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

Too right Spearcarrier! Corporal Jones in Dad's Army (Brit. (very Brit.) TV programme for our American friends) had the catch phrase "Don't Panic" long before the Galactic Guide.

Hope it's not sacrilegious to say so.

I'm just so proud of myself for remembering the word is Swahili!!!
I'd LOVE to hear more about your trip. If you ever feel like telling me about it, I'd like to invite you to my 'chat with me' thread.
Does everyone know how to get to the end of a long thread? You just errase everything in the top bar back to the ? then, leaving the ?
you add latest=1 and before you know it...you're at the last posting of the thread! It makes it much faster than going through post after post.

Hi everyone. I'm enjoying this. Just seeing how awful it is when you're pedantic. I promise I won't be it any more.

One way to throw foreigners is to reintroduce the lovely useful word "thrice" - especially when you're giving them phone numbers!

About silly questions. While I can't imagine anyone doesn't know what RSVP means, I don't think it is really on to rub it in if they don't. After all there are things I don't know. And if it's something I can learn by looking it up or being told, it's not my fault that's one piece of information I haven't picked up along the way. It is a human failing in such a situation to look up the word, and for ever after to laugh at people who don't know what it means or - funnier still - misuse it.

Which really should embarass everyone who has contributed to the "Intelligent Life" forums. I was thinking, one case quoted was about how ridiculous it was to have to explain what Drive A: meant. Erm, a few years ago I wouldn't have known that. I also still happen to remember those Dark Ages. Computer-literate and computer-mad people are proverbially the least patient with those not yet in the know. To find someone who will explain the very very basics of how to work a computer must be getting harder and harder. The chasm is widening - there are people out there who are scared to apply for a job because they have no idea what to do with a computer, once they have found the "on" button. Those on the other side of the chasm are laughing at them and talking in their computer-gibberish to confuse them all the more.

I have exaggerated somewhat to stimulate discussion. Please discuss.

Trillian's child...here I was JUST about to like you when you went & made fun of me for not understanding Mac! I've only had a computer since March. Unlike some people I do not spend every waking moment trying to figure out this hunk of plastic. So, because you're smarter than plastic you think you're better than me hey? Hmmm...I could tell you why it's taken me so long to buy a computer, but I wouldn't want to bore you. It's probably time to read Boethies, Erasmus or flip through your thesaurus. I am glad you're enjoying this.

Pandora

Sorry. You seem to have the wrong end of the stick though. The point I was making was that we should all practice a little tolerance and accept that other people don't know the same things we know. If we go into detail about something we know a lot about and bore/confuse/embarass other people, they, too, are probably perfectly capable of doing the same on another subject - i.e. will embarass/bore/confuse you on something you never thought about. Just go into any bookshop. There is bound to be at least 100 volumes thicker than your wrist about subjects you never even thought of.

The wonderful thing about humans is that they are all different and everyone is interested/specialises in something else. So I am from now on in in real life and here on this site, going to refrain from commenting on anyone's not knowing something. I also refuse to call it ignorance. Each of us has something to offer, and someone who is an expert on cable stitch knitting (which I can't grasp) for example, has my full admiration, even if they can't make shortcrust pastry or devise beautiful invitations with their computer.

So no offence, OK?

And anyway, I've never even seen a Mac - so not quite sure what you thought I was getting at there.

So sorry, truely. It's usually very late or early, depending if you're coming or going when I'm on h2g2. So I mistook your meaning...
thought you were making sport with those of us who don't know their way about the key pad! Here I go again...eating crow! I'd best stop & re-read posts before I comment! Forgiven then? *tries to look sweet*

you look so cute I feel awful

In the US, what you in the UK describe as "alternate sunshine and showers" would be "alternating", or possibly "off-and-on showers". "Alternate Mondays", meaning every second Monday, would become "every other Monday" -- a locution which makes no sense to me because it seems to indicate "every Monday but this one" -- but it's what they say anyhoo.

The UK "momentarily" would probably be the US "briefly", as "I was with Dinsdale briefly last week" -- a lie, as I have never met you, but good enough for the example.

Thank you.

I can now sleep soundly without worrying about the poor Americans not having a word for these important concepts

You may have met me, Chas. You never know. Probably not last week though. The only h2g2-er that I definitely do know is Sir Bedevere, but he was off sick last week.

Pandora

In "real" life, I am a very confident and articulate person.
In the virtual world, I am quite scared to place something for fear of doing it wrongly, or showing myself up to be a newbie, showing my inexperience. That was my first posting EVER, so it took a bit of confidence plucking.

thanks for your support, however.

*sighs the small sigh of the accepted-into-the-fold with chin defiantly and proudly in the air*

Nerdy

ps. Anyone know the derivation of "resign". Surely re-signing would mean committing to something again...

Another question that's been floating 'round my head...

I have an idea that "m'zungu" is Swahili for "foreigner".

*Nerdy looks around feeling a little silly for not having more to say*

And Wazungu is the plural I think. As I said earlier I got the grammer wrong. Like you, maybe, I was feeling a bit foreign when I first found h2g2. I've only had access to the www a couple of months, its all a bit new, a bit .

Trillian's child, may I compliment you on your good taste? Shall we kiss & make up then? I promise to be more careful in the future!XOX

Charlie the Zebra, well said!!! For the life of me I couldn't come up with such examples! I have been dubbed the 'Metaphor Queen' but in this instance the words were blocked! I am impressed, that dosen't happen often

nerdy language boy, I think you're truely doing quiet well for your first go 'round! You'll slip into your own mode soon enough! And if I'm not beaten to it by some wise soul, I shall resign myself to finding the answer Had you thought of how 'resign' is used in that way also? What a language we have! I feel for those trying to learn it! An exchange student from Brazil, whom I dated my Senior year
in High School had an awful time! Poor fellow, everyone took advantage
of his situation to play pranks! Some boys told him to take me to the drive-in (movie) because the movie would REALLY put me 'in the mood'!
(poor Bato couldn't get ANYwhere with me & oh how he tried) I drove us to the movie only to stop outside the gate laughing so hard tears rolled down my face! There was a showing of 'Bambie'!!! I said,"Bato,
this is Bambie!" He flashed a huge smile & said,"Yeah, bam-be, bam-be!
I like bam-be!" Well, needless to say it was a short date! Funny though! He returned last month for a visit with his host family...he's
a doctor now! Guess he wised up!

Now a bit of a turn around question-I've always wanted to know what to call the container that holds baby powder? It's not a bottle nor a box
so what is it? Anyone? (Thank you for gearing up the brain matter! I know it's just a silly thought, however, nobody has ever given me an answer.)

comes in "tins" No change the tense, "used to come in tins". Now comes in "plastic tins"???
No, I don't know either, but I don't think they made up a new word when they changed from metal to plastic.

Wandrin'star, hmmmm...I don't think they would call them tins in the US! Maybe I'll end up writting to the company, as someone pointed out
(just as I was satisfied with: plastic container) there MUST be a word for it! At the factory...they must call them something? No?

What's wrong with calling it a dispenser, though in the UK that could be the chemist (US 'pharmacist). I thought the Americans had invented words for everything? Usually two or three when one was enough

Well, we have. But as I said earlier, I grew up reading classic lit.
so much of the slang was lost to me. I don't mind calling it a dispenser...I'll call it a cow, if that's what it is...but I still wonder what they call it at the factory?!? It's just silly, really!

Go to a chemists and sneak a look at the delivery note.

How about "shaker", or "Cellar" (as in salt cellar, which is just as daft). Puffer? Sprinkler?

LOL!!! I don't think they're correct, but PLEASE don't let that stop you! (Pan exits with a giggle)