@augustlan (and @downtide) said: “Some workplaces actually forbid ‘inappropriate’ content on work computers. Words like ‘penis’, ‘vagina’, and ‘porn’ could get people in hot water, regardless of whether the question is really a sex-fest or a deep sociological discussion”
well, that’s exactly what the question is about. Why should anyone get in trouble for a deep sociological discussion? No one should even expect to get in trouble for such a thing.
As an example, if a client was ligitmately named “Dick” and the computer monitoring software picked up on it and the boss looked into it and found out that “dick” was referring to a name and not anything legitimately offensive.. would you expect to get in trouble or would you expect your boss to make an exception based on the results of his investigation?
Similarly, if you’re allowed to be online at all at work, I would expect a boss ought to make exceptions for non-offensive browsing even when it has to do with regular human sexual biology.
“people can and do lose their jobs becauseof what they look at online” – actually, @downtide, what you’re saying is: “people can and do lose their jobs for looking at non-offensive content related to sex online.” .. which is ridiculous really. This speaks to the “tolerance” of such puritanical behavior.