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

I feel as if I've missed the boat on this site, I only joined at the beginning of march this year.

There seems to have been a decline in intelligence all round. By this, I mean that the debates that have raged in the past have no equals now. Even without having been here from the beginning I am pained to see so many trivial threads on 'AskH2G2'.

In my short time here I have tried to introduce some thoughtful debate (look at the conversations in my space) to little avail. It seems all the H2G2 legends and heavyweights have left, or don't get involved much anymore. I can't blame them, the bombardment of, well... childish threads would dishearten anyone (I've been doing some research).

Don't get me wrong, I've got no problem with lighthearted threads, but too much of this has perhaps caused the 'dumbing down' that I've investigated.

What I'm really trying to say is: has this site had its golden age already? Is there no more intelligent debate left? Is everybody afraid of offending everybody else?

Now, I'm sure some people will say that I've missed the point of H2G2, and that it isn't about serious debate. That's fine, what I'm really after is a bit of intelligence on display (not knowledge, neccessarily). I'm sure DNA wouldn't have wanted a bunch of morons sitting around, proving their stupidity.

So, calling all H2G2 legends and heavyweights (you know who you are): get back in the fight.

I don't know if I could be called a heavyweight or a legend, but I'm definitely a veteran of hootoo wars. And I've got a zinger going on right now.

You want I should start in with you, too, punk?

Well, I am still around. By no means a heavyweight or a legend...

...I think the current world climate has drained a lot of people. I don't really feel like contributing much energy to the site. I had a rant last night, but *bleh*...it's not the same when people are dying overseas.

Blatherskite,

I knew you would respond! In my rummaging I noticed your name in a number of controvesial threads, including offering your support to LeKZ. excellent work. i would define that as being heavyweight, but maybe veteran is a better word.

Sat,

I like the way you disregard the stupid courtesies adopted by some researchers. keep it up. gold star.

Oooooh. A

Hi, Flake.
There are a lot of very intelligent lurkers running around, too.
Some of their silences are very eloquent.

Of course, H2 has always had a red nose on under it's mortar board.

I could be guessing, but I don't think DNA was much of an intellectual elitist.

I have tried to keep my Ask H2s fairly balanced between stupid and sublime. Beats reading the paper.

But its quite sad that the intelligence is so silent. It can't have been like that in the past, can it? It certainly doesn't seem that way.

Like I said, I have no problem with stupid threads, but im a believer in all things in moderation (mostly).

hey, maybe there should be a points system? when you have posted enough intelligent comments you get to put a stupid one.

i jest, of course.

I've been here since april 01 (not as long as others) and I've noticed that there have always been hefty number of trivial threads here.

At the moment people seem to be afraid to talk about anything too serious, that it might lead to the thing that we may not talk about.

I know of one person who has resigned as an ace over it all.

Who was that?

that would be Ste

The whole freedom of speech debacle of late is a great one. its always good to have some walls to kick against.

yes, the freedom of speach debate rolls ever onwards, only occasionally gaining a victory.

mostly, the problems have been bad restrictions of speech, or more often poor restrictions which are then implimented spectacularly badly.

as to heavyweight conversations, there are still plenty of them, just not in ask h2g2 very often. the intelligent tend to subscribe to the articles that they liked or that they know a lot about, so every so often, some fool comes along and states something that is blatantly wrong, and a whole new thread explodes.

I tend to be in about a couple of dozen at any one time, but then I do tend to have to look at about 150 threads per night.

I've just been reading some of DNA's conversations and articles and i think they are spot on. this is how i imagine the site should be. even his trivial threads are intelligent.

xyroth,

its good to know some intelligent debate does still go on, but i still cant help the feeling that ive arrived in the aftermath of an invasion by morons. perhaps i may be one?

Ach, Flake. I'm neither heavyweight nor legend, and I rather doubt you're a moron. One thing I've noticed which you're guilty of, however, which does make the site appear dumbed-down in *my* eyes, is that you prefer to reject those little traditions like capitalization. Some newer researchers seem to avoid inconveniences such as punctuation and 'proper' spelling as well. It's a pain in the eyes for an old wench like me, especially when I have to try to decipher the shorthand.

Alas... damn whippersnappers ALWAYS muck things up. Don't they know the old ways are the best of all possible ways?

I'm think that the problem stems from this part of A148907

"This is where you, the Researchers, can ask you, the Researchers, any questions that you, the Researchers, might know the answer to. That's anything, anything at all."

Anything. From "What's the difference between a carbo-hydrate and hydro-carbon?" to "Why can't I open an attachment in Outlook Express?" to "I'm travelling to Paris - what should I check out?", to "What's so bad about the single currency?", to "What time is it where you are?"

In the past 12 months or so Askh2g2 has become less of a place to ask a question, less of a debating chamber, and more of a sixth form common room Because so many people are subscribed to Askh2g2, it's become the place for people to hang out and pass the time with chit-chat which might better take place in other threads. It's like advertising - if you have something you want to get across to the greatest number of people you go to where the greatest number of people are - here.

There always were a few threads like this in Askh2g2, but greater numbers mean there are more of them, although you'd figure that there'd be more questions and heavyweight threads at the same time

There are plenty of other communal areas of h2g2 where this kind of thing could carry on, and being the sort of place h2g2 is, anyone could create a space - look at the Thingites, the h2g2 Municipal Park, Lil's Atelier, Wind Force 12 Abaft the Beam, the various Researcher fan clubs etc.

Those are all entries created by Researchers which have become popular meeting places, but they *were* created by Reseachers, and maybe what's needed is a forum for the, er, more lighthearted threads such as 'What's your favourite...?', 'What can you see if you look out of the window?', 'What colour are your...?' threads, which is an *official* h2g2 place created by the Editors. It wouldn't take much for them to do this - just create an entry the way they did with Askh2g2 or How Do I...?

Something like this maybe A756605?

IMO every life and organization goes in cycles and that is some of it.

The *IT* we cannot talk about is a lot of it. *IT* affects so many other topics. Politics in general is off limits for the most part. That is two reasons.

The last I have NOT been around long enough to know about. Other sights get downright hateful frequently. There have been more person slams and insults recently than I had seen previously. Intelligent debate should not include trashing the other person.

*Thankfully not a newbie or a legend*

I've been here a year and a half.

H2 is as much a diversion as an avocation.

Even monks tell jokes.

As for the nastiness, that was here to an extent when I got here.
I sat through a few expulsions and I was rooked into a few imposter conversations.
I was involved in some nasty threads that were about history, of all things.

I choose my threads and my arguments with more care nowadays.

And, of course, in my first two months on the site, I peeved a few people. That, too, has changed.

One positive benefit of the more 'lighthearted' threads such as "What is your favourite ..." is that they are more involving for researchers of all stripes. Everyone and anyone can have an answer them. The downside, naturally, is that the nature of the question tends to be less weighty.

On the other hand, the more specialist questions which open intelligent debate tend to be more exclusive. Not everyone is equipped to answer them though they are more interesting for those that can.

Both types have a role here. In fact, the more lighthearted questions probably provide a seeding ground for new researchers to spread their wings. Many will then graduate to the higher debates.

Ask H2G2 provides a perfect growing space of this type. I don't think it would be fair to segregate and divide it just because a number of the questions in it irritate the more seasoned researcher.

'It's all dumbed down!' The perennial cry.

Frankly, if it means a little less of some of the mendacious, pointless b*llsh*t that has passed for intelligent debate (some of which i am ashamed to say I have contributed to) on this site in the past, then bring on the s.