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

No-one's criticising newbies for not knowing everything - I've been here more than 2 years and I don't know half as much about h2g2 as most of the people in this thread. We're just having a light-hearted discussion about what newbies are likely to ask. It's totally innocent.

I suppose I should apologise if I offended you or anyone else, I don't mean to. However, I do think you're over-reacting a bit.

A light-hearted, humorous thread what was I was hoping to find and, to be fair, a lot of it is. But there is also a fair amount of snobbery in a few of the posts. Guess that comes from "middle-class, western European, WASP" (sic) attitudes.

No offence to anyone intended in that comment - it was actually someone's definition of a common mind-set earlier in the thread, and it is something that I fully understand, being of a similar social type and class myself.

It was the implied "all the newbies are going to be thick, useless and unwanted" vibe that made me see red.

I have calmed down since I posted my original message and, yes, I probably did go off on one a bit; but I tend to be guilty of that in general - nothing personal

Ancrene <<-- profers and as peace-offering

Oh, I'll take some , thanks.

I admit being somewhat guilty of this snobbery you described. It is probably an expression of this "back in the old days" sentiment according to which, by definition, everything and everyone that is new is suspicious.

Which reminds me: the other day I was talking to two ladies about "those darn kids of today...!" The ladies were not at all impressed with the new generation. What made the discussion rather weird to me was the fact that the two ladies were 16 and 17 years old...

Well, anyways. Another question I expect to find is: "Who is nighthoover?" (It's probably been mentioned here before... Incidentally, who IS nighthoover?) Also: "Why should I blame 2legs for anything?"

Y.

Ancrene - I think (I hope anyway) you are reacting not a lot of very "tongue in cheek" posts, which I don't think anyone *really* means - it is a problem with the plain text medium that we don't get the full sense in which posters mean various comments - alas, it may be those of us who have been around longest, that forget to add the various 's that would indicate that their posts are more in jest than seriousness.

I welcome all new researchers, it is the constant inflow of new people and ideas that keep this site alive, vibrant and close to the creators original plan.

REsearchers come, and alas some go, I've lost count of how many researchers I used to know, no longer are around, so beleive me, from ALL the old foggies around here, you are most welcome and wanted - but we will tease newcomers on occasion, and I am sure will get teased back.

Anyway,I must put on clothes, eat breakfast and go to work!



CHawke

I think that the tone is rather that we've heard all those things before, because WE all said the same things when we washed ashore! I know I did -- I to admit I didn't even notice the eyes at first, for a couple of weeks at least and by then I was too timid to ask.

I, myself, have never lost hope for a duct tape smiley (SOME of us think that duct tape is at least as useful as a towel, though not as comfy). I wonder which smiley will be argued for next; it's usually something surprising.



SC

Yelbakk - I hear the same kinds of comments from my 20 yr old sister.

C Hawke - I understand where you're coming from on the plain text posting thing, it's one of the reasons I use smileys so prolifically (though that too can be annoying on occasion - can't win!). On reflection I should have realised this before I went off on a rant, but as I say I have a tendency to do that all too often... you'd have thought I would have learned by now

A bit of teasing / p-taking is fine - helps to keep a body grounded and deflates the ego when it's needed.

In the spirit of the original meaning of the thread, then, concerning people who find the site when looking for info on the film... I guess one question might be:

"where can I find Hitch-hikers screen savers / wallpaper?"

(BTW if anyone *does* know, can you tell me please? )

Hi Ancrene and welcome and congratulations on your posts - they're just what was needed here! Please don't take us all too seriously. We were all new once.

You can find wallpapers by clicking on the h2g2 logo in the corner and going to the front page ... or at least, you used to... I'll just check...

No, they've gone from there... try this: A1302715

Ancrene,

I'm sorry if you have taken some of the posts to heart - I am sure that this entire thread is one where people's tongues are firmly in their cheeks.

As an ACE I often see the same question being posted again and again - but no-one minds answering them again and again If you don't ask - you don't find out.

Hootoo is no different from any other place on the net or in Real life - those who are "established' sometimes feel very "been there, done that" but, when it comes down to it this is one of the most welcoming and friendly places around - though you may come across the odd curmudgeon or 5 (as you will anywhere)

and finally you said "I have had the temerity to read comments posted in an open forum" - There is no other type of forum here - if you think of it like a cocktail party it may be easier to accept that sometimes there are places where your input is appreciated, welcome and encouraged but sometimes people are so wrapped in their conversation that a new contributor will be ignored - in which case one should simply grab another wander off to another group and come back when there is a gap.

Please note that this is NOT a hint - you are welcome to contribute to this or any thread but don't forget your sense of humour

Hey, can I have some of that to go with the , then?

Y.

Hi Feisor,

I do have a great sense of humour, though perhaps on a different wavelength than many people.

The majority of people I have come across so far have been very friendly and the cocktail party analogy is a very good one; I shall strive to remember that always.

Thanks very much for the link to the wallpapers, Trillian's Child - I particularly like the "pan-galactic beings" one.

Sorry you misunderstood Ancrene. My main concerns are not with people asking questions that have been asked hundreds of times before, but with the age and maturity level of the movie based influx of newbies.

In the US, the movie has a rating of PG, which means that many parents will be taking their 6-12 year olds to see it. Previous to the movie, the youngest researcher on the site was a 10 year old who was *always* closely supervised by one of her parents when on site. (I think she's 12 or 13 now) We occasionally have a few 14 year olds, but generally they're mature for their age.

If these 6-12 year olds have unsupervised internet access, this site is one of the places they're likely to show up. Therefore not only do I expect lots of questions about where to buy movie character action figures, and guide entries submitted to peer review with titles such as "My teacher gives too much homework" and "My dog is the greatest", but also a complete misconception about not only the origins of the site, but the purpose of the site.

I don't think that any of us have a problem with newbies joining, it's just so many newbies all joining at the same time. Even the best of us couldn't answer the same questions over and over again all in one day (unless they worked at a customer service help-line ).

What does annoy me though is when newbies submit pieces to Peer Review which clearly aren't complete or suitable, and then they dissapear for all eternity. I understand that the site can be confusing, but they really should read the writing guidlines before submiting anything to Peer Review.

I didn't actually notice the eyes at all for about a year, and I only found out what they were for a few months back when somebody else asked.

::finishes reading the backlog since Ancrene showed up::


Brilliant...

Yea... most of the folks in this thread are posting "questions" they remember either asking or answering.

No one here wants this place devoid of newbies... The term may sound snobbish but everyone was a newbie once...

Actually, let me see if I can find that wonderful cartoon series about newbies that ran in the ...


wait.. I have to find the post first... where did it run off to? It's not on the front page like it should be...


Found it!

A856343





Now, back to the subject here's a question I'm sure we can expect to see soon and often...

"Why is this place so snobbish/elitist/cliquish?"


Oh, and "What is Wrong With Americans?"

I was going to say Ancrene, you've picked up the smileys quickly - my total repertoire (sp?) without consulting the help page is and !

I'll take some cake too, if you don't mind (see, I don't know the cake smiley!) Please don't misunderstand, you are very welcome here!

Oh, cake is very easy... just click on the button below the text field you enter you text into - that is, if you are using brunel. Don't know about goo or alabaster. Otherwise, < cake > without the space between the word and the brackets will do the trick.

Another question I am expecting to hear is, "What DID he mean by this 42 thing?"

Y.

My trick for learning smileys is to hover the cursor over it, when I see one I like, and then put that text between chevrons... I think I know some seven or eight now - of course when I need one I misspell, forget or make up something that is not a smiley! So basically it is the and the for me!

Milla

You can also check these out:
A155909

Y.

Ah, thank you, that's very helpful I'm afraid I use alabaster, so I can't use the handy Brunel way. Can't see the appeal of Brunel myself.

Actually, that's another thing the newbies might ask - "What are Alabaster, Goo and Brunel?" and "How do I change my skin?"

Right, let's try it:

YAY!!! It worked!


Another question: Do all conversations drift like this one?

Y.

"what is Skin"

I find myself talking about skin regarding an upgrade of a software we have - some new features, but basically just new skin. I wonder if anybody understands me *Oooh another smiley!*

Alabaster pleases my eyes, that's all I can say!!

Milla