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

... this place, I mean. h2g2. It is very rare that I check in here, because the place seems dead. I just reminisced in a few old threads where we used to have so much fun, but alas, all the former participants have left the site.

I then came across an announcement thread only to see that some very justified criticism was stifled by TPTB.

What the Dickens happened to open conversation, to debate, or even to topic drift? It's what made this site the fun place it used to be.
No wonder so many good people went elsewhere.

I'm still here in my little corner
and I CERTAINLY miss you love

I don't know of censoring, but then, I am not everywhere. Despite many hours available since congestive heart failure* permanently retired me.

I think the general problem is two-fold. There were cadres - each with their own goals - that just made the gentle, the civil or the fun people want to just give up on the site ever becoming a nice place again.

And even during the latter times of the BBC, the lure to attract people just had not been found yet. Not with so many rapidly interactive social media platforms to go to. h2g2 isn't exactly a dinosaur, but its frame-work is not the most friendly. The inability to edit and embellish a post after 5 minutes of further thought, or the inability to share images easily, don't make the site the 'friendliest' one.

* said heart failure has me on a short time-line, and if the world of cardiology knows what it is talking about - my expiration date will be well before the end of this year. But I am determined to see the arrival of my 2nd great-grand-daughter.

Good to have you back, Bel

We were politely asked not to discuss in the announcement threads and that is okay with me. Imagine people beginning to post discussions on the electronic time tables down at the railway station. All other passengers would be left in the dark about estimated times of arrivals and departs. Just saying (and hoping this makes sense).

But Nick is right, hooto's frame-work is not the most friendly. If somebody put up a link to a place where announcements could be discussed it would soon vanish in the mists of backlog. A permanent "se also" link next to a thread would be welcome.

Some of us are still left.... clinking about the place... but yes... it is just a shadow of once what was, just so quiet, and I've no longer a clue who is the powers that be anymore

Hi Bel! Well I'm still here, and there are some nice conversations happening here and there … I do wish the site could get some fresh blood though. I still wonder just how and why this place lost its momentum …

Hi bel,

Like you I'm not here often. Take care my dear hootoo sister...



LIl xx

It's nice to have good news once in a while

Hi Bel, and GB, and Lil. I was just thinking about all of you and wondering why we hadn't seen you lately.

The site is dwindling rapidly. It's sad when the second or third most recent posting on 'Ask' or in your own conversation list is 2 or 3 days old.

I have never looked at Facebook and don't intend to. I am only on Gransnet apart from here, but for all the complaints that h2g2 is old-fashioned, I find it is easier to use than that much newer site, and has several features that would make navigation on GN simpler and quicker.

Hope you gals are all well. I'm

Whoops. I just noticed that half-finished post. No idea what I was going to say. I wrote it in the middle of the night as I am in California at the moment and 9 hours behind you lot.

First time I've logged on in … ages... its certainly less of a draw than it once was...

It ain't the "site" at fault

it's who left the site and why ???

One for sure is:- Personality conflicts

There has to be something we can do to draw more people here, somehow! There will always be people leaving … for good reasons or bad … but if we can get in new ones to replace them (and more) the site can still thrive. I do look in here every day, though I don't always say anything … there's still a few interesting things happening here ...

It needs a relaunch for a new generation, but it would have to be a lot different to draw a new audience. A lot has changed in 20 years.

I can see it as more of an educational site. Get people writing so they can learn how to write in a safe environment.

I’m sure some will disagree.

Good idea Icy a writing forum would be an excellent idea, advertising it might be a little difficult, H2 be might be very useful proofreading their work, as we do with all our entries.

Hi, Bel!!
Good to see you again!!

Sorry, folks, family and work kept me from checking in here (and then I quite forgot ).

Maybe the site is a bit old-fashioned, but I used to like it here.
However, the tone seems to have changed a lot post-BBC, and I can't say I like that.


It is good to see y'all here, though. I really must remember to check in here more frequently again.

I've seen there'll be a meet next weekend, to celebrate h2g2's 20th birthday. For a moment, I was tempted to go to London, but I don't have the money. Flights are so expensive, and my wages are small.

Does anyone of you attend?

I was going to, but then my computer broke down and I had to buy a new one. Only to find out that the spare screen I had saved for an occasion like this didn't w*rk either.
And then my dentist said I needed a new crown. An even greater expense!
And not something easily pirated
Once that is paid all my savings will be gone - and knowing my luck I'm sure something else will break down ...
Alas, if it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have no luck at all ...
But I will survive and I hope whoever is attending will be having a great time

I plan to attend... - just hoping at the moment my bad throat doesn't stop me going - but for us travel into London is just a 50 minute train journey, and then half an hour walk through London to the pub on the Saturday - doubt we'll stay late though, I have to be careful with fluid intake or I quickly get low sodium and end up in hospital (and sadly beer counts as a fluid...)