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

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Yes, freer is a word. So says 'az the English teacher'.

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No you're not. You're just sounding human. But you also have to realise that *anyone* who feels a personal need to put people down without reason is way more 'socially challenged' than you will ever be. So you already have the upper hand there.

In which case you have two choices. To confront the person or slink away . . . and you will probably find that if you confront someone being idiotic (who hasn't a leg to stand on) they will either back down or dig themselves into a deeper hole which makes them look even stupider than they first did.

I quite like doing the latter. Hmmm . . . perhaps I should offer lessons?


az

Now there's a thought for a new section of h2g2!

How To Rip Nasty H2G2 Posters To Shreds In Five Easy Lessons.

A Guide Entry perhaps?



az

Perhaps we should require text speak to have a translation underneath as per the requirements for foreign languages? See how many people would keep on using it then...

I think the Don't Panic button on the front page should be moved to the top of it.

I also think there should be a 'front page' link in the Goo skin - at present it turns into 'my space' when you login.

There is a Frontpage link on Goo, it's the emblem in the left upper corner of the page, if you go there with your mouse, it says : Front Page
Mind, I've changed my skin from brunel to goo just to find out

It's odd that all the skins don't have the same features.

I like alabaster as it seems the 'cleanest' and also the most easily readable.

I've tried out all of them but Goo looks rather messy and Brunel is too something-or-other (have never quite worked out why I don't like it, I just don't). Too black and yellow?

Anyhow, it would make sense that all the skins on offer here should have the same features. I didn't know until now that they didn't.

az

I started with alabaster, then tried brunel and sticked with it because the features are so very comfortable
I tend to change the skin if somebody asks about it, so I can find out and give a correct answer, but now I find that alabaster is too bright and hurts my eyes.
Oh, and as we're off topic just now anyway, I hope you'll be able to come to the summer meet az, I'd love to make your acquaintance

To Lady Azahar and post #243. Yes indeed, those easy lessons SHOULD be on the front page. To save others from being tagged, bruised and simply driven out by the elitist few if you don't agree with their "known ways".

And in this vein, the "Ask H2G2", there really ought to be a way to define which threads are open to the common public, and which shall be dissected and owned by the same few that feel that they hold emminent domain.

Thanks B'Elena - am hoping to make the next summer meet and it would be lovely to meet you too! You are part of a long list of hootoo friends that I would like to meet in person (have so far only met those who have made their way to Sevilla).

Re: the last posting by the researcher who refers to himself with an *

He just posted something quite unpleasant on my PS.

I don't know what his problem is but he tried to make me sound as if I am somehow unfriendly towards newbies.

In fact, I am mostly harmless.

(for newbies who don't get the reference, it's about a DNA book)

I'm actually totally harmless unless one posts crap on my PS.

az

I had an interesting conversation with my flatmate today, the one who said that h2g2 was intimidating and sparked off this whole thread.

To quote him, because I couldn't persuade him to come online and actually post this himself.

'It seems cool I actually want to contribute, but once you long in and go to your page, where you actually find stuff? Where are the conversations that are happening?'

I have to admit I have the same problem myself at times. If there's nothing happening in any of my conversations what do I do?

I usually go to Ask h2g2 and look for an interesting thread, or go to The Forum, to see what's going on, or do a sweep of peer review.

But this was certainly a question I had when I was first on h2g2.

Yeah you all say there's this cool stuff going on, but where *is* it?

Z, your flatmate could start with subscribing to 'Ask H2G2', there are many conversations popping up on my PS every day, then there's the <./>INFO</.> page, where you can see the most recent conversations, although it's not clear if they're *private* or public, you can only find out by lurking them, and there are the most recent edited GE - I think that's really a lot of stuff to start with. Then there are all the communities playing wordgames - a fantastic place to start posting if you like wordgames, it doesn't even require a conversation, just a word or a letter will do
Your flatmate is very welcome to leave me a message, I'm sure we'll find some things to chat about . <./>U230913</.>
Az, fortunately, I've only once experienced c**p on my PS, but that was so tough that I yikesed it - the only time I've ever done so, the researcher was very well known for this sort of harassment as I found out later, so I can understand your feelings

I think the welcome page has improved & will help people who are unfamiliar with message boards & the like.

It took me a while to fathom out the page system of threads, so I was often posting out of sync to an old post. Realising that I could click on someone's name to go to their space took even longer .
Although tons of odd clubs & meeting places exist & are listed (in the Post?), they're not all very active & it can be difficult to find one that's your cup of tea & get involved.

I agree that ask h2g2 & the Forum are good places to start for the latest conversations. If it seems very quiet, I'll look at who's online & see where they are posting. I don't like to intrude on PS convos though, unless it's a journal entry that appears to be an open invitation to all.

I reckon subscribing to AskH2G2 might result in overload for most newbies.

Z - your flatmate can always ping me on my PS but then I'll try to coerce them into joining my photo gallery!

Speaking of which, where is your photo B'Elana?

And Teasswill? Does my memory escape me?


az

>>I reckon subscribing to AskH2G2 might result in overload for most newbies.<<

You have a point, whenI know I'll be off for a couple of days I unsubscribe, else I wouldn't find my conversations , but there is the possibility to mark those sites as your 'favourites' on your comp, so you can easily go there and have a look

No, I'm still not there. Photos of me are few & far between

>>Speaking of which, where is your photo B'Elana?<<
Az, I have seen you on many threads, so I was always aware of your existence, but you have you been of mine ? We haven't tlaked like this before, don't you think it would have been odd if I had asked you to publish a photo of me ? I will think about it, I promise - the moment jaz'd has sent one

The moment that jazz'd sends a photo we will see two moons in the sky and pigs flying . . .


az

If you use guideML for your personal space, you can put in a link to askh2g2 or other favourite hootoo pages which makes it fairly easy to check them out without clogging up 'my conversations'.

It requires some skills to put a link on your PS, adding it to your favurites is way easier

az, I hope jaz'd will not disappoint me