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

What's become of good manners? Or of any manners at all? When I visited the banquet thread last night (my time) I was so distressed that I didn't trust myself to make a reasonable response. The Celery-Webjello campaign last week threw a party with a special dinner to which they invited all the opposition candidates and their supporters. CWJ provided an opportunity for everyone to dress up and, it was hoped, socialize. Some banter and good-humoured cross-talk was expected, at most. And what happened instead? It wasn't until our Covert Ops staff member, never one to swallow his thoughts, remarked on the absence of most of the opposition that candidates began almost literally to rain on the banquet. Some candidates deliberately toyed with the continuity of the thread or flouted the suggestion of formal dress. Some insulted us and left. After this outburst, the party did in fact settle down, and we hoped that the opposition candidates had got over their need to "make a statement." People came and went, and the atmosphere had become more intimate and clublike. Everyone was made welcome and treated honourably. The party was in fact a resounding success, well-attended and much enjoyed by all for several days, even by latecomers. But last night we were witness to appallingly bad manners on the part of Demon Drawer, Joanna, Eomando (whose running mate remains absent, whereabouts unknown), and Fashion Cat. Was this an accidental meeting? Witness this post: http://www.h2g2.com/F44375?thread=67843&post=516550 Baldrick duly appeared at the banquet room shortly afterwards. Joe aka Arnia had, in the meantime, run out of the hall in disgust and defected almost immediately: see thread http://www.h2g2.com/F46364?thread=69380 . Styx the rat arrived, took in the scene, and went directly to Fashion Cat, who was putting celery down the waste disposal and claiming it was our candidate. He asked her what her point was. She absconded directly. Styx asked her again at Baldrick's ice cream stall. She continues, at the time of this writing, to evade the rat, although she, Baldrick and Bluebottle have made rude and elitist remarks about him. For some time, especially since the slanted report issued in the Post by campaign hack Fragilis, there has been an unwelcome wave of paranoia throughout the community. Now that some researchers have demonstrated their willingness to trash threads, invade other researchers' homes and steal their pets or attempt violence on their creations, where does it end? How can this be a good thing? What will become of our treasured open community, our mutual trust and goodwill, if such callous entities as these are allowed to serve? Needless to say, not all candidates have stooped to such poor behaviour, but the Celery-Webjello campaign has every right to express concern about the violent trend being shown by certain elements, as amply displayed at the most recent events at our banquet. We understand that politics can have its moments of gamesmanship, but feel that such moments should stop short of assault and mayhem. Respect is a two-way street. Thank you for your time. Asteroid Lil Spin Doctor Celery-Webjello 2000

I too didn't trust myself to post to that thread after reading the previous posts. I couldn't believe that candidates for office could stoop to such puerile behaviour. The behaviour exhibited belonged more a mob of vigilantes than to a group of distinguished political candidates who were invited guests. I mean, these people tried very hard to establish that they were EATING The Celery. Fortunately he was elsewhere and was not harmed, but the intent was there. What got into them? In contrast, the Celery wouldn't think of, say, burning DD or FC in effigy, much less in person.

*shakes head in dismay*

Pierrot: Aaaaaawwwwk, who were they stalking?

I did not take part in any of these events, but I have got one question:

Can you guys [The Celery's team] actually take a JOKE?

It seems to be that you're taking this whole election business WAY too seriously. The rest of us are just having a bit of fun. But whenever I make a joke regarding the campaign, one of your team immediately pounces on me and makes a huge deal out of a one-forum-posting joke. You seem to be doing the same to all the other candidates too. This isn't a war, for goodness's sake, it's meant to be COMEDY! I think you all need to lighten up a bit.

Yeah, and I thought they stood on a POLICY of FUN. I think this thread highlights just how unfunny they are.

In the meantime I'm working on my next routine, I have a lot to top.

Hey Peregrin,

Can't you tell when a post has been made in character?

Hmmm... maybe not. Need some hints? The forum it was posted to? The title of the thread? The signature of the post? Pierrot's comment?

Maybe you should take an acting class. I teach theatre... We could make some arrangements.

Let's see... We just had a hugely successful party and had a tremendous amount of fun eating, drinking, and dancing. We're getting tons of press coverage, and have a delightfully enjoyable group of supporters that we love spending time with.

Yep. We're having a blast!

Sometimes fun is a little more sophisticated than curried lampposts.

Hey, we don't just take a joke, we take it and run with it. Peregrin's team can't stand to be disagreed with, that's the REAL problem.

Hey DD, here are your salad dishes, all washed by the staff at l'Hotel Chrome.

It is reassuring to know that no animals/vegetables were hurt in the making of this production! Ego's, however, are another matter!
shazzPRME

*sulks*

*points at The Celery*

He started it.

(actually, I probably did... I have a very short memory tho')

Hey stop trying to take credit for my idea.

I have witnesses to that.