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

Your DNA logon details should work, but there have been problems with this in the past. You might have to do something to agree with their rules of something first.

I also cannot see where to complain. I would like a specific email address of a real person, if that is possible.

Tango

My thoughts (for what they're worth) are here.

F88455?thread=258452

I think this decision needs careful consideration and not just a knee-jerk anti-"censorship" response.

Otto

I can understand why the BBC has done what it's done over the conflict in Iraq. They are after all funded by Uk lisecense television liscence payers, and it has saved h2g2 that approach.

They aren't after all here to provide a internet site where anything and everything can be debated, they're hear to provide a quality media service that does have to be balancd, that's part of the remit, and believe part of the Broadcasting Act.

There are many times in the past where the BBC has said things which have offended the government during a war. Margert Thatcher got angry, when during the Faulklands war because they weren't biased towards Britian.

The price we pay for not having adverts on site, and not being hassled for money, is to have higher moderation standards that we have on other websites.

That's the situtation take it or leave it. And I would like to remind all those users who don't live in the uk and are complaining about this that they get this service, that I (happily) subsidsise through my TV license.

They DON'T accept my normal userid password, but require registration first, where I have again to accept the rules and regulations, and give my first and last name, to be published on every post.

No way. I am not being traced by the secret police that easily.

I would try myself to see if i can help you, but i want nothing to do with that message board. There is no way i can see that it will ever work.

Tango

I have to admit that I am not fond of the idea of yet another username and password set up. As I recall, during the general election debacle, there was a specific site on H2G2 itself, was there not? Why can't we do that again?

So they have what they want, no more discussions on Iraq.

Thankyou Otto and Z for your thoughts. I have been sitting here trying to think what to say as, like alot of people here it seems, emotions are running here.

Whilst the extra moderation will be irritating to say the least, i for one seem to spend more time 'working' here than i do spending time actually enjoying and using the site, they could have decided that it would be inappropriate to continue self moderation during this time and returned to the previous way of moderation.

The BBC is not saying that the conflict cannot be discussed, the forum has simply been moved to another place. I view the BBC online sites as a whole and not h2g2 as an entirely seperate entity so do not see the difference between moving a thread to the 'judged' appropriate area. (no more than moving something from one area in h2g2 to another)

As was mentioned, the BBC is funded by UK license payers which gives it less flexibility in some areas than other 'organisation' that are commercially funded, but it also means it has to be whiter than white and make sure that anything it is involved with cannot be open to misinterpretation.

Gagging? Censorship? If there was no forum provided to discuss the conflict I would agree but it has been made clear that the BBC is providing a site for this.

Mort

there has been several more posts since i started that post, so it was a follow on from Z's

I do not have problems with the concentration of the discussion an sich, only the fact that I have to register again, giving up my anonimity or being forced to use a false name.

I suppose Hussein Saddam will be against the rules, even when there may be thousands of people cursed with that name.

I'm glad people are starting to see this policy in a positive light now. I think h2g2 is the friendliest online community I know. You only have to look at any article about _anything_ on a site like kuro5hin where flaming is allowed and it's a horrible sight.

I think it's great that the BBC have allocated those people that want to see heated debates a place to join in with it, and I can totally understand the idea of stopping discussion elsewhere. This is a very emotive issue, and on a site as big as this, it's hard to control the conversations, which might drag in people who don't want to get involved (just look at this for an example - I'm posting a message in this thread even though I'd rather not get involved).

More importantly here, I don't think this was the Italics' decision anyway (was it?) and if BBCi has a reason for doing it, I'm all for it, as they've never let me down before!

~

I don't think I like this policy. I don't like the idea of being followed by the ACEs and I don't think h2g2 is the same as BBC. It has completely different history and the fact itself that I have to create a new account to discuss Iraq proves that.

If the global login concept doesn't work, that is a bug and should be treated as such - I believe that DNA accounts should automatically work as BBCi message board accounts as well, you should just have to agree to their T&Cs (as you do if you have a BBCi account and come to DNA).

Um, a question if I may....

Will the mere use of the word "Iraq" be cause for pulling a post? You see, my husband is in the military, and is on alert, and if he is called up, I would at least like to be able to let my H2G2 family and friends know that he has been sent out, which may be well-nigh impossible given the blanket nature of the posting ban.

I think that all ACE's would consider a non specific comment on how your husband has had to go 'there' and how you will worry and miss him - not to be in breach of the extended moderation.
It would only be a problem if you went on to mention the conflict and state opinions on the subject as opposed to missing hubby.

I wish him well anyway.

Mort

Montana Redhead, I would hope that we would not be so uncouth as get rid of personal messages about your husband.

I too have relatives in the Gulf. My thoughts are with you.

Re: Post 13 "If you wish to make a complaint, the best way to do so is to do so via http://www.bbc.co.uk/feedback." HOW There are 8 options * I want more information on a BBC programme. nope * I want to comment on a BBC programme. nope * I want to comment on a BBC news story. nope * Where can I find help using BBCi sites and services? nope * Where can I get a tape of...? nope * How is my licence fee spent? nope * I've found a technical fault. nope and finaly "comment on a BBCi website or service please use the search box below" search with the paramaters "h2g2" returns "Sorry your search was not successful" so once again nope so how do I comment on my dissatisfaction with this policy

In reply, specifically, to Sir Mort - and to other's expressing similar views, I would have to say that I do *not* consider h2g2 in the context of BBCi as a whole. I have been here since before it was owned by the BBC, and do not use it because it is part of the BBC, but because it is a well-designed and -run community called h2g2. It is therefore completely irrelevant to me whether or not the BBC has provided an alternative place to discuss the war. I have been part of some very thought-provoking, well-informed, discussions on this site, and as far as I'm concerned this policy amounts to a gagging of those discussions, with which I am thoroughly disappointed.

this has been put forward as a contact address on other threads

http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/bbc/complaints.shtml


Mort