RosieH

This makes me sad. Really sorry for your loss, Reggie, and all those who knew him well. I didn't know him very well, but what I knew was delightful.

Thanks Strafer. Similar in the client / agency situation, but unfortunately in the me / agency situation, I've been here less than a year, and am on a freelance contract. So they're unlikely to look kindly on my move. And Mick, that's what I'm wondering. I know they're not above suing generally (though clients for unpaid work that wasn't yet contracted, rather than staff). Also, if they did sue me, I'm not sure what they could get - I'm pretty much penniless. But I don't know if they could sue to prevent my working with the client.

Yeah, thanks Dave. Unfortunately, the client isn't under contract with any restriction clauses in place - only I am. So it's all going to be my own risk. Just going to have to bite the bullet and fork out the few hundred to get legal advice.

Thanks Lowlander. Tradesman, I'm not sure it would be so straightforward - would be a dream if so. They're making a decision between employing me, or staying with an agency (i.e. not looking to recruit someone else for in-house) - so it could be construed that I've "stolen" business from my current agency. And Otta, yeah, I hear you. Unfortunately, in this situation, I'm the one with the contract, and my client gets away scot free! Think a solicitor is probably the way to go.

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi KRoff.. > > There is always an element of resentment by some > when someone new posts here. > > It's a throwback to the old School Playground > Bully days. I call bullshit! I don't really post much anymore, I still check in from time to time, mostly to see about new places opening. Used to post a lot and it's true there was a clique, and in the manner of the one who smelt it dealt it, it was usually the ones who denied it that were part of it. But there was no nastiness in it, just a group of people who'd become friends in the real world as well as online, and the banter that comes with that. I recall what was possibly my first post being something about swastikas being painted on bus stops. I didn't post out of outrage or an intent to alarm, it just intrigued me. I seem to recall *Bob* shot me down. I thought, I'm never posting to those cunts again. Now I have a massive forum crush on *Bob* and consider some of the old clique my friends. There were also times when I had bitter rows with clique members, some of whom were also my friends, and it can be hurtful, because it's hard at times to separate the person from the opinion. But if you're going to post online, you need to deal with it. People with thin skins should avoid having opinions on the internet. It's pretty tame here, most places are FAR worse, and even the softie pinko Guardian's comments section can get vicious (largely because it's populated by non Guardian readers spoiling for a fight). It's social media innit.

Does anyone know if exclusion clauses in a work contract are enforceable. I'm a contractor at an agency at the moment. My client no longer wants to work with the agency, but has approached me about going to work for them in-house instead. My contract stipulates that I can't work with clients for 6 months after leaving - it's been suggested to me by someone in HR (externally) that this is unenforceable, but I'd like to make sure before I burn bridges / get horribly sued. Or does anyone know, or know where I could get fast and inexpensive legal advice? Would love to take the job, but not at the risk of my career.

I love *Bob* so much it causes me actual physical pain. You know what else is a meaningful song: I Light A Candle To Our Love In Love Our Problems Disapper But All In All We Soon Discover That One And One Is All We Long To Hear All'round The World Little Children Being Born To The World Got To Give Them All We Can 'Til The War Is Won Then Will The Work Be Done Help Them To Learn (Help Them To Learn) Songs Of Joy Instead Of Burn, Baby, Burn (Burn, Baby Burn) Let Us Show Them How To Play The Pipes Of Peace Play The Pipes Of Peace Help Me To Learn Songs Of Joy Instead Of Burn, Baby, Burn Won't You Show Me To Play (How To Play) The Pipes Of Peace (Pipes Of Peace) Play The Pipes Of Peace What Do You Say? (What Do You Say) Will The Human Race Be Run In A Day? (In A Day) Or Will Someone Save This Planet We're Playing On? Is It The Only One? (What Are We Going To Do?) Help Them To See (Help Them To See) That The People Here Are Like You And Me (You And Me) Let Us Show Them How To Play (How To Play) The Pipes Of Peace (Pipesofpeace) Play The Pipes Of Peace Ooh___ I Light A Candle To Our Love In Love Our Problems Disapper But All In All We Soon Discover That One And One Is All We Long To Hear All'round The World Little Children Being Born To The World Got To Give Them All We Can 'Til The War Is Won Then Will The Work Be Done Help Them To Learn (Help Them To Learn) Songs Of Joy Instead Of Burn, Baby, Burn (Burn, Baby Burn) Let Us Show Them How To Play The Pipes Of Peace Play The Pipes Of Peace Help Me To Learn Songs Of Joy Instead Of Burn, Baby, Burn Won't You Show Me To Play (How To Play) The Pipes Of Peace (Pipes Of Peace) Play The Pipes Of Peace What Do You Say? (What Do You Say) Will The Human Race Be Run In A Day? (In A Day) Or Will Someone Save This Planet We're Playing On? Is It The Only One? (What Are We Going To Do?) Help Them To See (Help Them To See) That The People Here Are Like You And Me (You And Me) Let Us Show Them How To Play (How To Play) The Pipes Of Peace (Pipes of peace) Play The Pipes Of Peace Ooh____ I Light A Candle To Our Love In Love Our Problems Disapper But All In All We Soon Discover That One And One Is All We Long To Hear

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Er, yeah cheers for that. Oh come now, pumpkin. No teasing during Ocsober..?

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > So no longer a 'great' album then Rosie? :) Erm... *hangs head*

Quids, you ARE consistent. I'm not. Having recently listened to the Stone Roses again, I can say that they get skipped every time on my ipod. I think their success had a lot to do with people's taking a nuclear f*ck-ton of ecstasy at the time.

Oh my god, Otta, you're a massive loser. If you can't find it in your tiny mind to listen to the Pixies and the Boss, then your heart must be shrivelled like last year's festive walnut down the back of the sofa.

Otta, you're a massive loser. Dr Who is awesome. If you can't find it in your tiny mind to like it, then your heart must be shrivelled like last year's festive walnut down the back of the sofa.

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Loz Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Well, to be fair, it avoids having Rosie try to > 'educate' me. > > You're in trouble now.. Meh, Loz and his standard tedious mansplaining straw man schlock. Because I said he could educate himself see, and now he's all shuddering thinking about me educating him. I feel unwell.

Yup. And we didn't even have Quids on the thread.

What's the Guardian equivalent of Godwin's Law? Oh, and Loz, no more snide than "would you care to define forced".

Robert Poste's Child, you're quite correct about the misogyny that sometimes abounds on here, but I have to say that it's actually a lot better than many other places. The ratio of intelligent to rabid is pretty good. As for a child being approached on their way to/from school, of course, this is only opinion on my part, but I wouldn't imagine it had anything to do with prostitutes working at 10pm. I recall many such an approach from my own childhood, none of which was spent in a place (or a time) when prostitutes were working. I think it's just a sad fact of life for women, and something that needs to change #everydaysexism And Loz, as for forced - this is generally recognised to mean by dire financial need and mouths to feed, addiction, the threat of violence. There are doubtless other reasons, that you could educate yourself about if you chose to.

Damn straight.

I'm enjoying the terribly coy use of language here: escorts and working girls. Is it wrong that I really want this to get lounged and see LadyD get on her soapbox? She's great on this issue, and it's one that I'm still undecided on, so I follow the cut and thrust of incisive debate with great interest (and not a small amount of glee). Is it really more likely to make punters try to hit on children though? That's another thing entirely, no?

Oh my god, this thread has properly brought out the unhinged conspiracy theory quotient. You won't be bombarded with anything off the back of a focus group (except, having once attended one for elite minds, I did subsequently receive a letter from them addressed thusly: "Dear Thoughtleader". Since then, Thoughtleader is the official job title I have on all my business cards). Focus groups wanna find out what you like, so they can make sure the product reflects your needs, aspirations, fancies, so that yes you are more likely to buy their product over someone else's. Sometimes, they just want to know which packaging you like best. They are WAY too expensive to be a mailing list recruitment exercise. I suspect, for some people, the foaming at the mouth gets in the way of rational thought. As for narcissism, Robert Poste's Child, you might be right. But I am quite happy to buy into a moisturiser for my face that smells nice, and may, however remote the chance, have more than a placebo effect at keeping the worst of the wrinkles at bay.

Quite right, and I've already signed the petition. But Otta, I will go on there and unsign it, unless you acknowledge immediately that El Pibe and I are fricking hilarious. I need this validation in my life.

You just ignoring us now?

Damn straight, Peebster!

Otta, I trust that is a non sequitur, rather than a post hoc ergo propter hoc situation..?

Yup, Seabag, this is the kind of edifying thing I spend my days doing - 50 Lady Gagas marching round parliament square, trying not to get arrested / run over... I'll drop you a PM about the van.

Seabag, I could kiss you. In fact, come here... I'm gonna see what we have!