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

LMAO Have you seen this one?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/U114627

That's an interesting use for it...

That would be typical of Hoovooloo

Hoo's is good but the Self Denial is the best so far IMO.

Found another here. Not very inspired though. U222708

turvy

The last one was obviously so uninspired it got itself moderated

Try this one (if you're feeling paranoid)... U192092

What does GCHQ stand for, by the way?

Government Communications Headquarters

It's the innocuous sounding civil service agency that doesn't read all your e-mails, doesn't listen to your international phone calls and above all _isn't_ involved in any sort of radio intercept work - all those aerials on the roof are just coz they've a load of radio hams working there

Government Communications Head Quarters.

they're the ones who are not keeping a file on me then...

i hope they're having fun with my emails tho'... [_even_ so they are not reading them...]

Being fond of new toys and always up for a laugh I used the VIEWER device in my Post article last week: A760060 I only meant to parody all those form letters you get from a computer robot of some sort which sends the same letter to thousands from a mailing list. My piece had mixed results. Many took offense. This was not my intention, but of course I didn't realise how powerful the paranoia generated by this function can be until I was faced with it aimed directly at ME: Yes, for absolutely 'best' use of creating terror with the VIEWER function, I have to recommend 'anhaga' who really got me good. To see it you have to click on a 'reply' button in this thread. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F110697?thread=243119&latest=1 Because I had never seen anyone other than 'the Editors' capable of altering or editing an official h2g2 page such as the "Post To A Conversation" page, I had to believe it really was personal and inserted with the approval and assistance of the Italics. Some form of discretionary pre-moderation intended to discourage me from posting to that conversation. I really did take it personally. But instead of just walking away wounded I had to ask, because here in Canada we believe in talking about conflict and reaching compromise solutions. Under the current mood of hostility, bitterness and anger being expressed by many about moderation (re all that nastiness in the mid-east) I'm sure many who might encounter such a message would not be reasonable enough to inquire politely as I did. I woukd really hate to see this device proliferate to many more threads in the way I encountered it above. In the current atmosphere of flames it really would frighten and offend many people who would not understand how it is done. Like ME! ~jwf~

yep... a friend of mine put a message like: "BEWARE YOU ARE BEING MONITORED!!!!"

i thought it was funny [after the shock of course...] but many didn't take it very well... then again it was on the first day... so not many of them knew of this new gimmick...

he quickly changed the message after that... shame really...



loup

That letter of jwf's is especially strange given that the bit on the end of my nickname looks like the start of a seperate sentence!

Hmm, whilst I can see the viewer tag is a lot of fun I can see how, unless it's publicised around the site a little more (i.e. everyone who uses the site has _got_ to know about it) then it's bound to cause quite a bit of trouble...

After having had quite a laugh at all of its incarnations I'm not really so sure it's one of the site's best features... imagine being a newbie, logging onto this site for the first time, completely ignorant of GML and the workings of the site and then running across some of these examples

hey, jwf:

I'm sorry I frightened you (but I'm really laughing a lot!) If you check your message space you'll find my instructions on how to do it yourself.

anhaga

>> ..instructions on how to do it yourself. <<

Hmmm... proliferation sounds like Mutually Assured Destruction to me.

Hey, I really did appreciate the experience. It's not often someone gets the better of me, especially in the anonymous and 'sense'-less world of Cyberspace where all my senses and intellect tell me it has little to do with reality and I have learned to shrug off 'personal' attacks in the privacy of my own home (or office).

Having seen it and felt it from both sides now, I do have to agree with Whisky:

"After having had quite a laugh at all of its incarnations I'm not really so sure it's one of the site's best features... imagine being a newbie, logging onto this site for the first time, completely ignorant of GML and the workings of the site and then running across some of these examples."

It really is something best suited for consenting adults.

peace
~jwf~

After I'd started using it, I got caught myself by Jodan U201497 . I really thought I was Jodan's favourite researcher, and I was really flattered.

I just noticed that Jodan has since added a rude explanatory footnote.

>> After I'd started using it, I got caught myself..<<

It is at these emotionally unsettled moments that one can be lulled into false beliefs that 'what goes round comes round' or that some strictly fair and just power really is at work in the Cosmos.
As if!

However, a more rational analysis of reality in general will always bring us back to the fact that most people get hurt without ever getting their kick at the cat.

Personally, I inclined to think that these weapons have too much potential harm in the wrong hands. Perhaps the Italics could institute a VIEWER Registry and only those mature enough to handle it responsibily will be allowed to use it.

In many respects it functions like a landmine. Once in place it is unsupervised, and will go off without any discrimination or discretion. Not very sporting when you think about it really.

What satisfaction can it have, other than a very speculative one by whoever places it. I thought my entry A760060 would be a great laugh because I only considered what MY response to my sense of humour would be.

Equally, those who lay mines, might never know who steps in it or how they fair from there. I was fortunate that in my case many people often feel free to offer some feedback to my Post articles. But now I wonder how many just went away mad, confused and offended.

Not really the intended results any of us wants if you think about it.
So, let's all think about it then.
Really.


~jwf~

Have done so, really