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

Tit -

I write from experience and observation - so the information regarding pockets of air and retaining water, in my opinion, is not "nonsense".

I have not written anything about drag at all in the Entry so not sure where you're finding that information.

I may add something about what is positive about speedos, but I'm afraid I am excessively tired of seeing the sort of h2g2 Entry that bangs on about facts and figures.

I'm trying to retain the fun and amusement of the original, thus omitting the scientific clap-trap for a more humanistic style.

I have made note of your opinion and will see what I can add.

Entry: Speedos - Update - A20109052

There, have balanced the Entry with some positive comments.

What's your confession lil?

Traveller in Time also loads of experience
"There must be something else creating the airbubbles then. I can dive in and jump out of the water without anything going inside it.

Like I wrote in the monofin entry, many swimming suits will get dragged off by the speed of the water. Not so with this particular brand.

Hope it will end up balanced as the name deserves.

(I try to avoid writing about a certain software company, hence my slowness somewhere down this list)"

Traveller in Time rereading
"Still unbalanced, but getting there "

With the cheaper brands it's been noted the elastic around the legs and waist is a bit less than adequate, so I think the creeping in of excess air/water can result from that.

I think I put about water resistance in now, or I will!

There we go, think that reads better. I'm loathed to add more as it's creeping away from the tongue in cheek style now...

My confession?

Oh Yes!..

I make lousy

Kids always used to wear speedos (we always did, anyway). Less so now, it seems. Probably something to do with changing cultural attitudes toward child (semi-)nudity and sexuality.

I don't wear them now.

TRiG.

One would hope you don't wear your childhood speedos now. They would be rather tight I assume. And chaffe. Ah, doesn't bear thinking about!

Added a small bit about speedos being the domain of male children, but I don't want to go too far down that route as it has uncomfortable connotations.

Yes, a pleasingly small bit, which doesn't disrupt the flow or detract from the humour.

This, though, is a problem: "Both circumstances can sometimes be visually pleasing, but invariably are not."

... can be ... invariably ...

Dichotomy.

TRiG.

Just remembered, I was once at a swimingpool in northern France where knee-length shorts were banned, apparently for reasons of hygene. (Of course, there are still alternatives to speedos, such as those tight-fitting short shorts you see on Cypriot beaches.)

In the end, after a bilingual row with the receptionist, we left to swim somewhere else.

TRiG.

... sometimes ... invariably ...

That's the actual problem, not the "can be".

TRiG.

I've removed the 'sometimes', I agree, made the sentence completely confusing. Not sure how to incorporate hygiene and speedos though...

Although not sure I really need too. Nice anecdote though, I'm just imagining the bilingual argument <laugh<

I'm pretty happy with this as is now. It is a little more balanced, but biased towards not wearing speedos - which I can't avoid because that's the humour of the piece (I hope )

I missed most of earlier discussion, but having read your current version I like it

Pimms

Pimms

Any other comments?

I've added a link to English Channel Swimming. I wondered if the Beeb might have a pic of David Walliams in his Speedos for his Charity swim kicking about? That might be a good addition to the Entry