Comments on: Nightjack, the sequel: should we avoid the blogosphere at work? http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/ Daily views on British politics and the Conservative Party from a centre-right thinker who writes letters on his blog to politicians, journalists and many others. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:14:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: JuliaM http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/#comment-10876 JuliaM Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:36:50 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=3609#comment-10876 “She’s a moron and clearly, clearly not someone I would want involved with the administration of government.”

Sadly, I think you’ll find she’s probably one of the brighter, more IT literate members!

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]]> By: Shaun Pilkington http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/#comment-10875 Shaun Pilkington Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:30:46 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=3609#comment-10875 Nicole - I sense your ill tempered blast was directed at me since I called her a muppet. Having read Matt's guardian link about what she actually did, you are correct that I should retract that. She's not a muppet. She's a moron and clearly, clearly not someone I would want involved with the administration of government. Someone who either: 1) Can't tell what website they are on; and/or 2) Can't see what email account they are referencing or using Should, I think, be in some remedial education facility and not a government job with a gold-plated pension. This doesn't change the fact that the Labour witchunt against people who criticise it is deeply wrong. But as she worked for them, she really should've known what they were like. Except, as I say, she's a moron. And, FYI, I have an honest job in the private sector.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10875','Shaun Pilkington'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('10875','Shaun Pilkington','Nicole - I sense your ill tempered blast was directed at me since I called her a muppet. Having read Matt\'s guardian link about what she actually did, you are correct that I should retract that.\n\nShe\'s not a muppet. She\'s a moron and clearly, clearly not someone I would want involved with the administration of government. Someone who either:\n\n1) Can\'t tell what website they are on; and\/or\n2) Can\'t see what email account they are referencing or using\n\nShould, I think, be in some remedial education facility and not a government job with a gold-plated pension.\n\nThis doesn\'t change the fact that the Labour witchunt against people who criticise it is deeply wrong. But as she worked for them, she really should\'ve known what they were like. Except, as I say, she\'s a moron.\n\nAnd, FYI, I have an honest job in the private sector.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Nicole – I sense your ill tempered blast was directed at me since I called her a muppet. Having read Matt’s guardian link about what she actually did, you are correct that I should retract that.

She’s not a muppet. She’s a moron and clearly, clearly not someone I would want involved with the administration of government. Someone who either:

1) Can’t tell what website they are on; and/or
2) Can’t see what email account they are referencing or using

Should, I think, be in some remedial education facility and not a government job with a gold-plated pension.

This doesn’t change the fact that the Labour witchunt against people who criticise it is deeply wrong. But as she worked for them, she really should’ve known what they were like. Except, as I say, she’s a moron.

And, FYI, I have an honest job in the private sector.

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]]> By: LFAT http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/#comment-10873 LFAT Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:57:18 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=3609#comment-10873 Nicole, take a chill pill please - of course I can deride her for getting herself into trouble. Whether she deserved the sack or not is open to debate, but she certainly overstepped the mark. Matt, thanks for the update. What a bizarre tale of misunderstanding!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10873','LFAT'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('10873','LFAT','Nicole, take a chill pill please - of course I can deride her for getting herself into trouble. Whether she deserved the sack or not is open to debate, but she certainly overstepped the mark.\r\n\r\nMatt, thanks for the update. What a bizarre tale of misunderstanding!'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Nicole, take a chill pill please – of course I can deride her for getting herself into trouble. Whether she deserved the sack or not is open to debate, but she certainly overstepped the mark.

Matt, thanks for the update. What a bizarre tale of misunderstanding!

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]]> By: Matt Wardman http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/#comment-10871 Matt Wardman Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:08:17 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=3609#comment-10871 As I understand it, the report by the Telegraph is inaccurate and a comment never appeared on a MySociety (or any other) website. I haven't spoken to Lisa G, but other people have done so. The sacking is real, but the "anonymous comment on the internet" stuff is untrue - unless she is telling porkies. What hasn't been established is how it came to the attention of the department, and how they managed to justify such a heavy handed sanction as sacking an employee for a relatively trivial offence. In seriousness, this is way behind NightJack as a one-off event. I expect that you may need to write a PS letter as and when (and if) more comes out. [Update: It's out http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/jul/06/telegraph-hazel-blears-expenses-civil-servant-sacking] ]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10871','Matt Wardman'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('10871','Matt Wardman','As I understand it, the report by the Telegraph is inaccurate and a comment never appeared on a MySociety (or any other) website.\r\n\r\nI haven\'t spoken to Lisa G, but other people have done so. The sacking is real, but the \"anonymous comment on the internet\" stuff is untrue - unless she is telling porkies.\r\n\r\nWhat hasn\'t been established is how it came to the attention of the department, and how they managed to justify such a heavy handed sanction as sacking an employee for a relatively trivial offence.\r\n\r\nIn seriousness, this is way behind NightJack as a one-off event.\r\n\r\nI expect that you may need to write a PS letter as and when (and if) more comes out. \r\n\r\n[Update: It\'s out\r\nhttp:\/\/www.guardian.co.uk\/technology\/blog\/2009\/jul\/06\/telegraph-hazel-blears-expenses-civil-servant-sacking]\r\n]'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> As I understand it, the report by the Telegraph is inaccurate and a comment never appeared on a MySociety (or any other) website.

I haven’t spoken to Lisa G, but other people have done so. The sacking is real, but the “anonymous comment on the internet” stuff is untrue – unless she is telling porkies.

What hasn’t been established is how it came to the attention of the department, and how they managed to justify such a heavy handed sanction as sacking an employee for a relatively trivial offence.

In seriousness, this is way behind NightJack as a one-off event.

I expect that you may need to write a PS letter as and when (and if) more comes out.

[Update: It's out
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/jul/06/telegraph-hazel-blears-expenses-civil-servant-sacking
]

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]]> By: Nicole http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/#comment-10869 Nicole Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:19:08 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=3609#comment-10869 How dare you say that it is her fault she got sacked for merely sending an email from her work account? It is LUDICROUS that it even happend? Did she make ANY reference to her job or where she works or indeed any political reference? She actually makes a reference to ALL HONORABLE MEMBERS -Does this not make her impartial? I think YOU are the muppet for condemming her without reading the full story....I wonder if YOU work for the department for nazi'ism too...<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10869','Nicole'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('10869','Nicole','How dare you say that it is her fault she got sacked for merely sending an email from her work account? It is LUDICROUS that it even happend? Did she make ANY reference to her job or where she works or indeed any political reference? She actually makes a reference to ALL HONORABLE MEMBERS -Does this not make her impartial? I think YOU are the muppet for condemming her without reading the full story....I wonder if YOU work for the department for nazi\'ism too...'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> How dare you say that it is her fault she got sacked for merely sending an email from her work account? It is LUDICROUS that it even happend? Did she make ANY reference to her job or where she works or indeed any political reference? She actually makes a reference to ALL HONORABLE MEMBERS -Does this not make her impartial? I think YOU are the muppet for condemming her without reading the full story….I wonder if YOU work for the department for nazi’ism too…
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]]> By: Shaun Pilkington http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/#comment-10864 Shaun Pilkington Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:30:02 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=3609#comment-10864 Haha well I'll have a look at what's involved and then have a whip-round for any required fee.... ;)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10864','Shaun Pilkington'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('10864','Shaun Pilkington','Haha well I\'ll have a look at what\'s involved and then have a whip-round for any required fee.... ;)'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Haha well I’ll have a look at what’s involved and then have a whip-round for any required fee…. ;)
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]]> By: LFAT http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/#comment-10861 LFAT Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:41:42 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=3609#comment-10861 Shaun, well volunteered - good luck with the FOIs. John, did you check the search engine caches? I have to say that this story is starting to look a little shaky.... Thankfully, the principles behind it are still worthy of discussion because someone, somewhere is going to be caught out - be it this particular lady or otherwise.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10861','LFAT'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('10861','LFAT','Shaun, well volunteered - good luck with the FOIs.\n\nJohn, did you check the search engine caches? I have to say that this story is starting to look a little shaky.... Thankfully, the principles behind it are still worthy of discussion because someone, somewhere is going to be caught out - be it this particular lady or otherwise.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Shaun, well volunteered – good luck with the FOIs.

John, did you check the search engine caches? I have to say that this story is starting to look a little shaky…. Thankfully, the principles behind it are still worthy of discussion because someone, somewhere is going to be caught out – be it this particular lady or otherwise.

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]]> By: John Dee http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/#comment-10860 John Dee Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:24:16 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=3609#comment-10860 Mysociety.org is denying the story, and there's nothing to be found in any search engine caches. I rather fancy the Torygraph has been hoaxed. Time to put the righteous indignation back in the box.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10860','John Dee'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('10860','John Dee','Mysociety.org is denying the story, and there\'s nothing to be found in any search engine caches.\r\n\r\nI rather fancy the Torygraph has been hoaxed. Time to put the righteous indignation back in the box.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Mysociety.org is denying the story, and there’s nothing to be found in any search engine caches.

I rather fancy the Torygraph has been hoaxed. Time to put the righteous indignation back in the box.

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]]> By: Shaun Pilkington http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/#comment-10859 Shaun Pilkington Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:45:50 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=3609#comment-10859 Keyloggers are mundane; they simply capture strings of characters - everything typed. Making sense of it is more interesting. I think someone should do a speculative FOI for the search terms that flag up activity in those strings which attracts human attention. And if its the State which pays for this monitoring of Civil Servants, then why should they flag terms relating to the personal financial probity of any individual minister. What was it about this putative post that flagged it for attention? Was it the name of the <strike>beast</strike> chipmunk? Was it the mention of money? Or was it the mention of 'theyworkforyou'? There are serious questions here regarding the State's IT infrastructure and overwatch that can be addressed by anyone with the time and money to FOI it to death...<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10859','Shaun Pilkington'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('10859','Shaun Pilkington','Keyloggers are mundane; they simply capture strings of characters - everything typed. Making sense of it is more interesting.\r\n\r\nI think someone should do a speculative FOI for the search terms that flag up activity in those strings which attracts human attention. And if its the State which pays for this monitoring of Civil Servants, then why should they flag terms relating to the personal financial probity of any individual minister. What was it about this putative post that flagged it for attention? Was it the name of the <strike>beast<\/strike> chipmunk? Was it the mention of money? Or was it the mention of \'theyworkforyou\'?\r\n\r\nThere are serious questions here regarding the State\'s IT infrastructure and overwatch that can be addressed by anyone with the time and money to FOI it to death...'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Keyloggers are mundane; they simply capture strings of characters – everything typed. Making sense of it is more interesting.

I think someone should do a speculative FOI for the search terms that flag up activity in those strings which attracts human attention. And if its the State which pays for this monitoring of Civil Servants, then why should they flag terms relating to the personal financial probity of any individual minister. What was it about this putative post that flagged it for attention? Was it the name of the beast chipmunk? Was it the mention of money? Or was it the mention of ‘theyworkforyou’?

There are serious questions here regarding the State’s IT infrastructure and overwatch that can be addressed by anyone with the time and money to FOI it to death…

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]]> By: LFAT http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/07/06/nightjack-the-sequel-should-we-avoid-the-blogosphere-at-work/#comment-10857 LFAT Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:33:31 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=3609#comment-10857 Matthew, in that case what the hell is going on with this lady getting fired? Please feel free to join in the debate! Shaun, from what Matthew says your keystroke log theory is looking more likely but I'm intrigued to find out more. GK, it sounds like you were a little smarter than the civil servant in question when it comes to using email addresses. I'm sure civil servants mouth off all the time about their bosses - for the Government to suggest otherwise is laughable. Jackart, I hope you're right about the overreactions dying off. Asquith, apart from Iain Dale the blogosphere has been remarkably quiet about this story.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10857','LFAT'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('10857','LFAT','Matthew, in that case what the hell is going on with this lady getting fired? Please feel free to join in the debate!\n\nShaun, from what Matthew says your keystroke log theory is looking more likely but I\'m intrigued to find out more.\n\nGK, it sounds like you were a little smarter than the civil servant in question when it comes to using email addresses. I\'m sure civil servants mouth off all the time about their bosses - for the Government to suggest otherwise is laughable.\n\nJackart, I hope you\'re right about the overreactions dying off.\n\nAsquith, apart from Iain Dale the blogosphere has been remarkably quiet about this story.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Matthew, in that case what the hell is going on with this lady getting fired? Please feel free to join in the debate!

Shaun, from what Matthew says your keystroke log theory is looking more likely but I’m intrigued to find out more.

GK, it sounds like you were a little smarter than the civil servant in question when it comes to using email addresses. I’m sure civil servants mouth off all the time about their bosses – for the Government to suggest otherwise is laughable.

Jackart, I hope you’re right about the overreactions dying off.

Asquith, apart from Iain Dale the blogosphere has been remarkably quiet about this story.

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