I've noticed that an increasing number of sites I surf to at work have been blocked as "chat." We must have a new policy or something, which is fine by me. Because I know that there isn't a program invented yet that can halt the momentum of the two-way internet. Guess how many weblogs are blocked? (zero) Wiki-enabled sites? (zero) Here's the irony: my organization is seeking to IMPROVE collaboration with a full deployment of Groove Workspace and server products.
It is interesting to me, this schizophrenia in an organization. Wanting to get the benefits of collaborative technology but being paranoid to the point of clamping down security controls. Somewhere between no outside connectivity and total chaos of open privelege is the sweet spot for an organization technology-wise. Perhaps security is not the goal, but helping keep productivity flowing (security may not be the target...even the most security frenzied IT shop will admit that blocking 'chat' sites that have discussion threads is no more dangerous than letting people surf the net in general).
So if my productivity is in question, why hasn't somebody asked me why I need to jump into the discussion fray? In my line of work, no IT person can pass judgement on productivity based on my surfing habits. It is precisely because I DO participate in multiple online communities that helps give me the edge at work, and keeps my advice to the organization timely and fairly accurate.
Setting up policies for security purposes is one thing, doing so to grease the productivity skids is another. When will IT departments understand that they are spitting in the wind, and overstepping their role?
1:00:01 PM 
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