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

I really don't want to snipe from the sidelines but last time I looked the talk was of an h2g2 anniversary meet in Manchester. Manchester is more easily accessible for people up north, and everything is always in London* and London is bloody expensive. And post Brexit, who knows if it will be even worse (having said that, if the pound does collapse it will be good for me. Sorry to gloat if that happens, but I will).


so London. OK. I book a hotel which is expensive but close to the pub. And then I look a little more closely at the pub. *le sigh*
I KNOW it's accessible and I KNOW it's "cheap" (for London) but really, I don't want to give money to that Brexit-Cheerleader. (suggesting I drink water or tea - as someone did - is well meaning but don't be surprised when I and then gripe some more)


And then I hear that "our benevolent owners" picked London because that's where they are. Oh will they take their ball back?

So now I am Very. Cross. Indeed.

*yes, I know, the sole UK h2g2 meet I've been to was in Manchester. And it was fab, and of course much easier for a lass from Sheffield. Still.

For people living in other countries with no relatives in the UK it is probably easier to go to London. I didn't pay much attention because I can't go anyway but as far as I am aware London was chosen quite a while ago and everyone was able to voice their opinion about it.

Also Super answered to your post in the Announcement thread saying they were searching for a different pub for the reason you mentioned.

I have no idea why you are cross. For me London is a much more obvious choice than Manchester. I think we only had Manchester because of Pastey? I may be wrong.

Hi,

You make some valid points, for those who are up north it absolutely is a bit of a bother to go to London.

And Brexit will most definitely make things more expensive for those of us living here, including keeping everything running.

We do our best to keep everyone happy, but we often have to face reality, anyone coming from abroad will find London easier to get to, and it’s been picked for this time.

I suggest looking for somewhere not completely central to keep costs down and grabbing a train/tube to the meet. (It takes me close to an hour to get to anywhere in central London by train)

With regards to the specific location, I will not be spending anything in any pubs or places owned by that blithering brexiter idiot either, and a different location is being investigated.

Stay happy

I have said this elsewhere: I know everyone has made arrangements so please don't change anything now. That would be too much.

As I've mentioned, I'M not as involved in this site now for various reasons.

But I would really like to think that we have all learned something here?

For Tav: it is as easy to fly into Manchester as London from just about anywhere in the world. Manchester is cheaper in terms of accommodation and drinks. And it definitely endears the decision makers to people who live in the Far Northern Wastes of the UK.

I'm serious though - I rather suspect if the venue is changed now I won't be able to come for all the flack I'll be (rightly) expecting.

So let's just move forwards and I'll look forward to showing you all my grumpy face in person!

why wasn't ther ejust a discussion, first, on here, in an announcement thread, re the meet, to gague where people wanted it? I only saw through FB that now there is talk of changing the saturday night pub location...

the fb thing was only me grumbling about the pub.

I think it should stay as it is now but consider somewhere else for future meets.

Most of the Core Team are foreigners. We have no idea who is pro and who is contra Brexit. I didn't watch the conversation closely but it was taken great care to ensure good wheelchair accessability and toilets etc in the chosen pub. Also I think the Shakespeare's head is the usual place to go for meets? Nobody was aware of the Brexit problem.
I think new locations are discussed now.

To be honest on a very personal level this makes me very uncomfortable, knowing that society is devided TO THAT DEGREE into Brexit and non-Brexit people. Nothing good can come from that. Of course it's the politicians' fault, but it may just as well be different ethnical groups or religions...

I really don't think you should be wasting time discussing changing the venue. Aside of being a 'spoons the venue is ideal.

But I can't believe that anyone who has been in the UK in the last year or so can be unaware of the deep divide in the country? And the Weatherspoons thing has been all over the news (in the UK) because of his speaking tour and his advertising which has been distributed to households near the pubs.

Yes... but as I said we are all foreigners and we have not been there. Personally I have not been there since the Manchester meet, whenever that was. 5 or 6 years ago? And nobody else has made us aware of there being a problem.

the Manchester meet was 7 years ago!!
As I said - I really don't think any of the arrangements need to be made. I haven't had much time to be really invested in the site much over the last few years, for one reason or another, and I really only wanted to mention that I was a bit grumpy when I found out that it was a Weatherspoons because of *my* personal preference.

If I had been involved in all the discussions, I wouldn't have known it was a Weatherspoons, I think, unless someone had mentioned it.

So as I said: all is good. Please please don't go changing things because one grumpy researcher who is barely involved.

The last meet I attended was June 2014 in Manchester

Since Day One (Jun 24, 2018) I was confident that the birthday meet would be held in London - which I expected since that is where it all began

Not everyone hase fb anyway so off site discussions miss some of us out completely.

My last meet was Manchester 2012 where I had the pleasure of meeting Sho. What puts me off, wherever the location, is the predatory, stalkerish behaviour of some of those with cameras who are no respectors of boundaries or an individuals clearly stated wishes. Manchester was the last straw for me, I had a miserable time trying to keep my eye on someone sneaking behind pillars or popping up to capture people off guard such as when eating. No, apparently doesn't mean no.

oh gosh, I forgot about how uncomfortable you were about the photos.

Are you really not coming this time? we could wear false glasses and moustaches to get round the photo thing

"Not everyone hase fb anyway so off site discussions miss some of us out completely. " [Coelacanth, post 13]

I don't know if this was a comment to my post 12 but anyway the very first announcement of the birthday was made here on hootoo. Just saying.

And a ban on photos has my vote. Maybe we can let people take pictures for a number of minutes and then turn of all phones and cameras?

I'm not suggesting a ban on photos and as a film extra I've been on screens all over the world - if you know where to look.

What I am suggesting is the introduction of consent at h2g2 meets, and have been for many years. Laws have changed, we're all more aware of privacy and GDPR implications and it's about time.

Different situation, same issue. Thames Valley Police:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwvrxVavnQ

So Sho, I'm not "uncomfortable about photos", but I am uncomfortable about someone openly boasting about taking sneaky pictures when people have specifically asked them not to, and then openly offering these pictures offsite to anyone who messages them privately.

And Pierce, fb discussions are mentioned in #6 and #7, but not everyone would have seen them.

Hi Coelanth. I remember your attitude to photos. I took pictures of you at the first meet I was at, in 2002, but took them off my webpage when I heard you didn't approve. So far, you're one of only three people who have objected to me publishing pictures of them - I always ask, since 2002.

Hi Sho. I know that all the London meets I was at except the first were at a Wetherspoons pub. The last four or five were at the Shakespeare's Head. I'm not aware of whatever it is causes you to dislike Wetherspoon's but I'll take your word for it. I'll go anywhere.

It probably would have saved me about €200 if the meet was in Manchester rather than London, but it's a once-off.

the owner of Weatherspoons is the arch Brexiter and has been posting the Weatherspoon's "newspaper" and I'm very uncomfortable giving him my hard earned euros.

But as I've said - I think it's really late & extremely difficult to change so I think we should go there.

Sorryy, Coley, didn't mean to misquote you. I think it would be really good if we took time at the beginning of a meet to say if we'd rather not be in photos on the net, or not at all or whatever.