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

Some researchers are being very upset by the opinions expressed on the talking point.

I've put up a support point, for those affected to share their hurt separately from the opinions - would it be good to move the book of condolences over?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A632314

Kid

Hi Kid,

We're spending a very large amount of time at the moment making sure that people are being as decent as possible, and making appropriate comments in appropriate places, while still trying to maintain a balanced political view in the threads.

We are trying to make sure that people are not posting inflammatory material in the condolences thread, but moving it will not make any difference - once someone's posted in it, they will always be subscribed to it, wherever it's moved to.

We will try harder to keep a non-combative atmosphere in that thread, hiding individual postings if necessary.

There is now a link from the Entry page to the Condolences thread, with a note saying that we will not allow political opinions to posted within it. Hope that makes things a little better.

I'd just like to say that I think you're doing as good a job as can be expected in the circumstances.

Thank you - we appreciate that.

I second that. The delicate nature of the situation and its ramifications for us all have given me a whole different perspective on the nature of internet communication. If the politicians involved were able to communicate their fears and desires on threads like these the situation might be much easier to manage. Suddenly moderation seems like a virtue.

Dreaming of a many-to-many democratic process, Kid

P.S. Yes, I do appreciate the irony.

Sorry, that should have been

Well, that's (hopefully) the greatest thing about Internet communities - they are a place where everyone can instantly be together to talk, no matter who they are or where they're from.

If only everyone in the world could be on it - especially those from countries with repressive regimes - there would be a heck of a lot more international understanding.

I stronlgy believe the Internet is a massive force for good.

So do I. Furthermore, I believe that h2g2 is one of the best places on the Internet for people to come together in harmony, understanding and reasoned debate. As well as a good deal of old-fashioned silliness of course

Silliness? Here on h2g2?!

*Goes off to scutinize Conversations with an enormous scrute...*

* wonders if joining h2g2's staff is something like joining the Cult of the Eyeless *

Surely you've noticed?

No, I've only ever written entirely serious Entries myself: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A352522.

Liar.

That's a very, very useful Entry though. And anyway, if people want to know about boring things they can go and look them up in the Encyclopaedia Britannica - it's available free online after all. h2g2, I think, is an ideal repository for more obscure branches of knowledge, and more obscure ways of looking at more conventional knowledge.