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

I tried submitting this ages ago under the old system, it was never rejected or subedited, so I'm starting to suspect it was forgotten in the change over. Anyway, pretty self explanatory title, please take a look

http://www.h2g2.com/A294338

This is an interesting subjuct, and quite well presented.

May I suggest that the tone is a little too 'How to decide'. Is homosexuality really a lifestyle choice that teens make based on fashion? It seems to me that most of the problems of anxiety and uncertainty you describe are a part of growing up that all of us have to face. Wouldn't it be beneficial to stress that aspect? I wonder why it is necessary to 'proclaim' your sexuality at all. Why encourage kids to pick a team?

The negative attitudes that result in young homosexuals being beaten are evils that we should have rejected long ago. Why not say so? I think the validation of the history of religious persecution is a bit silly. There was never a valid rational for persecuting homosexuals (or anyone else). Religious intolerance is simply another social anachronism. On the other hand, if you can give a young man or woman some hints as to how not to get beaten by rednecks or ostracized

... by their classmates, then that would be a very useful thing, I think.

JTG

It's an interesting article, but I don't think it'll make it into the Guide. They tend to avoid articles which may offend people, and your article could be offensive to homophobes and Christians (although the line is often blurred between the two ). Still, there's no reason why this article can't hang out in the fringes of H2G2.

I certainly wouldn't recommend its rejection on the basis that it might offend bigots. I might replace 'ass' with 'bottom' though.

JTG

I wouldn't recommend its rejection, but I'm speaking from experience as a member of another fringe group... everything we publish gets mutilated or rejected.

That may be the fault of the individual who edited it (wasn't me I hope), or just a case of misunderstanding. It isn't the policy of h2g2 to suppress anyone's ideas. You will run into problems if the choice of language is considered offensive. In this regard we are subject to a value judgement imposed on us from on high... but that's life. It may seem arbitrary; but, like it or not, these are our community standards. As long as Researchers choose not to be deliberately offensive or promote hate, then they shouldn't have problems with editorial policy.

Having said that, you have to bear in mind that this isn't an adults only venue; and so a certain amount of discretion, governed by common sense, should be applied.

JTG

We could go on about this sort of thing, but this is probably not the place for it. Check out the latest Business Thread at the Freedom From Faith Foundation if you're interested in seeing what it is exactly that I'm talking about... a handful of rather well balanced articles that were rejected for what seem to me to be arbitrary reasons.

I wouldn't recommend this entry simply because it needs to be re-written if it's at all serious.

Bad spelling and dodgy grammar aside, I think it says more about the writer than offers genuine advice. Which is fine, but it's wrong to pass off personal experience and opinion as gospel for others, especially over such a sensitive subject. And those sweeping generalisations about the Bible? Ever read the thing? Ever read anything about the periods (note the plural) in which it was written? Old or New Testament? What about Muslims or other non Judeo-Christian religions? You think CHRISTIANS have it tough! Try Islam!

You don't "pick" your sexuality. It picks you. The only choosing involved is choosing whether to approach someone you find attractive or not.

Look, I'll do you a favour, and anyone else who reads your article.

Phone London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard (24 hours): 020 7837 7324. Talk to them. THEN go back and re-write your article. Presented as a personal outlook it's fine. As considered advice on sexuality it's somewhat generalistic, simplistic and naive. Please don't take that the wrong way. I think your intentions are honourable.

One final message of hope: be thankful school is at the beginning of life. If it was any later, we'd never survive it. Once you leave school, it gets better, really.

Okay I've read the comments and there's a couple of things I'm confused about, the religion comment was fair, but where does idea that the entry says you "pick" a sexuality or that you should come out, it says exactly the opposite, to avoid pigeon holing yourself. And where does it say anything about teens (Let's see, how do I find the appropriate word here?) "identifying" with a sexuality depending on fashion?

"Yet people are suddenly expected to make a set of pretty essential life choices at this time, which subjects are you going to study, what career are you going to move into, and most stupidly, which gender you feel like starting a meaningful relationship with."

It's misleading to suggest that a person's sexuality is a matter of choice. Is the difference between 'picking' and 'choosing' crucial? Am I wrong in thinking that teenagers are the ones usually associated with issues of puberty?

JTG

I agree basically with JtG, but can I add a couple of points:

"in the UK, thanks to that lovely Section 28" - Section 28 (Section 2a) was repealed by the Scottish Parliament.

The entry makes a number of assumptions - including that all Christians are against homosexuality - which are simply not the case - (in fact I know a couple of actively homosexual ministers!) This makes it hard to accept this as a balanced entry.

Maybe I didn't phrase it correctly, but actually defining yourself as gay, or bi is still a choice that has to be made. As for Section 28, it's going to be a while before the effects of the change in Scottish law have any effect, while in England and Wales the law still stands, so that is still a valid comment, I concede that Christian part of the article does need a complete rewrite though, although I'm not entirely sure how. Ideas anyone?

Maybe I didn't phrase it correctly, but actually defining yourself as gay, or bi is still a choice that has to be made. As for Section 28, it's going to be a while before the effects of the change in Scottish law have any effect, while in England and Wales the law still stands, so that is still a valid comment, I concede that Christian part of the article does need a complete rewrite though, although I'm not entirely sure how. Ideas anyone?

I think the way to rewrite the religion bit is just to comment on the existance of homophobes, and the existance of homophobic homosexuals (I can't think of a better way of saying it - you get what I mean? ). Keep religion out of it if you possibly can.

A title change to "discovering your sexuality" would be good I feel. That'll make all the difference on the choice thing.

I'd change the section 28 to read something like

"homo.. is everywhere ... though in some countries, such as the UK, there are discriminatory laws which restrict it's presence in official circles, or in learning establishments."

UK also has 'outraging public decency' as well as section 28, anyway, so it's more accurate to be broader. {everything I know, I learnt from the lonely planet guides}.

Well, I think the people here have given quite a few comment on what needs to be changed, and I can't see that Fat Mammoth has changed anything yet based on these comments...

Unless he does so rather smart-ish, I suspect that this entry will be best moved to the writing workshop, where someone who's a little more motivated can possibly create a new entry based on this one which takes these points into account.

I've mentioned this in the m2m2 gay/bi club, so maybe one of them will come and add their more personal experience to the matter...

Sorry, I've only just discovered H2G2 is up and running again. However it is ages since I wrote the article, so if anyone else wants to modify they have my blessing.

I always liked the idea of M2M2 being an "underground" h2g2 group, with a whole collection of entries not controlled by the Editorial Team (no disrespect intended, Your Italicness!). I'd personally rather it stayed that way than becoming mainstream.

Equally, I think that homosexuality and religion deserves an entry of its own. Any volunteers?

Please come and leave your views on this and the overall future of M2M2 at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A541144

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'The Writing Workshop' to 'The Flea Market'.