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

Hi Effers.

I thought I'd come over here quietly and mention . . .


Nick didn't actually *order* you not to contact that company: he *asked* you not to, and he suggested that there were channels here by which our displeasure (which is great in my case as well) could be made known to the editors, to the BBC, and to that company as well. And he suggested that contacting them directly might in some cases be viewed as harassment, and, because it has to do with a BBC site and that company's work on that BBC site, such contact, if it actually was harassing (and in the light of channels being available here, and the strength of emotions involved for all of us, it could easily become harassing) there's a nasty possibility of a ban for breaking the House Rules on harassment.

I think it was a friendly request and a reminder. A firm reminder, but a friendly one, and not an order.


Certainly, if a company makes their contact information available, then members of the public are free to contact that company. But do we really expect they're going to respond to an unsolicited email when they are getting enough of an earful through the feedback channels?


Earlier on one of the threads I mentioned and regretted the prospect of an Anonymous style action against the company. That would be simply pointless, of course. And earlier today I mused to myself about some livid hootooer writing to their MP about this travesty, but that's the sort of thing that would only get the plug pulled on the BBCs online activities and perhaps more.

I think we're stuck with trying to work with them and trying to get the best we can out of the new system.

We're not going to get anything good out of them by pissing them off, but maybe now that they've pissed *us* off, we can give them some good ideas.


I hope everything's okay there. Here it's turned weird: the forecast is for above zero for the next few days and we've already had a few days of it. All that snow is crashing down off rooves and turning into water and muck. I expect it will wait until there are nice two inch deep streams running down every street and then the temperature will drop in about five minutes to minus 35 with a windchill of minus 50.

And I'll probably just go out for a drive the next morning.

Hi anhaga thanks. I'll give a more measured response later.

What's happened to the BBC in my lifetime has utterly appalled me. A lot of my reaction is to do with that.

But honestly my anger is to do with how much I care. I should probably not post here for a while.

But thanks.

Well, I wouldn't want you kicked out of here over a hasty email.


The place will keep working (and shrinking, probably)

I'm trying desperately to be positive about things.



But I hate the Facebook/Dawkins colour scheme!

>there's a nasty possibility of a ban for breaking the House Rules on harassment.<

Well let them ban me.

Seriously if they do...just for contacting the company they've employed to make the overhaul..I won't pay my Licence Fee in May.

In fact given the amount of censorship they've subjected me to today...I reckon it's most likely the BBC will not get my £145 this year.

(A spell in prison is actually probablly what I need )

I keep shaking my head at this wacky TV licence thing. It is perhaps the most bizarre thing about British society, looking in from the outside.

But I've talked about that before . . .


Don't go to prison.



Unless they have broadband.

It's got serious for me now.

I LOVE THE BBC...(Too many things to explain from my life)

They are dealing with a mental bipolar who absolutely will NOT pay the money..and the subsequent fine..

I hope they have broadband.

I have no idea of what length of sentence I'll be subjected to...

but rest assured I'll find away to contact you anhaga, and kea and 2legs

Just don't get banned from here too though, or you and I won't be able to talk.

Post to Gif's email account and ask for my email.

I'd love to have email contact with you.

Here's the I've been keeping warm for you, Kea.

That goes for kea, anhaga and 2legs.

I'm going to try to go to sleep now

I love you guys,

Hey, Effers, Taff or Azahar could put you in touch with me, if you're in touch with them.

Actually, Az used to have a link to my (dull and moribund) little webpage on one of her blogs. Maybe it's still there if you want to go on a treasure hunt.

Thanks for the anhaga *slurps*

Effers, you'd be sorely disappointed with my email address. I do far too much text writing on the computer as it is, and getting me to engage in conversations by email is about as likely as us not having to change to burlesque (nice idea but not gonna happen). Sorry.

I do enjoy our interchanges here, and the place would be poorer without you in it.

Sweet dreams.

No worries kea..I already guessed it was a pipe dream due to a failed attempt in the past. But its nice to know you think this place would be poorer without me. I certainly get the impression that some here would love to see the back of me. Well them.

May I intrude?

I wouldn't want to see the back of you either, and indeed the place would be poorer without you. Wherever 'the place' ends up to be.

'We shall defend our island whatever the cost maybe