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

Clive,
Would it be safe to assume that it might be tragic to get so hopelessly immersed in the cerebral depths of philosophy as to forget from whence this site came? Isn't it your obligation and duty to remain faithful to the HHGTTG and find something of substance to tie into the original storyline? You have a very core subject of the original manuscript: Deep Thought. Yes, deep thought is the field known as philosophy, but needless to say it is begging for a little creativity and humor. For heavensake, such a subject on _this site?_ It is SCREAMING for it. You are not writing a college thesis here, rather it is a permanent entry in The Guide as readers forever will know it. I hope you treat it as such and have a little fun with it.
ZAPF

P.S. You are very lucky to be the first to tackle this subject, Clive. I am anxious to see what you will offer.

Hey

I agree with Zapf - not necessarily with everything he may believe or think, or even the sort of cakes he likes(I like strawberry myself)but with his observation that things here shouldn't get too un-hip to the HHGTTG theme. And Jean-Paul Sartre?!?! What a pretentious, solipsistic writer of short-lived, unsupportable theories he was...how about something on Hot Black Desiato's philosophy (when he was alive)?

Which would be great if it wasn't for the fact that Hot Black Desiato was a fictional character. Hello? Unless you're talking about the estate agent from whence the name came of course. Then hey, you're interested in estate agents? Right on, huh?

Gosh, gee, again I have deluded myself - a fictional character, you say? I refer, as you have obviously not fathomed, to the premise on which this "report" is to be based. Philosophy, per se, is something that could be wildly lampooned in the HHGTTG fashion with some potentially hilarious results - to ponder the more weighty aspects of existentialism (or Categorical imperatives, ding-und-sich analysis, phenomenolgy, extended noumena or eudaemonia or any other philosophical dogma, for that matter) is, I posit, not in keeping with the spirit of the HHGTTG. Let's see an article on "Why the hairs in Descarte's nostrils are a thinking non-extended thing" or "Ten more reasons why Friedrich Nietszche should be on our school council", rather than a discussion on standard philosophical tenets...I merely beg the indulgence of researchers to have a bit of fun with this stuff, rather than rehash Philosophy 101.

I believe the bitter at the Cellar may be to your taste. But perhaps 'Xolin' is already one of the regulars of that dark cell at the BOF INN where the motto "Nothing Is Scared" is written in blood above the electric hearth that reflects off the tinfoil wallpaper...
If you are in fact not one of our regulars just having a right go at the H2G2 establishment then perhaps you might like to join our newly formed MAX MORON fan club...

Ooooh...anarchy! Max Moron - now THERE'S a confrontative attitude if ever I saw one. If there is such a covert club, I would gladly be affiliated with it; provided I can speak freely, with imounity and as inaebriated as possible. May I also bring my six-foot electric hamster? Power to the peeple

I will ask Pheroneous and Wumbeevil to plug your hamster directly into the mains.
The BOF is currently under construction in the sense that much renovation work and interior decoration is being done as we find more and more hidden rooms in the old Inn. The Cellar seems to be reserved now for only the maddest, although the odd spot of civility and conviviality is enjoyed by all in the Snug and much politicking of a relatively harmless nature goes on in Middle Aged committee rooms...
Well come (pun intended again) and see for yourself...

Thank-you but my hamster is DC. Nevertheless, I will take you urp on your kind offer and brave the dank cellar...I trust you have fortifying spirits to imbibe for keeping away the cold? Muddle aged committee rooms? They are decorated in some sort of Baroque fashion? The tables are hewn from a single tree? Quasimodo serves drinks?

Most of the chairs went into the fire during that last cold snap until we stole all the xmas trees from the Crosshaired Porpoises Club.
Furnishings don't really seem to be a problem, decor is an ongoing issue and entire houselots of ambience seem to come and go as kind of portable scenery that comes in and out with every patron. Some people have baggage and some have backgrounds. We like to think of ourselves... No that's a lie.

I apologise to everyone first for resurrecting a forum started so long ago but I have been somewhat immersed in doing my real life Philosophy degree (any pointers for this Xolin ??? ) and haven't actually got round to doing much on it yet. Other than having another bash at re-writing the sysnopsis. (heh ~ heh, Hi Peta - I *will* write it one day. Promise.)

Zapf: So you see I actually AM doing my college thesis (!) But fear not I did not plan to reproduce it here. I used "Deep Thought" for the title precisely because of the HHGTTG reference and the signifigence of the number Forty-Two. I have plans to make this a comprehensive introduction to as many aspects of Philosophy as I can reasonably be expected to write acurately about. It will, I hope, introduce the main philosophical ideas in many areas but in an easy to engage and if I can think up suitably illustrative examples creative way. I want to write something that is both factual, informative and interesting but which doesn't become so wound up it looses appeal to readers whom I hope will carry away at least a modicum of comfort that if they have not ' thunk these thoughts' that somebody somewhere has. I want this to a Guide entry on Philosophy and the best guide entries allways balance information with a little humour. It is a recipe I hope I can eventually emulate. (*When* it is done, I'll give it over to peer review and I'll try to ammend any imperfections and general factors of approach in the writing then.)

Xolin. I know you habour a desire to see h2g2 be more true to it's progenitorial novel, of which I hasten to add, I am a great personal fan. (Best line: "This was a mind that was not merely twisted but actually sprained..." - sheer brilliance.) but the part of h2g2 that I signed up to do this report on is the University (nothing to do with real degrees but a place where researcher(s) can gather together and produce (hopefuly) high quality entries on many disparate topics. It is not the place to "wildly lampoon" the subjects up for presentations as much as I would love to see what you could make of those titles you suggested. (I have a lecturer who always sets fiendishly difficult (but now i see terribly clever) essay questions for the undergraduates like: "Write a dialogue between Decartes and a Chimpanzee on the ethics of animal experimentation." - I'm not making this up, I had to DO that one! ) I want to write somthing that is original and fresh - and I assure you I will be having fun!
I want to treat it as both you and Zapf have suggested as something that will one day enter the guide and should therefore not be too geared only for the academically minded (I can save that for *other* guide entries) but try to elevtate the general thinking of the populus above 'contemplating shadows' to glimpsing the 'The form of Good' A toughie, I know, but I'm game.

It's a pity you don't like Sartre - I am currently researching his works for the start of my dissertation in the Autumn.

Clive ("looks like a fish , moves like a fish . Steers like a cow .)

P.S I don't as it happens, but it's another one of the all-time classic, HHGTTG uterences. - coincidentally involving Hotblack's ship - I seem to recall)

P.P.S See Peta I *really* am thinking terribly hard about the possibility of writing something. Bear with me. Inspiration is a fickle mistress.

Hi clive, were you tempted to say "I chimp therefor i am"?
ab
"ooook"!

I actually managed to work in the line:

"I have many powerful friends in the Bohemian Royal postal service, said the Chimp."

HA HAHAHA LOL Clive, a guy could live to be 10000 years old and never get to say that, sounds like the end of a really filthy joke thanx mate, iv'e had a crap day and that has cheered me up no end!
AB

I'll leave in suspence as to what kind of flithy joke *you* think it is (a prize if you've actually got one!) tell me tomorrow 'cos I'm doin' that whole stayin' up far too late for my own health it again. Amy would have a fit!

G'Night.

Clive

I will *not* have a fit!

(sorry, I'm bored at the moment and when that happens I go snooping in forums and my friend's entries... found that reference hilariously funny for some inexplicable reason... )

*sneaks back out of the conversation to her own home*

r u still b o r e d

Too busy to be bored...

I'm starting work on my first essay this week and it's giving me headaches trying to think around the myriad of different concepts I have to argue with/against and accurate reproduce.