Be Excellent To Each Other

Does anyone know of good, free web blocking software for Windows that I can give a schedule and whitelist? For example, "always allow <work's subnet>, msdn.microsoft.com, google.com", "allow all traffic between 12 and 1pm, after 4pm".

It's either that or get Grim... to blanket IP ban my work address (likewise the WotR admin), and try REALLY REALLY HARD with the other procrastination enablers I have.

I would imagine that a whitelist like that would be rather restrictive - allowing Google is one thing, but as soon as you clicked a search result, you'd find that site blocked. You might be better blacklisting the sites you waste time on the most instead - not that I can recommend anything there I'm afraid.

I suppose I could hack a hosts file blacklist and run a scheduled task to swap it in/out and purge the DNS cache...

Which investigation would be, ironically, an EXCELLENT PROCRASTINATION TOOL.

Does this one seem ok?

Strictly speaking if you blacklist BEEX it is an anticrasternation tool.

MANY BANANAS.

I did look at that one and discounted it for a reason that I can't remember now. Maybe I should actually try it before doing so.

Bik, are you unhappy at work? Could this be part of your problems? I ask, since I never used to be off Beex at the last place, but now I have a job I quite enjoy I'm able to moderate myself far, far better.

I agree with Zio, I found the same thing.

New job: Guess what, as the weather was so nice today, they *sent everyone home at lunchtime* Have you ever heard the like?

Anyway, Bik, I would suggest that setting up an automated block from your side is a bit pointless, since you'd be able to unblock it on some pretext when you get bored enough.
If you really think you need some help to not visit as much, I recommend us banning your work IP (as you suggested) for a week. It may sound silly but it kind of "breaks the habit". You can still keep up at lunchtimes and such on your phone, but it's then not as easy to get dragged into discussions and following links and stuff, because of the interface and because you'd be obviously playing with your phone instead of working.

If this is FOR HOME USE then you'll find these options in most routers. Have a look on yours.

edit: You clearly said "work address".

BUT!! Take a shitty netgear router into work and plug that in between you and your switch

Doesn't Win7 come with this built in as "parental options" or something?

I was going to suggest the family safety settings

Xp at work, innit. though a changeover is in progress, for new pcs so i suppose i could ask my boss if i can change on my current one. i am unhappy at work but when i'm down about something it bleeds through to everything else, so it's hard to view it clearly - but i'm not really in a fit state to job hunt anyway :/ Cheers everyone.