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

Like the article, but it needs a little more detail!

First, I'd want the publication details of all these translations you mention (footnotes are extremely good for this)!

Second, I'd want some expansion of the philosophical aspects of Taoism - the bits that inspired the classics like The Art of War, were contemporary with the I Ching and also make the Tao Te Ching still one of the most intensely studied political manuals of all time. You mention that Taoism is "often mistaken for a religion", but not why (mysticism obscures the simplicity?). I like the approximate equation of the Tao and "the Force" though!

The heirs and predecessors of Lao zi - philosophers, alchemists and emperors - all need to be placed in context, too. The vague connection of Taoism and other non-specific philosophic-mystic preoccupations like Shinto and Zen could possibly also be investigated.

Any connection between Lao zi and Voltaire...?

Hi!

Thanks for your insightful comments about my article. Sadly, I have no plans to be active in H2G2 in the forseeable future...I have taken over the editorship of a local newsletter in addition to my numerous "real life" jobs and hobbies...also I'm not thrilled with the edits made on my (single) accepted article about the RX-7. My style is my style and I thought the editing was...unnecessary. ::shrug:: But if you'd like to rewrite my article and submit it yourself, I happily release it to you. Best regards,

Peter

Cool dude.

I regret that you feel so strongly about your style, but it is a self-determined way to live, I suppose. I've had a couple of articles accepted with bits that I quite liked chopped out of them too, but I think the meaning of the message was preserved OK. I'm afraid I'm just an information junkie, rather than a stylist!

I think your article's likely to be accepted anyway - I may not be the one to edit it, so I couldn't say how much of it is likely to be changed or added to, nor how such changing/adding would be done. I'll keep an eye out for it, though, and if it's read without being accepted, I'll have a go at re-doing it and re-submitting it. Whatever happens, the writer's credit is still yours!

I like the sound of the newsletter, though. If you can incorporate some of your philosophical predilections you may be on to a very, very good thing! Keep "popping in", too...

Regards,

H.

Hypoman,

Sorry about the delay in responding...for some reason I've been getting error messages on these H2G2 bbs's.

I see the Tao Te Ching article was accepted...frankly I'm surprised. I was never really happy with it, and it needed a lot of polishing. I'm happier with the edits than I was for my article on the RX-7.

At any rate, the article as is stands now barely scratches the surface of the Tao Te Ching...feel free to send in an addendum, and make sure your name gets on the credits too. I don't feel like the article as it stands does justice to its subject, and I would have been just as happy if it has been rejected. Good luck

-Peter

Hey Pete!

I noticed the acceptance when it happened - I must admit I was rather pleased! Whether or not the article "does justice" to its subject, it at least gets it out there. I acknowledge the problems with doing more for the article, but I think that it can be done - we'll just have to see how things go...!

How's the newsletter going, incidentally...?

Hypoman,

Thanks. The newsletter is doing ok...I'm still hurting for staff members, but we're better off than we were two months ago! LMK if you wind up writing some more on the Tao Te Ching, I'd love to read it. Cya.

Peter