h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just asking.

If this is what's happening, it seems a uniquely gittish way of shutting down discussion.

Of course, the site could simply be broken in a way that makes it LOOK like I'm being prevented from posting in just one or two particular threads. Seems like a heck of a coincidence, though.

testing testing...

If you're referring to a thread I think you're referring to, it's been closed.

And that's been a thing since pretty much forever.

Ah, right. Fair enough.

One point: it's most definitely NOT "been a thing since pretty much forever". It's been a thing since post-BBC. Rather, it was a specific and unusual feature of this site when it was on the BBC was that threads never closed, and many rumbled on for *years*. "Physically" closing threads to shut down conversation is very definitely a *new* thing here.

There are some threads that seem to doom themselves. The most recent closed thread got closed before I even got a chance to post. Not that that was a great loss. I routinely unsubscribe from threads that don't seem like much fun.

I look at the world as a place where it is possible to learn something from everyone I meet, in person or online.

Threads were closed back *before* the BBC took over, and during the time the BBC had the site. It's not a new thing.

Thanks for clarifying, Pastey.

Most threads eventually die anyway because people run out of things to say. I personally unsubscribe from threads once I realzie that I don't have anything new or interesting to post. I don't want to overstay my welcome, nor to bore people with needless repetition.

You're right paulh, threads do generally go quiet when people have run out of things to say.

There's pretty much three types of thread on h2g2, the ongoing chat/discussion threads, some of which have been running for years, the quick question threads which tend to get an answer and then topic drift into silliness of quiet, and then the arguing threads that I personally don't see any point in but can go on and on while people state their case repeatedly without listening to other people's points of view.

These last type of threads serve no purpose on h2g2, we're here to build the Guide to Life, the Universe and Everything (Earth Edition), not to host a chat room for people to argue.

Discussion and debate around entries and topics is one thing, but the last type of thread rarely is that.

I'm amazed a post can be hidden when an English person states what a French people use as a barbed description of English people (factual).

And that the French and English have along tradition of barbed digs at each other. (Fact).

I'll bow to the post being hidden where I made a veiled description of what the English call the French.

However, the second one, mad!

"we're here to build the Guide to Life, the Universe and Everything (Earth Edition), not to host a chat room "

That's the first time I've seen that stated so baldly. Interesting.

I agree with you for the most part, Pastey, but sometimes I learn something I wanted to know even from the argument threads. People may have strong differences of opinion, but in a best-case scenario they come up with fascinating data to justify their views. In the worst case, however, they resort to ad hominem attacks. There's a place for ad hominem attacks: comedy. I loved listening to Groucho Marx insult Margaret Dumont in the old Marx brothers movies.

Paulh, I consider those discussion threads. When you back up your view with evidence, and talk with and educate each other, and there's some wonderful examples of those around the site.

Hoo, maybe you should read this where it's better put then: http://www.h2g2.com/help/

I got the oops page

Could you report that over in tech feedback please Peanut? We're still tracking down what's causing that for some people. I know you've been reporting quite a few over there for us, and it really does help

Where should this thread be

community soapbox?

ok wil put a BR in,

for this thread

I meant where should this thread be?

I don't know actually Peanut, this is both tech feedback, because Hoo believed that the site might have been broken, making it look like he was personally prevented from posting to some threads. Although it was actually just a case that the thread had been closed and the closed message wasn't very obvious.

But the part about whether closing threads or not during the time of the BBC isn't technical feedback, more of a moved on to misc chat sort of thing.

But your posting about the Oops page is definitely a tech feedback

Hoovooloo
<"we're here to build the Guide to Life, the Universe and Everything (Earth Edition), not to host a chat room "

That's the first time I've seen that stated so baldly. Interesting.>

You mean this is more than simply the best place for challenging, expanding robust discussion on the internet? (And I *really* do mean that) (or it used to be)(and I sort of mean that.)

I have only ever used this for debating...although I don't even do much of that these days...been there done that got the T-shirt.

The only time I go to the Front page is by accident or to see what the QOTD is....if I cold see it in Brunel I might go there more often...

From what I've seen of the painful contribution procedure/editing process it's always put me off doing anything else.

> From what I've seen of the painful contribution procedure/editing process it's always put me off doing anything else.

It's something that the volunteers are working on, and have been improving immensely over the last year. Maybe you should give it another go and see what it's like now? If it's still not to you're liking, there are other sites out there that accept submissions from their community, Wikipedia immediately springs to mind. If you've got things that you want to write, I really do recommend finding the right site for you to submit them to, don't deprive people of your insights simply because you don't get on with one particular editing process.

You think I have insights!

There is *old* diabolical/substandard entries in places, possibly not fully in the guide that, on occasin, I've thought - that could be better - I'd be up for tidynig some of those up on occasion!


p.s. I do want this site to carry on and work!