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

I'm not panicking, but:

Despite the fact that I am logged in (and the system must know that I am - Link to 'Preferences' showing, etc), clicking on 'Preview Message' takes me to the 'Greetings unknown hiker' page as if I wasn't signed in (I signed in on another page).

Also, while I'm here, why is it that when I try to join a conversation for the first time, before signing in, I am taken away from that thread to sign in, sent to my home page, and then have to search around again for the thread I wish to contribute to? This is most annoying!

Surely, I can't be the only Researcher to report these inconveniences.

I've noticed this happening to me a few times. I have a shortcut to the login page on my toolbar. If I click on the shortcut I get taken to the login page. I've found that even visiting the login page (without typing anything on it) is enough to sign me out of h2g2.

Would your problem be anything to do with this?

Another thing I find is that if I get the greetings unknown hiker message, hitting refresh on the browser is sometimes enough to clear the message.

What skin is this in?

We've only updated Goo and those other two "normal" ones, Brunel and Alabaster. It could well be that links are going to the wrong place.

I haven't had the log-out problem just now, but the secon part of Rudi's post is something I've meant to ask for for a while now. I had so got used to be on the page I want to reply to (or look at) when signing in that it's hard to get used to being on my PS again. It was a quite recent feature in BBC times, and it certainly was a bit controversial, but I think it is very convenient to be brought to the age I was last before signing in.

This is weird.. I need to tell Pastey about it.

Oh he's already here.

We're going to be bringing that feature back. The current login system is sort of a holding system

No worries, for now, I copy the url of the page I want to reply to, so I don't need to search for it once I'm signed in.

But which skin is this?

Sorry for the delay. I've been out in the rain, and I'm still a bit pressed for time.

Gnomon Post 2. I log in (not sign in) from Favourites directly to my home page, lurk a bit, and don't sign in until I want to post. I don't have a problem signing out.

Gnomon Post 3. I'll try hitting refresh next time.

Pastey Posts 4 & 9. Alabaster, of course!

Bel Post 8. Smarty pants! I'll try that, too - although I'm sure once Pastey has had a chance to look into the problem, that shouldn't be necessary.

You may be putting too much faith in me

Just to say that the situation is unchanged, and that copying the URL doesn't make any difference - ie I can type out a post and when I hit 'Preview Message', I am told to log in... despite the fact that I am invited to 'Sign Out' at the top of the 'Post to a Conversation' page.

But I still have faith...

That'll teach you not to preview.