PM

Hmmm, good question. The Internets been around since I was small let alone working, so I couldn't tell you, but it would make for an interesting thread to hear everyone else's views!

They probably just did what alot of other people in my office seem to do - sit around talking, whilst twiddling with a bit of paper as if to say "I'm man handling this important document, its ok"

Wishbone Ash · 04-07-2006 12:53PM

Aard wrote:

There's only so many times you can go to the water-thingie or the bathroom or go for a cigarette. Don't tell me that people actually did an honest day's work before the internet!

You are presuming that we all work in an office and use computers. I'm in the workforce for 20 years and I've never had to use a computer yet.

Back on topic - making paper aeroplanes?

DOLEMAN · 04-07-2006 12:53PM

They used to speak on the phone.

GrumPy · 04-07-2006 12:53PM

Dunno about work, but I reckon before the interent, people would have wasted their time playing video games, eating, and watching bad tv.

Surrender · 04-07-2006 12:55PM

DOLEMAN wrote:

A friend of mine used to jerk off at his desk (seriously.)

lol:D , One of my mates claims this too, chancy b**tards

OSiriS · 04-07-2006 01:01PM

I don't know how people can stand to work at jobs that give them time to slack off. Half the time I skip lunch, and work late to get my workload covered.

DOLEMAN · 04-07-2006 01:01PM

Surrender wrote:

lol:D , One of my mates claims this too, chancy b**tards

I know! He worked as the IT guy in some kind of charity (100% female staff) and he used to tell me how they frequently nearly caught him with his trousers around his knees, sitting at his desk...

Mental!

DOLEMAN · 04-07-2006 01:01PM

OSiriS wrote:

I don't know how people can stand to work at jobs that give them time to slack off. Half the time I skip lunch, and work late to get my workload covered.

Sad. Very sad!

04-07-2006 01:04PM

DOLEMAN wrote:

A friend of mine used to jerk off at his desk (seriously.)

How would someone not notice that?

Sabre0001 · 04-07-2006 01:05PM

Probably just chatting or reading a physical newspaper...

I am wondering this too...I have had nothing to do all morning (I'm an intern at a small marketing firm and they don't have work for me today) so I have browsed the internet and I have been learning HTML!

Wishbone Ash · 04-07-2006 01:08PM

OSiriS wrote:

I don't know how people can stand to work at jobs that give them time to slack off. Half the time I skip lunch, and work late to get my workload covered.

You need to develop time management skills. Many senior managers refuse to promote anyone who works through lunch or late in the evening.

Siogfinsceal · 04-07-2006 01:08PM

they use to play solitaire

deedee lepoopoo · 04-07-2006 01:19PM

I was thinking the same thing. You see tasks are completed quicker nowadays with computers and emails...whereas before it was typewriters and the postal system and phones.........

More people smoked so you'd nip outside for a smoke break when you're bored.(smoking rooms also).... they probably made more tea (tea breaks).

People also read the newspaper at their desks...................

Beruthiel · 04-07-2006 01:19PM

Siogfinsceal wrote:

they use to play solitaire

yup
I used to play a lot of that,
made phone calls,
wrote letters (e-mail and sms didn't exist either :eek:)
and worked harder....

Siogfinsceal · 04-07-2006 01:27PM

Wishbone Ash wrote:

You need to develop time management skills. Many senior managers refuse to promote anyone who works through lunch or late in the evening.

so glad to hear that im sick of friends saying they are better workers than me and more likely to get ahead because they work past their normal hours and through lunch. I work the hours im paid to work. My boss leaves before me so why work late. I surf the net if im between calls - why invent work for me to do

Terry · 04-07-2006 03:20PM

DOLEMAN wrote:

A friend of mine used to jerk off at his desk (seriously.)

i have a friend who is a painter and does this in peoples houses.

as for my job, i'm a tiler (when i'm not in the throes of agorophobia) and can't slack off or jack off. the quicker you get the job done, the quicker you can move onto the next job or take a day off.

magpie · 04-07-2006 03:22PM

the quicker you get the job done, the quicker you can move onto the next job or take a day off.

Why did I bother with 3rd level education?

Wishbone Ash · 04-07-2006 03:25PM

julep wrote:

i have a friend who is a painter and does this in peoples houses.

:eek: I can imagine him saying to potential customers - "I'll be able to come next week".

Terry · 04-07-2006 03:31PM

magpie wrote:

Why did I bother with 3rd level education?

so that you could work 9 to 5?

believe me, i would much prefer to be working in a more stable environment.
i just fell into tiling. have a friend who is a tiler, i needed a job and he trained me. been at it for nine years now and i hate it. great money, but very hard on the knees and back. i'm seriously considering a third level education and may apply next year.

pclancy · 04-07-2006 03:42PM

First office job I got the boss smoked at her desk so so did I! Had my own small office though so it didnt bore anyone. Then when I got given a PC my day started going a lot faster through having something to read apart from the paper when I didnt have to work

stovelid · 04-07-2006 03:44PM

We're all very proud of you mate

OSiriS wrote:

I don't know how people can stand to work at jobs that give them time to slack off. Half the time I skip lunch, and work late to get my workload covered.

stovelid · 04-07-2006 03:47PM

Crosswords too.

jrey1981 · 04-07-2006 04:43PM

long, boozy lunches...

Ruu_Old · 04-07-2006 05:05PM

Tetris ftw!

How did people waste time in work before the internet?

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