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

I feel really guilty about this entry as Pinniped was (justfiably) wanting to have a pop at the environmental hypocrisy of the US and had agreed with me to write a Case for the Prosecution presenting the Bhopal Disaster as 'Exhibit A'. So apoligies for not pulling out my finger from my orifice and helping with this as I promised, but I've (a) been on holiday and (b) been on a training course.

However...I have every faith in Pinniped's writing to present a balance but impassioned treatment of this inglorious aspect to the way Americans view themselves and the rest of the world to give it an unconditional . And I am still up for writing the Bhopal entry, putting the boot into a supine subject. The old one-two has a lot to recommend it; the bigger they come, the harder they fall.

Damn, I'm late, and missed the proper ending

Beautifully described and craftily understated entry, Pin. I really enjoyed it.

Entry: The Lake Peigneur Disaster - A73988914
Author: Pinniped - U183682


page turner

Really interesting.

Having worked in environmental regulation for a decade or so, it stills boggles my mind the short cuts people will take if not told not to.

The European Environment Agency did a interesting publication on how slow we can be to see the writing on the wall sometimes, a few years back: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/environmental_issue_report_2001_22

Having had some exchanges with US counterparts, I can also vouch that they have a difficult time trying to put even the most basic of controls in place.

sprout

Hi Pinniped. Can we just state our position on this. If this Entry is accepted for submission into the Edited Guide, then you automatically grant us permission to edit its content.

This is stated explicitly in the <./>House-Rules</.>, in the section on copyright:

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Copyright on h2g2

It's important to note that you still own the copyright to everything you contribute to h2g2. This means you are perfectly free to take what you have written and re-publish it somewhere else.

All you do in contributing to h2g2 is to grant us the right to publish. In other words, anything you create on h2g2 is done under the condition that you grant us a non-exclusive licence to distribute and edit the material in any way that we want, and in any media. (See the Terms and Conditions [http://www.bbc.co.uk/terms/#4] for the full terms of our rights.)
--

Once it is accepted we would certainly look at this final paragraph. Entries need to be fair and balanced, and we can't be seen to sanction one ideological standpoint over another. So we can't guarantee that it wouldn't be altered.

The choice is ultimately yours. The original version will always exist. But we reserve the right to make changes to Entries after they have been accepted. If you can't agree to this, we won't be able to accept the Entry. Which would be a shame, as it is a great read.

I accept the general rule of course.

In the context of this specific Entry and its final paragraph, I wouldn't want my name on it if the last paragraph was altered.

Should it be picked, you'll decide whether you can let the paragraph stand. If you decide you can, then please name me as the Writer and Researcher.

If you feel you have to alter it, then you might consider repeating the 'laces' thing as for the Zapruder Entry. I am not prepared to let you publish an altered version of this Entry under my name, but I will consider donating the Entry to a friend.

I really hope you wouldn't alter it though. It's pretty mild criticism, and I'd be surprised if you consider it untrue.

Pin, you only need to add 'the high finance companies of...' and you would be pointing to the greed of the few and not of the entire population of America.

Should it become necessary, you are welcome to use the 'laces' account to get this marvelous Entry into the Edited Guide. I just hope it won't come to that.

lil x

Hi Pinniped. Sorry to fall back on the 'rules is rules' mantra. But they are there for a reason. h2g2 Entries are there to inform, they are not a place to tubthump any particular viewpoint or agenda. We've always credited our users with the wherewithall to make their own minds up about things, so Entries should let the facts speak for themselves. It would be a shame if you really wanted to us to publish the Entry under someone else's name. Especially over one point in one paragraph. If we accept it, it is very likely that we will have to alter it. However, if you feel so strongly about it, it can, of course, remain as an unedited Entry. That would be even more of a shame as you would be denying a greater number of people the chance to read it. But it's up to you.

I would support the suggestion that lil made in the last posting from her. It isn't 'all America' after all. I also think that you should take the credit for writing this piece Pinniped, so it would be a pity to use an alias account.

Lil - please give the Entry to laces. Use your judgement about an appropriate edit. I will be content with whatever you decide. I won't comment on this Entry again.

Eds - I hope post #48 did its job for you, whatever that was. It did nothing for me.

FM - sorry, but I've given up on posting an Entry on Bhopal to h2g2. If they have to edit the Lake Peigneur Entry, there's no way they'd dare publish what I need to write on Bhopal. I'll contact you separately if/when I have an alternative idea.

Pin, I am sorry you don't feel able to make a small change to get this Entry through PR. It is ready for selection as it stands, to remove it now delays its entry into the Edited Guide.

If the Eds want to use 'laces' they are welcome to use it U7952280 I am sure they, or the sub-editor, can make the changes without having to put it back into PR.

lil x

What a shame, it was such a good article. Principles are a pain sometimes aren't they?

Websailor

That's a pity.

I've sent you a friend request on facebook, Pin. We can discuss how to approach this sensitive issue there, away from the limelight.

The phrase, "cutting off ones nose to spite ones face" comes to mind here. I'll refrain from what I really want to say, enough has been said.

Hardly: Pinniped wrote this article with the sole intention of making it pointed. Let's face it, mining disasters are ten a penny and unremarkable in their own right. They occur on almost a weekly basis in China. Pin's intention was not to write about a relatively commonplace mishap but to contrast it with more recent events. Redact the last paragraph, and you remove the point of writing the article in the first place.

When you're as talented a writer as Pin undoubtedly is, you can paint a vivid picture using very simple language. You can also make a very strong point even stronger if you don't ram it down the reader's throat.

I would ask Pin to consider rewriting the last section with subtlety. It should be possible for someone of his skill to not only meet the writing guidelines but to make this appropriately hard-hitting too.

Icy

FM is right in every detail in post #56. There was no point for me in writing this Entry without it's final paragraph. I feel strongly that there's no point in anyone reading an emasculated version either. The only reason I didn't pull it entirely is that I owe a lot to h2g2, and I want to do my bit to keep it going for as long as we can.

In fact I'm increasingly of the opinion that there is no point in the Edited Guide itself, except when those execrable Guidelines are broken. Maybe more gently broken than this in most cases, but isn't it true that all the special Entries are somehow personal and opinion-based?

Icy - thanks for saying that, but it's already as subtle as I'm prepared to be.

Pin, you still need a link for the Deepwater Horizon comment, so people will understand it in the future:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8664684.stm


lil x

All of you who think that Pin has stepped over the line should read the last section of this Entry, written by Yours Truly: A784046

I point the finger at all of us in the developed world, not just the US. It's opinionated, but the Entry is better for it. Yet it got through PR, didn't it?

As I have pointed out numerous times beforehand, h2g2 is being squeezed out by much more popular (and populist) sites on the Internet, and it needs to rediscover a distinctive voice, and quickly. Pin's is certainly one of the more distinctive and interesting voices here, but what is the point of a disclaimer like:

"Most of the content on h2g2 is created by h2g2's Researchers, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the BBC"

if it's not to give free rein to those voices?