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

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

~~~


>>>
Suggested alteration to usage, then:

Instead of simply posting "Dumb Bomb - Axxxxxxx", I suggest the following wording.

"Posting xxx was a Dumb Bomb. See Axxxxxxx".

And *nothing* further. No explanations why - it should be obvious. Explanations somewhat defeat the point. Just observe that a Dumb Bomb has been dropped, and move on.
>>> Hoo.


This is good : >"Posting xxx was a Dumb Bomb. See Axxxxxxx".<

I suspect that it will inevitably get shortened to just Dumb bomb, but maybe it'd be useful to use the fuller phrase initially so people can get used to the idea. I'm particularly thinking of people who haven't been reading this thread and how they are going to understand the whole thing.


I'm not sure myself about the additinal explanations after the BD term. I can see in some cases it is useful eg with Whisky where there is no history. I'm not so sure about in the D wars though. I'll be interested to see if an explanation just perpetuates things.

I agree there needs to be some flexibility in use. Not too much though.

Alfster, I am sending you a message about that, on yr space, if that's okay...

Apple,

Yes, no problem. Will read it in the morning.

Thank you.

A

Just to come on all sensible for a little bit... actually, no I won't.

I was going to suggest that the name of the Dumb Bomb could be changed to something a little less insulting and confrontational - if someone told me I'd used one, the use of the word 'Dumb' would get my back up straight away and inflame the situation rather than defuse it because I'd want to get right back in their face for daring to suggest that I was talking nonsense (even if I was) - maybe the (original?) suggestion of 'Conversation Bomb' would be better?

Because if I've understood it correctly, the purpose of the thing is to state resistance to a point of view posted while wishing to avoid a full-on argument with the proponent of same?

Anyway, I'm not suggesting anything. There's no reason why anyone should listen to me, and I don't have the time to get involved with this whole business and don't want to make an emotional investment in the process. But at least I've said it now.

"There is ONE person who really doesn't care what other people think, and that is blah blah " Hoo - 509

Dare I say Dumb Bomb?
Nah, maybe not, but in my best Tim Brooke Taylor voice - "Challenge! Repetition."

and

"Well that has massivly furthered the convo..." Ferrettbadger - 516
which was in response to
"Post 508 Whisky " - Nogbad - 515

When so much has been said, so many times, a simple nod of agreement to an alternative view is as valid as most and furthers the conversation a little more than post no. 516

Part of the confusing thing about seeing 'Dumb Bomb' posted is that it looks like the person posting it is dropping a D-bomb, not that they are alerting others that one has been dropped elsewhere.

I also agree with others that the name could be taken as insulting.

So why not simply call it a Thread Bomb and when posting one in response to someone say 'Thread Bomb Alert (post xxx)'?

I think Thread Bomb is a bit snappier than Conversation Bomb or Thread Derailment Bomb. And it has no negative connotations.


az

Thread Bomb Alert sounds great to me

More succint and less confrontational.

To give credit where it's due...I've been witnessing some perfectly acceptable behaviour recently on other threads.

Time to give peace a chance?

Whisky wrote:

"What they do is up to them, but do me a favour and don't start conversations asking the opinion of 'the community' if you don't give a flying f**k what other people think."

You Whisky are not *the* community you may not agree with anything here but your lack of agreement does not invalidate this as a community discussion.

I and others amongst the dirty s do not see letting anyone get away repeatedly with certain things as an option we wil follow here. Others here think we should find another way of dealing with things that in their eyes create unwanted tension on threads across the site.

So how is that not us being community minded

We are here with others trying to work out a way of dealing with things that can accomodate different sensibilities of different users.

Im explaining all this here as I think its a thread where its suitable to do so given the nature of the thread and because you yourself are against the idea of a "thread bomb alert". Which is not only something applicable to your post but a jolly good name for the D-Bomb.

Well done az

one love

<> (blicky)

I think Whisky's disagreements have been duly noted. Yes, he perhaps posted either angrily or emotionally, but I actually agree with some of what he said.

It wasn't my take that he thought his opinions invalidated what was going on here, just as my postings saying this thread is maybe a waste of time did. My 'waste of time' comment was about Della not accepting any personal responsibility for her postings, or indeed, why this thread was started in the first place.

It has been clearly shown on this thread that many reseachers - not just the 'dirty s' - find Della's posting style offensive.

Yet she chooses to only focus on the replies from the 'dirty s' and ignores what other people have said here.

She wants to blame Hoo, blicky and others she calls 'their followers' for all her difficulties here.

According to Della, I am also one of Hoo's 'followers' (a concept I find more than somewhat insulting). According to Hoo, he has no followers. And no doubt he also feels insulted that someone should make him out to be some sort of 'hootoo gang leader'. He simply posts his opinions. If others agree with him - how does this make them *his followers*?

I'm pleased you like my 'Thread Bomb Alert' option, blicky.

I like it too (even though I am probably not ever going to use any sort of 'bombs' here).

Perhaps we can take a vote on my new 'bomb' name option?


az

Your is much more neutral than Dumb Bomb,az, and I think it describes the purpose better. However, I still *like* dumb bomb because of the connotation of being struck dumb by something that doesn't make sense to argue. Unless Blatherskite decides to re-name his article I'll probably use D-Bomb and a link.

I like the Thread Bomb alert thing too Az. Much less insulting.
Good one

How about this?

Thread Bomb Alert!


az

ps
this was actually Noggin's suggestion . . . I think it's great!

ps
I mean the Thread Bomb Alert name was my idea - the disco lights were Noggin's . . .


az

So you need to take E with thread bombs?

Thread Bomb Alert works for me as do the disco lights - nice one Noggin.

Just 'THread bomb' would do me as well.

I like "dumb bomb" because, as I stated before, this should be used to indicate strong disapproval coupled with remarkable restraint. In other words, it *should* be pejorative.

However, those who find the concept useful but do not like the pejorative connotation should feel free to use their own interpretation. You have your tool, and I have mine. There's no reason why the community couldn't use a pejorative term AND a neutral one.

I would recommend, for the same reasons I made one for d-bombs, that one among you who prefers the "Thread bomb" terminology make a page explaining it in greater detail.

Whichever case, smileys please.

Not the smiley arrrrgh, punishment enough!


Blatherskite, if someone else writes it can the alternative, non-pejorative explanation go on the same page as the Dumb bomb? It would make sense to have them in the same link, where people can see and understand the difference.


In terms of the 'neutral' bomb name, can we have a list to consider, as I think there have been a few suggestions? Although I can only remember Conversation bomb - which I really like, but maybe it is more a background term that one can use when referring to a post rather than responding to it.

I agree that there is a case for a choice. Dumb bomb as Blatherskite says & Thread bomb (or perhaps Yawn Bomb) for 'we've been here before, let's not get sidetracked' kind of response.

Having both described on the same link makes sense too.