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

Yep I like Idle, I can do Idle!



And the dog's (GOD BLESS'UM) are greyhounds and go by the name of MASSEY and FERGUSON

Peta, hello, Post 107, Jim Lynn posted a reply that said: "Jab, just don't worry about it." I did not take that to be a 'command from on-high' but as a freindly bloke reply, from a well seated user.

He went on to say offensive, defamatory, infringes copyright are things of concern. - The prefix to this was "*only*" possibly to show what is in the House Rules and what is practicable might differ, slightly dependent on circumstance. ie. Think about it.

What I took away from post 107, is that there are more important things to worry about, than just the odd foreign word. Personally, I would read into it that it's more important what is said (or not said), than how it's said.

I can understand the need for a more official line posted, and appologise if any embaresment for a highlighted post was caused. Yet Peta in post 113, you covered the point with 'own ability to undersand' regard foreign language use. I have used the term 'tourist speak' and don't think the odd bit of non-English a worry, since Jim did explain moderation does have some in-built saftey, by means of referal.

Greyhounds, Good Man.

That explains the lengthy walkies. Great names, too.

There is a researcher whose family includes 4 piglets, named Honey Roast, Rasher, Crackling and Apple Sauce.

Our pets have all had boring names apart from a whippet named Jeep, after Popeye's dog. He was weird but not magical.

Sorry for this interruption to normal service.

Greyhound are the best as they don't take much exercise only around a hour a day! and I think that nameing your pets is very important so to learn of the pigs is so cool i approve of the names!

The rules need to be redraughted. They are not precise.

Yea, I think that the rules are ok!

I know..you are one of many unable to accept change.

Time for Jimster to move on.

What does not seem clear to me is how the h2g2 staff are going to know the foreign languages are there to remove them.

If there is not an automatic program detecting the foreign words, the site is reactively moderated and researchers who do not understand the foreign languages should not report them merely on the grounds of their foreigness, how will the moderators and the h2g2 staff be aware of them?

Of course I don't do change well, its my age, and also I listen to radio 2 in the morning's!

Yes..it was by chance that I noticed the foreign post that began this debate.

If you had a rule: ENGLISH ONLY

then other readers could press the button.

Some will not because they wish to be "awkard"

But the fact is we are under terrorist threat. We need transparency to preclude tradgedy.

I'm a scared. Scared of the horror of death.

Good God Man get a grip of yourself!
Go and have a cup of tea!
Remember in a crises the British solution is to have a cup of tea!
Also, it's what the terrorist desires, to cause a sence of terror and fear!


Do Not Give in to Them!

Yes...I agree. They can have me. But the young ones. They need protecting. I love tea, and I'll do that now.

But to be honest...DNA and BBCi is not the right place for foreign postings right now.

I beg you to understand.

Rev JR,
Are we having a crisis, or a number of them, ie: Crises?
With ref. to foreign languages. How do foreign languages get defined? As I mentioned in a previous posting here, 'if I stood outside of my Bungalow in my pyjamas, before going inside to change into Jodhpurs, so that I could take my Caravan to the stables', would that be classed as being written in a foreign language? Also if this became a 'cause celebre' would it get yikes-ed?
Considering that English is a mongrel language, surely none of it is foreign!

The issue is transparency. I want to know what a post means. Nothing about the legitimacy of language at all. The thrust is security. Trying to prevent another 9/11 or Madrid.

Can you see the urgency?

Sirius, do you seriously think terrorists are using h2g2 as a conduit for their communications?

It's just another potential risk.
Remove the potential and you remove the risk.
Why mess with the snake if you do not have to?

To the question: I do not know.
The rationale: If the post is not in English I have no way of knowing.

Nothing personal at all..just "common sense".

Oooohhh! Was that in a foreign language? Maybe the PTB are keeping these H2G2 terrorists out.

"PTB"...jargon, encryption....QED!

I agree to your argement, "how do you define a foreigen language" but i can't think of a way (YET!) of getting a round this problem with out making it compulsary to post in english which is ledgible, understandable, in context of the conversation to which its used! if that makes sence!

Rev Jack

now to the rest of the postings which deal with security and protecting against terrorism, and the young being protected!

Its poppycock to "just protect the young" as just to do that just insulates them from the relaitys of whats happening around them and the other thing it does is promote them as a target!

rev jack

A message in the Queen's English may also contain an encrypted message unknown to the casual reader. There is no assurance that it is benign.