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

this website is very strange indeed.people never seem to be who they pretend to be,they seem to be playing some strange mindgames and,just when i think i know whos who and whats what,something else happens &they all disappear into the ether!you seem to be fairly sane and uncomplicated(despite the contents of your portfolio!) so,can you please tell me whats going on?is anyone out there really real?help!(by the way,you may have noticed that i have stopped using capitals....i was doing that because i actually didnt know that using caps was seen as being rude on the internet...not only am i new to using the site,i am also new to using technology...and,although i find the site really interesting and enjoyable,i am just a bit confused.....!FINDOGASK.















1

I can second that. What IS going on?

Looking at some of the recent goings-on here to familiarize myself with the site, I notice some scathing (and sometimes childish posts.

I am not sure how beneficial these are to the craft of writing.

Spiderbaby, you seem to be a poster who is in the know and who is truthful about your identity. Why lies behind the switching of identities and the scathing remarks? Do all you people know each other personally and are some guarding their work, suspecting theft?

Just call me confused...

bonnylass

Well, a first for me. To be seen as sensible and sane!!! I must state that I do have one alternative name but I will very rarely use it, and if I do I will tell you that it is SB. The name is undine and I only signed in as that because one evening I could not get lodged in as SB and needed to message someone.

That out of the way, there are some threads which are, to say the least, confusing for any newbies who drop by to get the lie of the land.

A lot of what seems to be quite sarcastic and cutting comment is , in fact, only some of the guys who have been here a while having a bit of fun but there have been some arguments which have been so heated that people have felt they have had to leave. This is a great shame. These things are so unecessary.

I really don't know who is posting under multiple names, except for rodmurray/camusboy, but he is very open about his identities and has never set out to deceive anyone.

Like mobile phone texting, these message boards lend themselves to a person misunderstanding what is said through lack of a facial expression or voice intonation. Sometimes what one person percieves as irony another will find offensive or insulting. You will find pals leaping to the defence of friends when the 'aggressor' in the situation was only joshing.

I have been guilty of having 'knee jerk' reactions and posting 'annoyed of kent' etc. It's happened to me with txt messaging too.

Maybe if we had smiley buttons for irony, humour, deadly serious, insult and only joking, things woudl be a little less muddied.

If you find your self in the middle of one of these threads where everyone seems to be mudslinging then just unsubscribe. If you find something personally insulting hit the ! button and alert the mods.
A lot of people do seem to have 'empty' portfolios. I understand that 'established ' writers wanwt to come here and see what is going on but at the same time 'protect' their identities and their professional work. Unfortunately this leaves them open to charges of 'shame on you, put your money where your mouth is' type coments.
I think there is room here for everyone, from the person writing their first poem or story to experienced writers who have a lot to offer all of us.

It should not be a platform for anyone who argues folk down and proclaims that there way is the only way. There are lots of 'ways' it is up to us to pick and choose which one works for us.

Nuff said I think.
spiderbaby (alison)

Thank you.
Your response is much appreciated.

You thoughtfully outline the reasons they may have.

I recognize that writers are sometimes (shall I say?) eccentric. Perhaps moody. (Might come from all the composing and standing in a character's shoes??)

I wasn't sure I wanted to stick around. I belong to other sites which aren't as witty perhaps, but don't have the same energy, if you will, that I see here. The mundane doesn't appeal, but if mudslinging is the norm, I may have to exit. (And I am NOT comfortable alerting the moderators....but I shudder when folks are outwardly ranting and accusing others.)

It is hard to decide whom to trust.

But, again my thanks for the insight you shed on this issue.

bonny

What has been happening is the bbc has linked up all its web sites, being 10 to my knowledge.
some of these sites have been seperate for years H2G2 ,DNA,BTOF .
Also cult sites startreck,drwho,Most of these also had message boards, so if you already had a user name on h2, and a different name on buffy ,depending on which site you came in on would determine your name.

Also several Aces have different acounts for editing under the old system and have since opened a new account on ww11 for example.

As to the childish behaviour well that will allways be present, but there are resonable steps than can be taken to prevent the most severe of behaviour

You are right ltp. Buggered if i am typing that lot out!
I someetimes get caught up in the banter but if it turns nasty I usually either tell them to calm down or I ignore the thread. Like the TV there is an off button. It usually blows itself out. I hope that it does not discourage some of the newbies though. There are more than enough threads to read which are sane and informative. If you can't find one you can always start your own. I had a daft badger thread going for ages before someone complained it was too frivolous.
There loss if they did not want to join in.
I don't fall out with people. If they want to fall out with me then let them go. They come back eventually. I am patient.
SB
TO ANYONE READING THIS. please don't be discouraged by the sniping. Its only one or two threads which are involved. The rest are great.

You are right ltp. Buggered if i am typing that lot out::
spider you dont need to, see fari for short cuts .

With your mouse hold the left button down and moveover words or links you with to copy, when you have highlighted all the words you want release button

Then on your key board press the Ctl
button and at the same time press the c button release both buttons.

Cross your fingers stand in a bucket of porridge

No all you need do next ,left click where you want writeing/link is press Ctl and the v button

I knew that!!logicus tracticus philosophicus l.o.o.n !!
was joshing.
I have to go to bed. My eyes are aching.
laters.
SB

SPIDERBABY
thanks for the explanation(and to logicus-thingy as well)! i agree about the "new" smiley icons,and think that i will try to suggest that to "them upstairs",if i can work out how to contact them...remember,i am new to all this technology and arcane knowledge. i have enjoyed a lot of the banter on here:even,i confess, some of the fighting!(sorry!)but all of the confusion over who is who etc was starting to make my head nip!(scottish expression-meaning i began to doubt my sanity) i hope everything will get back to "normal" this week...but not too normal,as i need a break from the serious work and these threads are great for providing that.FINDOGASK.

FINDOGASK.
Have left crit under your mirror poem.
SB