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

Entry: How to fire an elastic band - A6877416
Author: Wargamer (The Wanderer) - U188882

Can you tell what I've been doing all day?

Hi Wargamer

Afraid you'll probably not like my reply. I'm not comfortable with any Entries that expalin how to injure or hurt another person, are you aware that the force of an elastic band if hit in the eye can blind someone?


Emmily

Oh god... health and safety has corrupted even here!?

Why can't everyone else have my outlook; do stupid things, but don't cry foul when you get hurt by them. Nobody should set out to hurt people, but considering in the past month I've taken part in two elastic band wars, three bottle fights, and an impressive display of jousting using big rolls of paper, I have to assume there are people who know how to have fun without being wrapped in three feet of cotton wool...

Personally, I don't have a problem with this. Explains it all very well, and doesn't encourage violent acts any more than the Paintball entry A398379 does. Why not? This is how I fire elastic bands at guests, after all

It fits in with an old entry, A206326, too.

Perhaps if Wargamer were to add a disclaimer to the effect that one should be careful not to blind anyone whilst firing elastic bands?

Apologies; that was an incomplete sentence.

... then the 'safety' criterion might be satisfied?

'It fits in with an old entry, A206326, too'.


So, does it actually add anything to it? If so, then why not just update A206326?

>"Why can't everyone else have my outlook; do stupid things, but don't cry foul when you get hurt by them."

But you Entry is not about willing participants Wargamer, it wouldn't be so bad if it was.

>"that can wage across classrooms, offices"

The people in these places have no choice but to be there, they're not willing players. (I have a scar, less than an inch from my left eye due to boys' stupidity in the classroom)

The paintball Entry, (something I would like to do one day) is very different. It expresses it is a game, played willingly and has a section on safety.

A206326 is about using an elastic band like a catapult, rather than firing the elastic band itself.


Emmily

Being a teacher, I agree with all Emmily's points. (Also we're not allowed to retaliate, so it's a pretty cowardly activity).

Ref 'A206326 is about using an elastic band like a catapult, rather than firing the elastic band itself'.

IMO it's a short step from using the EB as a propellant to using it as the weapon itself. The EG Entry is very short, soi it wouldn't harm to combinre the two; the title 'Elastic Band Warfare' would cover both methods.

... also, your last para,

'Finally, if you are in a band-war when you are not supposed to be, the band can quickly and easily rolled up your left hand and around your wrist, thus saving you from acusations of trying to shoot people'.

does indicate that you intend using it against unwilling/unwitting people.

"In order to successully fire your elastic band, you should loop it around the fingers and thumb of your left hand. Next, spread your fingers to gain tension, and using your right index finger, pull down on the length joining thumb to pinky.
Next, release all fingers except your index. Rotate your left index, and rotate your hands so that your right hand is aiming, and your left is holding the tight band."

This didn't make much sense to me. I don't think its the way you've described it though, I just can't visualise it.

Also, there's a typo in the last bit - it should be "accusations" not "acusations".

I'm not a Scout or sub-ed, but I think it would probably be ok as long as you mention that it can be dangerous.

"Oh god... health and safety has corrupted even here!?"
No mate - those arrogant, selfish f*ckers who will sue at the drop of a hat have corrupted *everywhere*. As a result, anyone who is involved with the public in any capacity has to protect their own arse. The BBC is no different, since this website is read by the public.

People have pointed out in the conversation that the other entries mentioned involve willing participants. People who engage in paintball also wear protective clothing, and for bloody good reason. This entry appears to be talking about using rubber bands to fire at people who aren't willing participants and who aren't wearing any protection. For instance:

"long distance sniper-wars"
Do you know what a sniper is?
1. A skilled military shooter detailed to spot and pick off enemy soldiers from a concealed place.
2. One who shoots at other people from a concealed place.
dictionary.com
Doesn't sound like a very willing and participatory game to me. Perhaps you didn't mean 'sniper' and it was just a bad choice of word. If that's the case it will most certainly need to be changed.

As a Scout I'm supposed to keep any personal feelings out of my duties in PR, and I think I do. Even after pushing aside all personal feelings in this instance I really don't see much in the way of merit for this entry as far as a place in the Edited Guide is concerned. It needs a *lot* more work and content, and a completely different direction.

My definition of "sniper" in this context is "someone who can hit a paperclip balanced between two coke cans without disturbing either of them... from the other side of the room."

I was very proud of that shot.


I know the explanation of preparation isn't perfect... in truth, I didn't really get it either until I was shown how it's done. Now I can do it really fast.

Edited to include disclaimer.

"'Finally, if you are in a band-war when you are not supposed to be, the band can quickly and easily rolled up your left hand and around your wrist, thus saving you from acusations of trying to shoot people'.

does indicate that you intend using it against unwilling/unwitting people."

Hardly. Last time I checked, you aren't supposed to fire elastic bands across a classroom, or throw paper aeroplanes, or do anything remotely fun whilst in school... or work... or in libraries... or anywhere where you actually WANT to do this sort of thing. You can't stop people firing elastic bands, or paper balls around. All I'm doing is making sure that they can do it accurately, thus reducing the chances of missing and hitting someone by accident, and thus reducing the odds of injury.

I'll leave this for other Scouts to decide, to be honest - all valid points above, and to be honest I'm still not in a mental state to argue a point either way

Over to you chaps... whatever the outcome, I like the work, WG!

You'll have to take out the header, the eds don't like entries starting with headers. The diclaimer looks good, but I think it fits better if you move it to after the first paragraph.

If there be agression, let it be expressed with little bits of rubber string. I like the entry, maybe it could be a little longer.

Personally I fire heavily folded 'U' shaped paper with the band as a catapult to fire it. Or the ingenius "Tri Shot" John Lane invented in sixth clash, using masking tape, pencils and rubber bands.

*sighs*

Oh to be in primary school again.

Lets face it, when ever Mister Rubber Band decided to invent it, his kids were firing them off the neighbours cat.

The danger of firing elastic bands could be covered by suggesting that it's used to shoot empty drinks cans/cartons and not other people.

Personally I stretch the band over the tip of my index finger, run it down the side, around the base of the thumb, and then hold the other end with my little finger, so the hand is in sort of a gun shape. Aim, and release the little finger for an accurate shot.

I don't really understand the method described here, and I can't find an elastic band to try it.

Do you think you'll do any work on this Wargamer?

I think our official view is that this should be a piece about firing elastic bands at inanimate objects, so that any references to the power of the thing should only be stressed as being about accuracy and distance. There needs to be a clearer warning not to fire bands at people or animals.

Modified the piece to emphasise shooting inanimate objects.