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

To take a song title by Paul Weller. I have to admit that look back at quite a few of my early threads, I cringe at some of the things I put. I cringe at some of the things I've put in recent times, but for very different reasons (i.e. getting the wrong end of the stick, or posting before I think).

I wonder if I have so radically changed from my early days on h2g2. When I first started I was not long 20, and still in the middle of university, I'm now 23 and working/training.

I don't know if thats getting older or what, but it was something I noticed a few years ago in other longer serving h2g2 members is that a lot of their early stuff was quite radically different to their more serious later style of posting. I recall AGBen recently describing a trend for h2g2 researchers who make it more than a couple of years. Its quite fascinating really.

But I do think I've changed. For starters I think a lot more than I used to. What I mean is that a few years ago my thoughts where an untangled mess. And they can still occasionally be like that, but having to organise myself for work, has as a side effect (and from no little conscious effort) made me try and organise my thoughts. Something that no one ever teaches you for some bizzare reason - is to organise your thoughts. Yet it is one of the most vital lessons you can learn. And I've still a lot to learn. But I feel a lot more comfortable in myself for it.

It allows you to plan ahead. It allows you to think on your feet. And if you have to speak to anyone face to face, or to a group it makes a hell of a difference.

But then sometimes, you also have to let go. And its a difficult balance. I think someone could spend their whole lives figuring it out. And I probably will.

Hi Terran. Hope you don't mind me barging in on you here. But you have made an important observation about the site, I think. You are maturing, of course, which is natural. This means your interests are changing and you are getting a different outlook on things. But I think it's more than that.

Once you've been on h2g2 for a long time you get tired of having the same nonsensical conversations over and over. At least I have. For example, I don't care what song someone is listening to or what time it is where they are or what they had for breakfast. That was funny at first, but it is boring as all get out to me now. And there are a few long running conversations that I used to really enjoy that I now find a waste of time.

And I no longer feel compelled to shout my opinions on things from the rooftops. And I've learned to choose my words more wisely than I did when I first joined the site. Also, I think I appreciate the Guide more than I used to. I have been in a major time crunch for practically the entire time I've been registered here. But I'm finally going to have some time to write and I'm really looking forward to that and to workig to expand the Guide.

I guess I'm saying all this because I don't think it's your age as much as your tenure here. If it was just age, then I shouldn't be experiencing similar feelings.

You're not barging in at all. You're very welcome here

I think you're very right about the amount of time that you spend on h2g2 changing how you react to it. I think I've recently tried to re-evaluate my position on here... and why I'm here. I guess I'm still doing that to a large extent. It seems rediculous to evaluate a different reality to the one I physically exist in.

I think about 18 months - 2 years ago I decided that I had to give priority to the world outside h2g2. Which in itself seems a bit of an odd admission. It should be an obvious choice... and in the end it was. But at the time I had a huge sense of guilt that I was letting people down. I no longer feel that guilt, in the sense that I don't not want to help people on h2g2, but I don't have the option. Whether that is my experiences of the outside world effecting my h2g2 experience, I don't know.

But then it came down to one simple thing. Why did I join? And in a sad way it was because I was bored in the real world at the time. This is no longer the case. Thats not to say that people who still get a lot out of the place are wrong in staying here. Far from it, because it is a valuable learning experience. There are still things I enjoy on hootoo, helping out at the Post, and conversations around the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but I now have to do the things that I enjoy on h2g2, otherwise I don't think I'm helping anyone and only storing up problems for later on.

There was a point where I felt guilty about not writing for the Guide. But I didn't have the time or energy. I finally had to convince myself that I couldn't do it all and that I would enjoy what I did do and not worry about the rest of it.

And I have always said - and I mean it - that when it ceases to be fun, then I'm outta here. I don't understand the people who stay when it makes them unhappy or stresses them out a lot.

You both have a good point. I've been online for almost 3 years, and H2 is starting to loose it's attraction. I used to come online for random silliness, but now I come online for the familiar faces. I tend to spend more time with RL friends, hanging out in pubs and stuff like that.

I still like to play the RPG's but silliness puts me off now, I like to play a straight game, a bit of banter and a few silly comments are fine but being silly for silly's sake is off putting for me now, I like a nice sensible discussion these days, *sigh* someone sign me up for my bus pass

Silly is fine in an RPG, but you've got to keep it playable.

I agree but it needs a story too

I consider the election a RPG. Helps to keep it in perspective.

Not enough story to make it a proper RPG.

Mind you there are people that take is just as seriously

It's so futile. The winner doesn't gain ultimate power, the loser doesn't get executed, why do people take it so seriously?

I have no idea but hopefully things will get back to normal

Probably. Maybe Hypatia will be insufferable, but I've never met the man/woman anyway.

Hypatia is a very nice lady

Good for her.