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

This has been bugging me for a while and I thought you'd have fixed it by now but there is still no explanation for the 'No Spitting' rule.

Not that I mind or disagree with it, but newbies might see it as odd, as leaving it blank sends mixed signals. I know that there's an 'Introducing Levity...' argument mentioned in another thread but the bald statement really sends out autocratic and dictatorial overtones (though this may just be me...) despite the subject matter hardly following that line. This is not really helped by the explanations/expansions actually being given for the other rules.

Can't you go back to what was in the rules on the old site? They were a nice and friendly explanation. I've come up with a couple of ideas just to get the ball rolling, something along the lines of one of these maybe:-

1. "The lawyers wanted to know what rules we wanted and we said 'the usual ones, plus "No spitting"'" -- which I think pretty much follows the original argument for it...

2. "Look, we just don't want phlegm all over our monitors, we do have to work here after all -- and besides, it's unhygienic"

3. even something like "...And that goes for you camels too"

4. maybe "Special dispensation may be given to people with a doctor's note." -- though that would probably see an awful lot of 's notes appearing...

5. how about, ", why would you even want to do it!"

6. "You didn't seriously think we'd let you get away with it did you?"

7. "What would your mother say if she caught you even thinking about it?"

8. "Would you act like this in your own living room? No? Well don't do it here then!" -- Unfortunately some people might

Please, just something to lighten the tone!

Hi Dancing Ermine.

Wow! We never thought anyone would actually take that rule seriously - after all, you can't spit on a website, can you?

Have you come across newbies who are genuinely confused by this rule? If so, then an explanation might be in order, but it would really blow our minds to see anyone take it seriously! We're perfectly happy to add an explanation, but could you point us towards those who thought it was 'autocratic and dictatorial'? We'd really like to see that, as that's absolutely not the intent!

Thanks...

*faints*

Really (and as usual) it's just a personal bugbear; 'autocratic and dictatorial' is probably just me, nasty reminders of (apparently) silly rules in places such as swimming pools (No running, bombing, jumping in, diving -- Duh, how are we supposed to get into the pool?). I could do an informal opinion poll if you like? I don't generally discuss the house rules with Newbies (it's hard enough trying to get them to reply to an ACEing in the first place ) so I'm not entirely sure what the feeling is on it and I stayed out of the whole Zaphodistas movement so I never really got their take on things...

It's just I think that the pre-BBC version worked better because there was some explanation in the introduction to the house rules as to why it was there, rather than having it stick out like a sore thumb, even if it is just 'we wanted a rule of our own' or some derivative.

It's not that the rule is taken particularly seriously (I presume the sqaucks don't enforce it then ), more that I was bored on saturday and was looking for something minor to complain about. Anyway the site is all to do with clarity and surely the pages that _everyone_ have to read should be the most clear? I'm particularly thinking with regards to researchers for whom English may not be their first language or who may be slightly confused about british culture by it (okay, that's probably a bit of a stretch for a credible argument but I have a habit of trying to spot the possible bad sides even when they don't exist yet...).

Even thinking of it in terms of a joke it works better if you're cued up for it, I mean going straight to the punchline 'Doctor Who' is marginally less amusing as going through the whole 'Knock knock' - 'who's there?' - 'Doctor' - 'Doctor who?'- ... well at least the first time you tell someone the joke...

I'll just calm down and stop digging before the hole gets too big...

I thinkt aht spitting in public is a disgusting thing - so the rule should really be made law.

Whoami? *notices attack of the killer typos too late*

Your wish, our command... you will find the "No Spitting" rule extended and enhanced if you check out the House Rules.

What's worse than fainting?

*dies*

* of life*

Helps out Mina !

Actually I don't think that it's terribly clear what h2g2 is. I mean it's a pretty confusing URL. Why don't we change it to [URL Removed by Moderator] - it would be a lot clearer!

I haven't got a .co.uk to contribute!

*wonders why Peta is allowed to post urls in forums*


to Peta

to Mina

She's not.

Mwhahahhhahahaahaaahaa!

*Stamps foot!*

Hovers mouse pointer over 'Suspend Account' button...

Interesting...

Even hiding behind their mask, you can sometimes tell who is typing as Les Editors...

Abi

Woops! You just -ed Mark!

Did he like it?

I was afraid of that.

I simply couldn't believe that Abi's cheeks have so much stubble.

T'was a bit scratchy, but surprisingly soft.

So on the whole, I guess so.