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

That disclaimer is aimed at the unedited guide. It's only EGE material which is reviewed and edited by the BBC.

Says who, and where?

Well I just said it, up there, because the unedited guide is significantly "Most of the content on h2g2"

That's *your* interpretation, not mine. When I see a disclaimer like that on the FRONT PAGE then I, not unreasonably, assume that it applies to the WHOLE site.

Pin hasn't written a rant consisting of opinion unencumbered by fact. He's not giving vent to his inner Jeremy Klaxon. Neither is he trying to use the EG as a soapbox for his political views. This is a well crafted account of a real event with a sting in its tail. But, what the hell, the EG is too full of lucid, compelling, impassioned writing as it stands, isn't it? What it *really* needs is some more dreary throwaway musings about utterly banal subjects such as rubber gloves, Magic Roundabouts or, even, Blue Hoardings, doesn't it? They'll *really* set it apart from other Internet offerings.

Dammit - I knew I'd never live that Blue Hoardings entry down

Shame you didn't tell me in PR - I could have completely rewritten it for you. Ah well, there's always Editorial Feedback.

Well, whatever. You know what I'm trying to say: that somehow merely satisfying the Writing Guidelines is more important than writing something fresh and original. And that I've been as guilty of it as anyone else.

ENOUGH!!

While I have every sympathy with what you have to say FM, all you are doing is distracting others from Pin's article, which is actually bloody good!

Let the Eds sort things out, it won't be too far from what Pin has been saying, it will just be a little less irate.


lil.
Scout

But that would draw its teeth, wouldn't it?

Not necessarily. Please have a little faith in our Editors

lil x

"This is a well crafted account of a real event with a sting in its tail."

No. It's a well crafted account, tainted by apparent bigotry at the end.

"... tainted by apparent bigotry at the end. "

Coals to Newcastle, where the Americans are concerned...

Oh buggrit!

Just chill, Lil. This is hardly a major distraction now, is it?

Better now?

>>In its recent history, America has exhibited some traits that the rest of the world quietly deplores<<

I think the problem is the word 'America'. In the first place, Canadians tend to be annoyed by the use of the word, as they are also located somewhere on the continent (the Mexicans usually just give up). That's why I always say 'US'. In the second place, it is not specific here.

If you mean the US federal government, please say so. If you mean the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), say that - there is much to say about FEMA and what it does and doesn't do. If you mean US corporations, or multinational corporations with US headquarters, say that. If you mean various US state governments - or US governmental agencies, both at state and federal levels...you get the idea. You might say, 'US-based corporations, with the support of the US government, have a long history of disregard for the sovereignty and rights of ordinary people - both domestically and abroad. This tendency, while it is deplored worldwide, is hard to fight due to the economic power of these corporations, and the political influence of their diplomatic allies.' Would any of that be actionable?

I don't know how quietly anybody's deploring any of this. I for one wouldn't be quiet about it. Environmental irresponsibility needs to be combatted. Before that can be done, the specific agencies, organs, and legislative bodies needed to be identified and held to account.

As far as this history being recent: US-based corporations have been damaging the environment and destabilising their neighbour's governments for far longer than any of us have been around. (I really do have to get around to Sam the Banana Man one of these days.) Back when the word 'imperialism' was considered cool by everybody in Europe, Japan, and the US - think 1900 - all of this government support was out in the open. Think about Sanford Dole and Hawaii. You could go back to the 1790s and talk about the 'shores of Tripoli', but I guess nobody remembers that far back.

Here is some (to me) interesting information on Texaco, written by an anthropologist:

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Oil_watch/Texaco_terrorism_Ecuador.html

It's absolutely true that it's hard to get a large public reaction to corporate misdeeds if they are far away - and much easier to do so if they're happening in your backyard. Which is why corporations try to do their environmental meddling in someplace with a bad internet connection. Let's hope getting the word out wakes up a few voters.

Don't hold your breath, though. There are mountains with no tops in West Virginia. There are whole towns in Pennsylvania abandoned to subsidence. Every once in a while, somebody wins. Adding this entry to the Guide would certainly be a step in the right direction. Go for it.

Looks good to me, Pin

Dmitri, I wish you hadn't mentioned holding organs to account. It brings to mind a certain ex-President.

I'd love to see this in the Guide. Thanks for making the changes Pinniped, it's much appreciated.



Lanzababy

Thanks all

dmg - you're right, and so I've changed America to US of A. This introduces a question of singular or plural (ie of 'has' or 'have' as the verb in that sentence).

I've left it singular. I think this better expresses the intended idea of collective (ir)responsibility. The plural would sound more like a criticism of Federal institutions, and though I note your comments, I would prefer to suggest a deeper issue within the popular mindset.

I thought about putting 'Redneck America', because that's really what I mean here, but decided against it. I know this will only go through when PR accepts that the flirtation with opinion is unemotional enough to be permissible.

I appreciate that, Pin. Recent events here have made at least some people sensitive to the need to be as unemotional as possible in the exercise of political opinion.

Let's hope you strike a chord with this one.