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

* bumps thread up to nearer the top of your list *

How was your week?

Carrying on from your comment in my Journal.

Yes, it is an unfortunate situation vis the request for us to stomp on discussion around Iraq.

I don't mind doing a bit of peer moderation when all that involves is starring out the f**ks. I mean it's not as if the word or the conversation in that sort of scenario is stomped, it's just respelled!

This Iraq this on the other hand this is something fundamentally different and something I will not play along with. When the e-mails came through the Ace and Guru forums the tone of Natalie's (identical) messages seem so light weight, almost as if this was just another little job that they would just lurve us to help out with, when of course it isn't it's a fundamental change to the role of being an ACE, and one that I could not go through with. [Of course you'll have noticed that I haven't resigned as a Guru. This is because the role is very different, and within the context of the role I can cheerfully ignore any requests to go stomping on people.]

And then through the course of yesterday we had Ashley flitting through the threads saying, "but they've given you a place where you can all run along to and discuss Iraq. Please please please don't do it here". That annoyed me more than anything as he wasn't listening to any points that I and others were making about the inappropriateness of that alternative.

Still, it has been a fun couple of days on site

Good to hear from you.

Its a tough call and must be a very tough situation for the italics to find themselves in - irrespective of their views which I am sure appreciate the gravity of the situation - they find that they have to support an editorial line which is beyond the control of hootoo.

These are very worrying times and I find myself torn over the whole thing. With close friends involved I fully understand the security implications of unintentional comments and yet I oppose any form of censorship. It interests me that of all the reporting I have seen in the media none of it is from the country I understand the USA and UK are running opertions from.

I also share the concern that a lot of talk on the Ace forum is about moderation and ensuring that we are actively involved in peer moderation. It does lead me to think about what the role of an Ace is all about - a discussion I know I have had with you and with Abi on a number of occasions. Are Ace's here to make the site sticky or to meintain law and order or to act as guardians of the community as we know it.

Where I am at for the moment is that I get relatively little time here and that the fun playful side of hootoo is what I come here for. That is something I want to ensure is here for me and others to enjoy. I have generally never become involved in the 'heavier' debates round here as well I get plenty of that at work. As an Ace you only have to do what you want to do so thats what I am going to continue doing!

So

Changing subject

Whats been happening in your world? I hope you have been doing some fun things! I guess the has been good at least!

From what I can see the 'stomping' has been pretty much limited to moderating people's nicknames.

If one really wants to discuss the Iraq situation it seems that you can do it on site provided you take a little care in framing your message. For example if you talk about it in the context of BBC editorial policy or similar you get away wiyth it. Also straight forward factual comment goes through untouched - I made the comment, "They've just started bombing", and that was unscathed. It will be interesting to see how the policy is applied as the 'war' progresses.


As for the rest of life. Well, the has been great, particularly the trip up to Sheffield for the Leeds game . Everything else of course has been total shit, and sometimes I wonder why I bother. So no change there then

Hi!

I dont like talking about the war - its all so sad - had a horrible moment when I heard on the news that there was a tornado down the other day - then got very guilty when I felt hugely releaved that it was not from where my friend was based

I had gathered the was going well - whats this about FA disciplinaries coz of probelms with crownd contrl?

Sorry to hear that the rest of life is not great - what has been happening?

Hi

Not seen you on line much - are you OK? Do you need to talk?

I have been around, just doing other things that's all. Time being limited and all of that jazz.

I got the third degree off of mother last weekend (she was in England) as to what I'm doing with my life. To be honest, I couldn't give her any kind of a straight answer, as I have no idea myself. And more to the point, no idea as to how to change that. I seem to be heading downhill fast. Ho hum..

One thing she did want to know is, did you like the bag? (note - you are allowed to lie at this point )

Life would be much simpler if time was expandable wouldnt it! That having been said the more time I have available the less I seem to get done

How was your Mum - and yes I do like the bag (and no lies required)?

I am sorry you feel you dont know what you are doing with your life and feel you are going downhill fast
I am not sure what you mean by feeling you are going downhill but you know that as your friend I am here for you dont you?

There are lots of ways to think through what you want out of life - and not all of them difficult or scary! This is not really the place to discuss them but well you know where to find me.

You have lots going for you and I wont embarase you here listing it all but I am sure if you took the time you would be able to come up with a list of hundreds of things - maybe that would be a place to start?

am I starting to sound like a mother?

I wouldn't worry unduly if I were you. My problems are my problems, they are for me to resolve or not, as the case may be.

Just dont forget there are people around who are willing to help you

What are you up to this weekend?

Hi there!

How are you? Whats been happening in your world?

Just wanted to say thank you for sending copies of the photos. Much appreciated although as you said there were rather too many of me for my liking - and having seen them maybe you can now see why I dont like having my photo taken!

Got back a little while ago from two weeks by the coast - have been missing the seaside. how is Brighton?

What's been happening in my life?

Nothing of any worth or merit. So, much like the preceding 36 years.

*shrugs*

Really? I dont believe that.

How is Brighton?

Read any good books?

Ok, so maybe a slight exaggeration. But it still doesn't mean that my existence serves any particularly useful function. And also, as I've said before, that fact is emphatically *not* yours or anybody elses problem

And Brighton is wet.

And I haven't read any books recently.

I never said it was my problem! I dont want to nag but you are a great person ...

Cuxham is dry - have you been out in the rain?

I read a couple of good books on holiday - adnd a couple of crap ones too! The good ones were Frank Skinners Biography - definitely recommend that one and The Rotters Club by J Coe -again very good

That is very sweet of you and all, but I think I'm rather better placed to make the value judgements about myself.

And of course I didn't go out in the rain. It's wet! Fool

Thats the best bit about rain!

* shrugs *

Whatever

Well I will head back up to Brum tomorrow night ready for another working week Not really looking forward to going back but hey hopefully once I get there it will all seem a little better!


Have a good rest of the week