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

Oops! Sorry Peta. I took too long to think about that one.
btw: having the mods remove double and triple posts might be a good way to keep them occupied now that things are settling down a bit, but obviously the e-mail message should clearly say something sweet and kind to that effect.
peace
~jwf~

Peta,

Wow, that's cool to have someone from Antarctica on the site (although he's now in Madison, WI again). Personally, I'd want to get as far away from snow after I'd been in Antarctica for a year. Now we just need to get someone on the International Space Station, and we're set. I'll volunteer to be the first Scout in Space if H2G2 will front the cash to send me up there.

Yours,
Jake

how can this be a guide to lif the universe and everything if its not even a guide to the bbc?had a link removed to public radio international,PRI.welcome to the world organization

This is really off-topic James. If you have a query about moderation please post it to http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/Moderation-HelpDesk.

Thanks.

Peta

ahem ..actually ..ahem ..I was trying to change the subject. The topic needs offing.

Peta, if I was rude before, I apologise, and if offensive, I beg your pardon. Blame post 224 if you want to, but its no excuse really.

The problem with Americans is that they live on a small, fragile lump of rock which is being gradually wrecked by the ape like creatures that inhabit it. So why does that make Americans any different to the other ape like creatures ? - well only because they are collectively contributing more to the devastation than the rest of us. Ease off why can't you over there and let the rest of us have a few more decades of relatively climatic comfort !.

I mean...what? What the... Why... Cugh! I dunno.

And will you leave off the poor Americans. They're paranoid enough as it is, already, and I hate seeing George W. looking edgey.

djs in bewilderment

That's his natural expression - gets it from his dad...

A lot's wrong with Nepal these days. And to think people used to think of it as Shangri-La.

Thank you Kathmandu, and goodnight.

I would just like to pointout that 'Britons' are an ancient race of people long gone, please refer to us as British or limey's if you really prefer. A trifling point I know, but one which is necessary to point out nontheless.

Personally I'd like to think I was a Briton, but it is more likely I have a genetic make-up comprised of German, French and Scandinavian and Roman ancestors. However this does qualify me to be an Englishman, a bastardised culture if ever there was one, thought the truly ignorant amongst us seem to think they are not.

As to American bashing, why bother?

As long as you keep the 'I need a gun' mentality within your own shores, I'm happy.

It's interesting the kinds of reactions that this forum stirs up - mostly generalizations and preconceived attitudes.

Okay, I have noticed some bashing of nationalities also. I am American, and I do have pride in America, but is that a bad thing to have? Everyone should be patriotic about their country, whatever one it is. It's just when people think their country is better than others,that it gets nasty. Let's dispel some stereotypes here:

Most Americans are not fat, stupid, or ignorant. In fact, I am kind of angry about what someone said about our schools being terrible. They aren't; some aren't doing too well, but I know that is the case in Britain or wherever you go as well.

As for the English people I have known, they have all been pretty nice also.

well lets see whats wrong with me today,yesterday my car did,nt want to start,had to push it off,then it started to not want to stop,sqeakeeee disc brakes are good attention getters,my brake lights have been stuck on for about a week.so what am i getting ready to go do now?take a moter out for someone.my own car needs attention but i find myself working on someone esles,and it's saturday

Well, I may be a native born American, but I prefer to be called Canadian, because it is my family's native country. I especially do not like to be associated with this country because of the CONSERVATIVES! (ya know, Bush, Regan, Nixon, and global warming)

The problem with the "stereotype" thing is that that's what we see en masse. I live in Germany, I'm English (actually I'm from Yorkshire, but that's a different story) and there are plenty of American families where I live. They would get the fright of their lives if on German Unity day the Germans all started having mass BBQs, rallying round the flag and singing the national anthem. Or if the schoolkids did that hand on heart thing every day. I see nothing wrong with being patriotic either, it doesn't seem to be allowed in England anymore because it's not PC, but there are good reasons for not letting it turn into nationalism.
But someone made a good point way way back about tv. Cracker was an absolutely fantastic series. It had to be remade for the American market because it would have confused viewers, apparently. And don't forget Harry Potter's first adventure (and the film) had to have the name changed..... etc. etc. It is that arrogance that annoys people - not individual Americans.
Take heart, Brit bashing is a popular sport the world over. I've learned to rise above it.

Call it self-loathing if you like (alrighty then!) but I'm a bit sick of "Britishness", if ever there was such a thing, and have come to have a great affection for the U.S. though I've never been there... I see it as sort of an idealogical test centre; if it works for them, everyone else has a go. Of course not everything they try out turns to be universally good (free market economics for instance), but at least they make the effort, rather than finding new and interesting ways to stuff their fear of change into new and exciting packaging (New Labour for instance). I can't wait to visit the States, and I'm sure I won't be greeted by a disgruntled and horribly beweaponed postman on a mission from God, whatever the media would have me believe; if I do I'm sure I can find a reasonably-priced therapist/lawyer to help me come to terms with the experience, and then I can go surfing!

If you come through Atlanta, let me know. This moderately armed Georgian would be happy to show you a few places around the area.

This is a dumb thread. I think we should stop nationality bashing. It is mean. I think we should stop complaining about what other countries do because it really isn't our business. I personally think we should kill this thread because I don't want it to get out of hand. One person is already leaving the site over this.