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

It's already been mentioned, but I can't quite find the particular passage to quote.

*No* under-sixteen will want to be here unless they are mature enough and can engage in adult discussions. We've got nothing to offer an immature mind. There's no sound, there's no shoot-me-up's, there's no silly tags, there's no like-buttons, there's no nothing.

We've got a simple text box (limited to one font-style)and an antiquated navigation system that means you have to be *determined* to want to 'break in'.

The only young-un's we'll see will be the likes of EMR who was an absolute asset to this site.

That's why we need to think long and hard about site changes. I see absolutely no problem in under-sixteens joining us while we operate under our current format. There's plenty of us who will look out for them and ensure safety and nurturing when/if they need it.

If we look for a wider audience, then we may need a rethink.

Don't forget, though - brilliant and capable minds always start young.

And I've just posted that on the wrong thread. As you were...

Actually, no I haven't.

Too many similar threads. It's time for a lie down.

>>>*No* under-sixteen will want to be here unless they are mature enough and can engage in adult discussions. We've got nothing to offer an immature mind. There's no sound, there's no shoot-me-up's, there's no silly tags, there's no like-buttons, there's no nothing.<<<

Eh? No tags? Nothing for immature minds? What thread am I on again?

Mina, I'm afraid you've lost me... you say you don't want any adult content on Hootoo but surely a picture of a dominatrix is, by it's very nature, adult (please note that it does not offend me in the slightest)? I'm genuinely confused, do you not consider something 'adult' if it doesn't offend you?

I really can't understand why this perfectly normal lady should even be mentioned... There's a appearent lack of bondage in here, even of

Whilst almost entirely irrelevant to the thread and topic at hand, i'd just like to let people know that all of my "Ex-Patriate" former Plymouthian pals who have moved away from "God's own city™" tend to affectionately (or not) refer to their home town as "The Muff".

That is all.

FB

backlogging, I think there is much confusion here.

Re the under 16 thing, from the time I joined (late 2002) until the bbc banned under 16s (at a guess 5 years ago?) under 16s were allowed here and there were things as bad as or worse than arsemuff. So there is no argument for not using arsemuff if we are an age open site.

IF we want to get whitelisted at schools etc, then there will be a process to go through where we look at how whitelists work, what the technical limitations and tools are (eg can they filter at their end), and how much we are willing to compromise the community and EG for that gain. The Foundation will no doubt have things to say on that, given their emphasis on promoting things literary (they may want to encourage young writers for instance).

IF we wish to actively target young writers then again we will have to go through a process.

THe first thing above we have had and it wasn't a big deal and it certainly didn't result in not using words like arsemuff.

The second we had by default because we were part of the bbc, but I don't know the details on whitelisting.

The third we have never had.


*

Incog, 'euphemism' to me means using words that don't mean a thing directly but are known to represent that thing. The point of that is so that people don't have to say the thing directly. Arsemuff doesn't fall into that because it says directly what the thing is (depending on what country you live in and how you want to take it).

>>>
euphemism |&#712;yo&#333;f&#601;&#716;miz&#601;m|
noun

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing : “downsizing” as a euphemism for cuts. The opposite of dysphemism .

ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from Greek euph&#275;mismos, from euph&#275;mizein ‘use auspicious words,’ from eu ‘well’ + ph&#275;m&#275; ‘speaking.’
>>>

Arsemuff fails that because it is neither mild nor indirect.

I'm impressed you have multiple family members you would discuss this with. I can't think of one (not the close relations anyway).

I'm trying to find a thread from the early 2000s that shows the kind of swearing that was previously allowed by the bbc. I'm using google by site search, with bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2 because all the hits are there and h2g2.com ones don't show yet.

When I search for kea +the C word +link by site I get 12 hits, and all the hits instead contain the word pussy Good old google (or does the bbc now own them? ).

If you search for the C word on it's own you get the hits with that actual word.

If you do a site search for the F word you will get 300 odd pages from the bbc that contain that word (although google says there are 1700).

kea, there are useful links to a bunch of stuff that happened in the 2000s or so in one of my recent journals - here - F1599166?thread=8282328&latest=1#p110449960

Thanks Ben, that's a very interesting list.

I'm looking for a specific thread on swearing. I linked to it in some of the magrathea threads but can't find it now (at least once I've had the link removed but the page linked to is still there afaik).

It doesn't really matter because the google results demonstrate my point: pre- filter the bbc, whitelisted and all, allowed a range of words that some here are now saying are unacceptable.

What would Douglas think?


No, I'm serious, what would the creator of Eccentrica Gallumbits, the triple-breasted whore of Eroticon 5 make of some clever word play, or a cartoon drawing of a dominatrix?

End with a song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oVG4_k7Hbc

And if you want some REALLY offensive, and personal, attacks, you need look no further than YouTube, which as far as I know has no age restriction.

Great vid.


What's the connection with DNA?

The vid doesn't have a DNA connection, it's merely a (very old) example of allegedly offensive words being used to comedic effect. On the BBC.

Did they allow the words? or was it more a case that they didn't remove them unless someone complained?

In the interests of balance, I think it's worth pointing out that there is a constituency of potential h2g2 users who would be put off by not being able to post " off, you ing , or I'll come round to your ing house and [etc.]..." I've witnessed them flouncing off another web board when any kind of standards were imposed because their "freedoms are being curtailed!"
Furthermore, while there is a certain justification for ignoring this small minority, they are at the extreme end of a much larger group who wish to have available the full range of language and subject matter, and object to having some of it cut off.
The community may decide that this group's support is less necessary than that of all the potential young contributors with concerned parents. The community may feel that the objections have less value than the objections on the other side. However, it would certainly be a mistake to ignore the line of reasoning altogether, as if the only relevant spectrum is between differing degrees of irresponsibility.

>>>Did they allow the words? or was it more a case that they didn't remove them unless someone complained?

Do you mean did the words go through moderation and were not hidden? Don't know in general. But I do know that one long post I made once about the ways in which the C word were used in non-offensive contexts was yikesed, and then the numerous instances of the C word were all starred out. I guess that answers the question then, yes those words were allowed when starred. Which is why it's disappointing to see the filter is still not allowing the starred version but I can say 'the C word'.

I've just finished watching In The Loop, which would have to be one of the funniest political satires I've seen. It's about the Brits and the USians at the time that the invasion of an unnamed Middle Eastern country was about to be announced. One of the leads is a Scottish spindoctor for the PM, and his abusive swearing is incredible to watch. Of course the US bods are equally as venal and macho dickheadish but they don't like swearing. So they swear by saying 'Ess start star Tee

If you enjoy political satire and hilarious olympic level swearing I highly recommend this film.

I read the backlog in this thread and, frankly, was so taken aback that I didn't know what to say to all of the accusations aimed at me.

I never judged the site or anything like that, I just asked questions I thought that the communitiy would like to answer. I just opened a topic that I wanted answers about and was hoping for opinions and insights from others.

I was hoping the community would benefit from the discussion.
And perhaps it did.
But, I was attacked and it wasn't fair.
And that attack, not just from Mubeta, is the sort of thing that I believe has scared away people in the past and will keep people from joining up now and in the future.
Its not the BBC's fault.
Its your fault.

Attacked? I think there was MBs sally forth to your PS which has been moderated as far as I know - that is the site taking care of people who come here, IMO, and doing it swiftly and well. Nobody knows if there is any behind the scnenes contact between MB and the mods, nobody needs to know. But the visible result is something happened which was against the rules and it was handled perfectly by the PTB.

What's to frighten people away there? I'd say the opposite because it shows that the people here care about the researchers and nobody, not even MB who is a long time and well respected member (oh, err, missus) is above that.

If you mean you have been attacked in this thread - which is robust, I'll grant you - you can yikes and mod or complain by emaiil to [email protected] and they will respond.

What I would say is that nobody here knows the person "oxygen" so either you are a newbie (in which case: welcome!) or an oldbie with a new name (in which case: welcome to the dot com version) or something else. If you're a newbie you have come here and started a debate about something you have seen, and plenty of people have spoken. That the majority are of another opinion is neither here nor there really outside of: if you really feel that some of the words used are unacceptable you might want to reconsider the parts of h2g2 you hang out in, other options are available although I think it would be a shame to dismiss this site out of hand, it has a lot to offer.

If you are an oldbie from BBC era - well did you see all the debates we had there about the good ol' pre-beeb days?

And if you are other: well, that's life, eh?

Try PR and see if you like that better. It's about the edited guide and the language is appropriate to that.