I got a detention

Posted by nightwing422 on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 15:45Recycle Bin

I got a detention for downloading Firefox today. They even threatened a suspension if I continue to use it.

 

Thoughts? 


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Claim it is part of your
Submitted by Lucanos on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 22:17.

Claim it is part of your religion and they are discriminating against you if they refuse to let you practice it. Kidding...

Best trick would probably be to approach whoever it is that manages the computer at your school, and humbly speak with them about the situation. Find out the reasons behind them not wanting FF on their systems (remember, as much as you may be a user, if the computer is the schools, it is their system after all) and then ask them whether they have much trouble keeping IE (which I assume is the default browser) secure and updated.

You may well be able to switch them onto FF, but you have to make it clear to them that it will benefit both them and their users. You may even be able to convince them to run a trial with FF (using one of the free themes which makes FF look like IE) on a couple of terminals to see whether it can run as reliably and securely as IE. Yes, I know it can, but you need to make this an experiment where you are both learning that FF is better, rather than creating an enemy by forcing it down their throat.

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Your getting off easy (compared to me)
Submitted by KB1KOI on Sun, 11/25/2007 - 06:46.

I was in a similar situation last year. All students at Coventry High School (RI), got a "virtual high drive" (H:). I would download FF onto it and use it (as the school uses IE7). Back in April, I got a note on the H drive stating not to download programs. I re-loaded it. That afternoon, during last period, they called me down. The Tech Corridnator (F*ing Jim Murphy) Stated to my VP (Vice Princial) that I was breaking federal and state law, and that I was not in charge of determining sercuity (what ever happen to "doing your part") and recommended that I get 2 days suspension. That would be the only time I yelled back at an Administrator (Murphy).I did my 2 days. After that I still used FF, but off my flash drive. If they persist, try downloading Firefox portable to your flash drive. Its a fully ported version, and they can't say anything since its not running off their computers.

Do Not Back Down
Joe

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Reasons
Submitted by JustZisGuy on Mon, 11/26/2007 - 02:59.

There are plenty of legitimate reasons for using Firefox in school environments like that. Perhaps you are trying to learn how to do web development for the real world where they don't just use IE and require it for testing. Perhaps you need to use some development tools that are only available for Firefox. Perhaps  you are trying to do business with a site that doesn't work with that archaic IE browser any more.

It sounds like some of these places need a real Firefox advertising blitz. You know, posters everywhere, clubs, Firefox art, that kind of thing.

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