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

I once wondered if displaying them differently would be more akin to the original aim of h2g2.

What would anyone say to setting up a metaforum, where you tried out different designs for forums (fora?) and found out which ones worked best? I think the current designs of most computer things come from the 1970s, and, love the seventies though I do, most "graphical" interfaces are just prettified textual ones. Like menus. Icons aren't much of an improvement, as the graphics don't tell you anything at all.

I have got a bit of a hobbyhorse about this now as I read a book called the Visual Display of Quantitative Information, by Edward Tufte ... what things look like can mean things, in a really cool way.

http://www.edwardtufte.com/600148070/tufte/

eee ... gone all strange again, sorry

An interesting idea, but I prefer to have it so that I get involved in conversations like this, if you had only replied to that postin, I would never have started talking to you, I probably wouldn't even realise you were on H2G2, whereas like this, the conversations just gain momentum like in a pub, you sit in a group of 5, 2 go aside for a chat, anyone can listen in if they want to or they can continue another discussion, but because they are at the same 'table' they are ultimately part of the conversation.

Mel *basically I'm nosey and like to keep an ear open!*

Fair point ... although an easier-to-view design wouldn't preclude that.

I have to start experimenting with this stuff, though. It could be fun.

The generation below are incomprehensible because they are just like you were.

...when you were a teen and confuzzled like about life...

Pretty much. Only I didn't know that. But I can remember how I felt, which is a start.

I have to agree I like a conversation that can be linked to other conversations, sometimes I will follow conversations all around h2g2 all day to see if I can get from one conversation forum I am in to another one that is not related in any way to the first one, except for the fact that I am in it...

Sounds a bit...

True, but do you believe in the fundamental interconnectedness of all things?

For the connectivity freaks, fight for your right to swear! Instead of using words which will be asterisked, link to A753527, like

- I really A753527ed up that time
- Don't be an A753527!
- Oh, A753527
- Cartman, did you say the Q-word?

An amusing solution to the problem, but it would probably be best not to link to that when there are impressionable minds in the forum.

Mel

To be used responsibly, of course, just like real swearing. Any people with impressionable minds, go here instead:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/

Be carefull, young/impressionable minds are easily tricked into going into things in the wrong way, sept 11th and the suicide bombers are good examples.

A balanced debate accompanied by moral teachings is better than propoganda in aiding them to form their own decisions as to the state of the world.

Mel

I thought that that was what 360 was all about?

360 offers a balanced view in theory, but I would research around before I committed to a cause personally!

Mel

Fair enough. Hey, impressionable people: google and coherent thought are good.

Are there even any impressionable people here? Other than me, I mean.

There must be lots, you can tell by all the arguments

Mel

There's no answer to that!

Then why post?

Mel

I did as Eric Morecambe would have done. I say what it occurs to me to say. More I cannot say.

So who was your first kiss, then?

Mine was actually my second Boyfriend, a guy called Ed, he was lovely! I think I wrote the story in a tread somewhere, hang on I'll find it!

Mel

voila http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/F91876?thread=195968&skip=0&show=20