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

I'm afraid I never really took part in the movements to try to get the beeb to shift its positions on moderation and such. It wasn't that I liked the changes from pre beeb days, but that I always thought it was an exercise in futility. Of course, I was still on the prefiferies of h2g2 in the pre beeb days - I used to mostly hang out at the Aroma Cafe with the Scandies. Because of the time difference, they were the ones online at the same time as me. So perhaps it wasn't realism but just not caring as much then. Although the move did kill my favourite thread dead. I was always quite cross about that.

I also think it was a difference in perceptions, or perhaps just experiences, of the Internet at the time. The freedom of the anonymous net and all that. And I never really felt like that either, I don't think, although it never occurred to me to use my real name online and I still find people that do abit weird. Now that dates me in Internet I suppose.

I suppose I expected the beeb to keep nurturing and growing the site, but it's hard to tell except in that I was massively disappointed when they didn't. Except that I'm not sure I really noticed for the longest time, _except_ that I retreated t the Atelier for years and years and years and didn't really feel the need to come out, which has got to say something. I can date when I gave up completely I reckon. That's when I started the blog. Then there was also the sheer rage I felt when the beeb announced the sale for the waste and time lost (I always thought the sale would be a better thing than hanging around here, providing someone bought the place!). I must have had some expectations because I really felt extremely cross.

Odd though, because I'm not sure I expected the beeb to develop the site in a way that would have made it facebook before facebook or a major blogging site and so on. Of course, those are very commercial ventures. I wonder what the world would be like if the beeb, a non commercial venture, had?

In fact, I think it was the way they didn't promote the Guide and killed it dead with the limitations placed on what could go in and the inflexible way they were enforced that really peed me off.

I wonder what the beeb thought they were doing with all their communities?

Gotta love waking up at 5am.

The energy in those links is alarming though. I'm feeling quite old after having a poke about there.

Thanks for this Sol. I would very much like to quote you in the Dissertation, if I may.

The energy was astonishing. And the endless kindness and patience of the Italics in the face of absolute vitriol.

Anyone else care to share?

B

To me, the black and yellow of Brunel always just fit.

That's because for a long time, my only exposure to the BBC was when we were visiting my father on weekends, and would do projects in the kitchen while listening to the World Service on his ancient radio - it was black, but the handle was repaired with yellow wire. (I wonder if I can ask my stepmother for that radio - I suddenly want it very much.)

So I suppose my associations with the BBC (keeping in mind that I found h2g2 long before I moved to the UK) were that it was a little old-fashioned, cosy, and a reliable source of impartial news - because that's what it was to my parents and especially my grandparents, who listened to it secretly during the war.

I don't know what I *expected* of h2g2, because I didn't know it actually existed until well after I joined.

methodological innovation - F19585?thread=8279048&post=110416261#p110415704

Forgot to say, feel free, Ben. I wonder when Pastey will get the telepathic interface working?

It would be lovely if she would let you have it Mala. Do ask, you'll regret it if you don't.

Looks like someone managed to hit the right buttons.
Trajectory of Methodologic Innovation set fair. Picking up where I left off. Well done to all concerned.