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

Nice try. Close but no cigar. Still don't see how we can actually write about people, books, CD's, movies, etcetera without being allowed to quote one single line.

Am I getting thick here ?

TM.(U45152 for more elaborate journalentries.)

Towelmaster - I said I will get back to you on this point and I am in the process of doing so.

Abi

Hi TM

It's perfectly acceptable to quote excerpts from books, movies etc as part of a book review, poem review, film review etc...

It isn't acceptable to copy out entire chapters of books or song lyrics, because they are copyright material. That bit is straightforward, yes?

I'm currently taking advice about using small snippets of poems, lyrics etc, in coversations and postings - we're going to post up a copyright advice page within the next couple of days, which will give futher guidelines on this, it's a difficult issue - isn't all moderation? - but we're determined to resolve this issue so that it's workable on site, but at the same time, legal.

I'll post a link to the page as soon as it's up. How does that sound?

Sounds like you're back to the tightrope walking after the hols...

Hi Abi/Peta,

Just to clear things up here :

To get the full picture on my stand re. moderation etcetera etcetera you would have to read every thread I have participated in recently.

This is of course impossible... So just one small thing :

I have said frequently that I believe the towers are working on this and that they are doing their best. However, a lot of researchers(including me) feel that it would be appropriate if we continued to dig up examples etc. As I told you in my email I am not so much interested in the theory of it all. I want to focus on tangible, practical problems so that you and your colleagues have a clear picture of *just what* I don't agree with.

Of course it might also help you to discuss things with Auntie if you have a lot of response from the community.

So again : I am not blaming the Towers, I am trying to get the Beeb moving. Just like about 90 % of the other researchers talking about this(I think...).

Of course I do sincerely hope that this discussion will become obsolute as soon as possible. I can think of a couple of things I would want to write about... Shazz s waiting.

TM.

P.S. I keep thinking about what would Zaphod have to say.
Belgium ?

Hi TM

I think you'll find that the things that *you* don't agree with are the things that *we* don't agree with, we haven't suddenly come all over enthusiastic about moderating, it's just something that we're having to deal with at the moment. I'd rather than people just lived with it for the moment, and stopped trying to test, probe and examine the moderation process, so that I actually have some time to devote to resolving the difficulties we're facing rather than sitting here answering moderation, 'but what if' questions over and over again. I really do know that you all mean well, but I'd rather we all dropped the moderation topic and got on with having fun, writing entries, etc etc as we used to. Does that sound reasonable? Lets all move on now shall we?

Hi Peta,

I do not intend to keep going on about this subject. just the occasional "how is it going" will do. If everything we do and say regarding this topic fails then *that* is the time to draw conclusions. Not before.

On the other hand : I do not intend to write articles until I know what the ultimate BBC-rules will be.

I am annoyed(to say the least), and not for nothing : I had plans to write lots of entries for the Post once h2g2 would be back online. I even had a series of weekly or biweekly articles planned. I had some ideas of my own for my page, etcetera. But...it goes against my nature to write things of which I don't even know if they will be 'acceptable' (mind you : not 'accepted'). A series about Babylon-5(tm) ? About songlyrics ? About artists ? ATM I don't even know if they would be accepted or moderated. And I cannot expect you and your colleagues to tell me in advance if subjects are acceptable because of course you have other things to do as well...

I put a lot of time in writing my entries, which is the reason why I haven't written many so far. Would *you* write entries for the guide under these uncertain circumstances ?

Anyway, I hope that you will solve all this so we can get on with it the way we used to.

TM.

I can NOT believe you are all sitting there blathering on about censorship and unfairness and not a single one of you complimented Peta on that lovely beret she's wearing! Just because we're cyber-entities is NO reason to ignore common civilities. Now each and every one of you apologize for not complimenting her or you WILL be soundly and severely thrashed. Though it may take me a bit to get there to administer afore said thrashing, rest assured I will eventually and most probably before the next millenium.
~§~
§hadow
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/U133044

Post Script
That's a lovely beret you have on today Peta, I applaud your fashion sense.

Thank you very much Shadow.

*Curtseys*

Who says I didn't welcome Peta ? Of course I welcomed Peta
Maybe I'm a bit sensitive because I didn't get my beret yet...


TM.

Hi TM

You can *review* anything you like and not get trapped by the copyright law.

Babylon 5 - fine
Song lyrics - fine
Artists - fine
Brands/products - all fine

I'm happy to talk about specifics TM - I just don't want to analyse the rules bit by bit, forum by forum, because I'll be here for ever. We're writing a copyright page. That will hopefully be of guidance to you. I'll let you know when it's up.

Thanx Peta,

Tha IS useful information.

I will keep an eye out for the copyright-page. As from this afternoon I have decided that I will only respond to threads that I have already posted on(well....some of them regarding this subject that is, not all of them...). Give it a bit of time eh ?

TM.

Anyway I'm unsubscribing from the older moderation postings now, we've posted comprehensive explanations/replies on all subject areas, and it's time to get on with running the Guide now. (I'll of course answer new moderation questions on the moderation helpdesk and the community soapbox, I'm just leaving these long existing conversations and leaving you all to debate amongst yourselves for a while).

See you all out there!

(unsubscribe)