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

...about the difficulties and those who are leaving. I find H2G2 to be something very different for me. I am used to the net and chat groups for my work where we exchange technical info and work leads and develop friendships of a different sort. Here I feel completely free to express whatever silly thought that enters my head. Plus I have reccomended it as a different-point-of-view source for some news researchers I know.

I know that the articles researched and presented are serious stuff in some cases, but the general tone seems to be in great fun. There doesn't seem to be a mean age here because every posting or submission is totally different. The serious, the rediculous, the sublime, the quasi-erotic, the technical. That's what I like. Friendships and trivia, useful facts and personal drama- it's got it all! My wife thinks I hang out with friends that are "safe" here because I can turn them on and off with a computer switch, but I have told her time and again that in a lot of ways they are all my social, mental, and spiritual betters- people to learn from.

Don't give up and keep contributing! Ignore that which drives you mad and embrace that which you enjoy.

Peace and Happy New Year.

C

One of the things which fascinates me, as I have already said, is the quality of the friendships I have made here. There is something very different and special about my h2g2 friendships, and my curiosity will keep me here while I am still trying to work out what it is. It isn't just that I have not met other researchers, because I have.

Yes - h2g2 has been a social life-line and a source of sanity parcels for me while I was working abroad, the only constant place while I have been moving from house to house, flat to flat, country to country and job to job.

But internet friendships are not necesarily safe. I have had some scary moments courtesey of the people I first met online.

I *love* the fact you are pointing out this site as a source of alternative research! That is GREAT news!

Thanks for dropping by cl - I hope the new ideas are all fabulous ones!

All the best, and a happy new year,

Ben

I didn't realise you had bad experience. I feel insulated being here on the edge of the world. 5,000 miles between me and the vast majority of the people on this site. The nearest is in Edmonton, hundreds of miles and the entire Rocky Mountain range away.

The researchers in question work for Global TV National News and they have said they use the site as a last resort, as well as a good laugh now and then. I also gave them a bizarre alternate-media web paper based in Moscow.

Hope the New Year is a better one for you.

Reading your post, and re-reading mine, makes me realise that I have over-emphasised the downside. I have never been at any kind of personal risk as a result of internet friendships. I meant it more in terms of being emotionally scary, than in any other terms. Bloody words! So difficult to use accurately.

"Global TV National News use BBC as site of last resort!" - a perfect headline, that ought to cut the corporation down to size!

Such a shame you are on the West Coast, I am doing a US and Canadian roadtrip later in the year, but at the moment it looks like East Coast only. If I can persuade GTB otherwise.... But it doesn't look too hopeful.

All the best for New Year.

Ben

Meant H2G2 specifically. Obviously BBC, BBC Int., and BBC Canada are entities unto themselves.

Shame you won't visit the edge of the world- there be dragons here!

Hey Ben....

You met me via H2G2 - wasn't that scarey enough



Bassman. Have a Yule

So what do you do on these trips, are they exclusively for this site or is that coincidental?

I thought coincidental was having the same teeth....



Bassman

Or was i having your false teeth made out of Chinese small change?

*ahems*

Ouch!!



Bassman

Shorry, couldn't reshisht


(It'sh increadibly difficult to shpeak propperly when your falshe teesh have shquare holesh in the shentre)

Is that coincimetal? Or is that like deja vu about change- coincimental?

How come your falsies have a hole in?



Bassman

For a better fit?

Chinese coins....i-ching!

i-ching is the sound they make in your pocket. iChing is the new mac release for Asia!

No West Coast visit?

(OK, so I lurk. So sue me)

*waves to cl and bassman*

West Coast too!

All around the edges, just nowhere near the middle!

B

What, no visit? last time I talked to Ben she was on!



Where are U?

I'm on!