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

It is my understanding the Sarge removed the text and left the site as a result of harrassment by certain members of the anti-war establishment, people who could be found on the "what's wrong with americans" and "it's saddam/it's bush" threads. He gave out his email address to help confirm his ID; 1 researcher then sent him an email mimicing his address to prove how easy it is to fake email addresses, and thus prove that Sarge was a fake. Sarge's email was subsequently ruined by being flooded with 30+ spam messages per day. He beleived this to be the result of the researcher who faked his address.

I sent him an email asking him to put this article back up, but to no avail. He's shipped out of Iraq by now I think, and said he would return to Hootoo when he was established stateside. Probably not as sargeflipper, but as another researcher. I can send him another email or pass along any other messages you deem appropriate; or I can give you his email address if you want to try to communicate directly.

dave

Thanks for clearing up a bit of a mystery, Dave.

I really enjoyed Flipper's views on what was going on in Iraq and I, for one, feel worse off for him having left h2g2 (albeit temporarily). It was refreshing to have a non-media view of the issues and he made me reflect on our countries' priorities for the Middle East.

I am sad that he felt harassed by anti-war and anti-American opinions. I guess people can hide behind their computers and write things online which they would be reluctant to say face to face. Shame on them.

Please pass on good wishes to Flipper if you're in touch and I look forward to him reappearing on h2g2 under another name.


F/b

Greetings all SGT Flipper here. I thought that with the removal of the article that the surrounding conversation would have ended with it. A simple flame war turned into hacking and I thought that discretion would be by far the better part of valour on a field of battle that I am more or less unarmed on. So it would have made it into the eg would it? It is a shame that I no longer have the text of the article as my computer was killed in a mortar attack, shrapnel to the hard drive. If anyone else can retrive the text (perhaps of the BBCi server) I would be happy to repost it, if not I will attempt again at a later date, probably on a different subject for a guide entry. Thank you all for all of the comments/criticisms/support
Cheers,
Flip

flip n eck hi

Oh, the entry's been deleted. What a shame!

BTW, I think I recommended it the first time. If you redo it, Flipper, it'll have to go through the same process. I think as far as the BBC goes, once someone deletes an entry, that's it - I don't think they have a back-up copy.

Hello Flipper

Good to have you back What a shame the entry's deleted, but I look forward to the next version!

You still in Iraq, or back home now? Whatever, stay safe.

F/b

But chances are some one will have downloaded a copy for ,revision.
Quotes for a theseis, was not a ace working on it for peer review should not a copy be some where in the bowls of get writeing?

Yup, back in the states. Like I said the laptop went KIA so I have no copy left. But, with such positive comments I feel confident enough to try another at some point
Thanks!!

Credit where credit's due Flipper: your writing about life that most of us just don't experience was a real eye-opener - and well composed.

More please

F/b

I agree, whilst we may not have agreed with your reasons, reading them was a real eye opener to a l ot of people and I feel priveldged to have done so.

I was the Scout that picked this, and I'm very sure that the italics were as disapointed as I was when we found that you'd deleted it.

Ok I'm name dropping their aren't I? I'll stop..

Again will be hitting a new article eventualy. When? Who knows. Only been back in Florida for a week have one more Week to rearrange every aspect of my life, ensure that I am enrolled in University for the summer term and go back into hiatus. Heading over to the UK in the beginging of April until mid may and after I settle in to School I will try my hand out again for a guide entry, expect either a totaly different subject or a very different slant on the same.

I'm sad that you felt you had to withdraw the entry, Flipper. I hope that the support you are getting here will encourage you. I feel exactly as Z seems to feel. I think we should hear people's point of view. Exhange of ideas is always valuable and who know, you may have changed the point of view of some of your readers. My feelings on sending the army into Iraq have always been mixed and reading your entry was useful in my thinking it through.

That is a real shame. This guy has been in PR for about as long as I have and his article looks really intresting. Although I am feverantly anti war myself I see know reason to take it out on the soldiers. They are doing the job they have been paid and trained to do with absaloutly s*** resources and equipment and no hope of victory. Anti war protestors should be sympathetic to them not totally f***ing hostile!