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

Well if it's not a euphemism why ask if it's acceptable?The fact the question is asked implies that it is an offensive term and a euphemism for something supposedly not to be spoken about.

Of course if you think being called arse muff is better than pubic hair then it becomes a matter of aesthetics.Personally it rates as being the same in my book..and I suspect it will be in others opinions.

Basically if it's not right to use Pubic Hair as a name why is Arse Muff any better?

The only people who've assumed it's a euphemism are you and Oxygen... I had to go looking myself to find out where you'd got the 'euphemism' from seeing as you hadn't bothered answering. I (and many others) just figured it was vulgar silliness.

My vote(s)

. So, is 'Arse Muff' okay with you?
yes

. How about Arse?
same

. How about Muff?
same

. Doesn't the coupling of Arse with Muff mean something different than Arse or Muff by themselves?
immaterial

. What does Arse Muff mean?
bum warmer
- - - -

My comments
On balance, I have no real problem. I do, however, find all mildly distasteful in common usage.

The thing about it that concerns me most is, as a couple of people have mentioned, our wish to attract new members including (especially) young ones.
I'm aware, of course, that school language probably uses more words than I know of. But, it's the parent's attitudes that are important.

Perhaps more important that them are teachers - can we hope to become generally known as a wholesome place to visit and linger?

well that takes us into the whole realm of what is our target audience?

And if we are trying to attract people for whom the phrase (name) in question is offensive, does that put off the people who are already here (some of whom have been here for yonks and yonks).

Do we, in fact, want to cut off our noses to spite our face or are we trying to be all things to all (wo)men?

Knowing the (recent) history of h2g2, it's clear why RF has adopted that title, and since he has more recently been known as EM for quite a while, it's not beyond the realms of normal that he hang onto it for a while, surely?

And like it or not, and it seems clear that a lot of people have been putting up with anagrams and suffering in silence, the anagram thing is part and parcel of h2g2 popular culture. So how much of our popular culture are we prepared to discard in the hope of attracting new people? Or are we going to survey people and ask them if "offensive" names are what's causing them not to sign up?

In other words, there is a whole raft of baggage that we are schlepping around with us and we need to decide, at some point, how much of it we want to chuck overboard as useless (pointless) ballast and how much of it we want to keep. And who are our target audience? How much do we want to hang on to existing researchers?

Will we give more weight to people carrying (what I saw at the old place called) "seniority"?

FWIW: if I had just arrived her from planet interweb I'd be a bit worried that there were a load of wierdos here. On the other hand, now I've been here for ages i know that to be true. The name as it is doesn't bother me one way or another, probably I'd click on his name to find out more about him. Maybe I'd regret it, maybe it would be the start of a beautiful friendship...

It's theoretical too, as RF/EM isn't exactly posting prolifically. Unlike this thread being bumped up every hour on the FP

At some point I expect the Foundation will look at the issue of site accessibility and swear words (eg do certain words mean inherent exclusion from schools). Problem is, there is a huge amount of backlog that contains worse words than arsemuff from before the bbc got all anal (yes, couldn't help myself there). So no doubt that would affect whitelists too.

I think we should consider ourselves lucy that (a) we're free from the bbc and able to now set our own standards, and (b) we have some breathing space before the new owners start looking our way on this issue (i.e. enjoy it while we can).

Sho, I largely agree with what you are saying. I think we need to protect the h2g2 culture. I think it's more important to be actively welcoming newbies than passively worrying about putting people off or worrying about what one, not seen that much word is going to do.

You think we should all change our names to Lucy? How will that help?

I have never considered myself Lucy.
In the sky, sometimes.
With diamonds, not so much.
But never an actual Lucy.

~ ~
HtH

I'm shocked at the innuendo cid

That's a real coincidence, HtH, because I once had a named Lucy...

Good points there Sho. We definitely need new people to come in - because the old ones aren't writing enough anymore.

So before we work out what the target audience is, we need to work out what h2g2 is. As far as I can see, it's always been to build the eart edition of the HHGTTG. If the old ones aren't doing that, we need new writers who will, so if we lose a few oldies by the way because the culture is changing is that acceptable? Obviously newbies need guides around the place, so we want to keep as many people as possible, even if they aren't writing, to help out, but if you're not writing, you're not a volunteer, and you're not helping, what are you doing? And yes I include myself in that.

I used the term seniority. I don't know if anyone else has. Other people have been here less time and written more, but I still really like that I've got a 5 figure user number and I didn't want to lose it. *that's* what I meant by sniority. Not that people need to take me more seriously. If I were trying to get people to take more notice I'd have put 'ex-italic' or something in my name.

sorry, didn't mean the seniority to be a dig - it's a valid point that someone who has been here a while, contributed to the guide (in more ways than one - such as you, Mina) have a lot invested in the site and I think it would be a shame to lose them.

We definitely need new people, who aren't jaded (possibly due to life, possibly due to not having enjoyed the latter part of the BBC experience or whatever) to come and write.

Actually I'm guilty of having stopped writing and I don't go to PR as often as I should. Perhaps as well as working out what we want to be, and who we want to attract we should add into the mix how do we galvanise the oldies again.

I think, btw, that your experience as a volunteer and italic has been really interesting when I've read what you've written. That kind of experience is absolutely invaluable and I think we're going to need it more and more - and you're right, of course, the 5 figure U number gives it more weight.

The richness of experience here is so rich. (Sorry, I'm tired, my language centres are imploding). h2g2 really is soemwhere where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. What amazes me is how strong the culture is, that was created in 18 months at TDV by Douglas, Robbie and the original TDV staff.

B

I stopped writing and being in PR because we had ongoing uncertainty for a couple of years - first the MoT, then the redesign, then the sale. I think we should take into account how those things have impacted on the community and writers.

No problem Sho, but I did wonder if I was being a bit Up Myself. I only mentioned it in my journal, it was I suppose a bit of an 'in joke' between me, and well, me. I was in a motorhome club for a few years, with about 300 members, and when they renumbered to fill in all the gaps because people had left, all the old dears were concerned about was having their 'seniority' kept (ie low numbers). Also in cabbing, everyone wants licence number 1. My old cab was number 8. They're up in the 200s now I think.

Maybe I should go back to using U290. I'd be one of the heavyweights then.

I'd like to go back to being an ACE for a while I think. I don't really have time to write any more, but I would like to help out.

It would be ace if you ACED. And the Gurus are really busy now.

B

If you know xlst I could do with a hand...

Err - what's happening? Got

The following error occurred: An unknown error has occurred


on trying to go back to PS. Tried to go elsewhere, same result.

er, that'll be me.

I'm, er, "tinkering"

Normal service will be resumed shortly.

Thanks. I only saw now that it was posted after all.

Ok I feel like yet again like I've descended the rabbit hole.3 people pronounce it's not a euphemism, I ask around my family and friends and they say it sounds like one to them..

Also I did say that what is acceptable has to be down to what target audience you want to attract.Me I've always regretted the decision that the BBC took to ban anyone under 16.However if H2G2 is going to stick to 16 and over then it matters very little whether Arse Muff is acceptable or not..

However to be taken seriously I suggest that there are limits on certain phrases and words that will offend those who feel that there must be some standards.It also occurs that maybe it's the intent behind certain words that matters.After no one will appreciate being told to FO or the phrase screw you.