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

Glad to see you back at home, and back here,
Waz

Thanks Waz! How are you doing? Cold winter over there?

I'm fine . Winter hasn't quite started, its beginning to get colder, chilly at night although this last week's been beautiful.

Sounds almost like a mirror of what we have here. The summer is refusing to start ... it's still cool, mostly, and we've hardly had any rain yet! In Pretoria, in fact, it hasn't rained at all yet this season!

When would the the rain normally start 'Case? I remember it being November in Zimbabwe, and lasting six weeks. And an enormous amount of tension building as everyone waited for it.

Usually we have a few showers in September, and then heavier rains over October, November and December, and it usually continues through January and then peters out over February and March.

Some people say we have the best rain-seasons when it starts raining late in the year. I'll check how it goes this time! I measure and write down how much rain falls during every shower. The previous season was an average one.

Best being lots of rain I guess. Unlike here when we really could do with less! There were flood warnings on some rivers last week. After last winter and spring, we could do without them for a while. Not that it isn't mostly our own fault - if you build on flood plains what can you expect? Anyway, our local radio weather forecaster says there will be no floods, snow and hardly any frost this winter.

How are your trees doing?

Hi Willem, how are doing - are you ok?

Yes, I am ok! Why do you ask?

Because .

Ok, partly because there's a bit of turmoil here, on h2g2, just now and I know it involves friends of yours. But also because I just felt like asking.

I'm glad you're ok .

Have the rains started yet?

A couple of friends of mine fly back to Zimbabwe this weekend - they are not too sure what they are going back to. Maybe they were in my mind too when I felt like asking how you were doing. They're in my mind in their own right today, a small part of me envies them but mostly I am worried for them. They have a home there - this must be difficult for them.

Hello! Yes ... the rains started, in a *big* way! We had three days of non-stop rain, which is why I haven't been around recently!

About the problems ... yes, they involve friends of mine, about which I am entirely unhappy.

Well, I wish your friends all the best! They sound very brave ... I haven't heard much about Zimbabwe recently, but it is not quite the best of places to be white in right now.

Glad to hear the rains started - that's not something I ever get to say to anyone over here!

Zimbabwe - not the best of places whatever colour if you're not a fan of President Mugabe. I don't normally keep up with Zimbabwe news myself, I can't do anything and its upsetting.

I thought you would be unhappy over what is going on. I can't help thinking a little more following the WLC example, a little more kindness on all sides, could have avoided this happening. Now people are taking sides, arguing themselves into corners and can't back down without losing face. (Just so you know, this is not commenting on anything I've seen posted by you, or anyone else recently, on this. I kept up with the 'Can't believe this' thread until about 24 hours ago then stopped. So I know what's going on - I don't want to see anymore of it. I never have understood people who enjoy winding others up and fighting. (Again just so there's no misunderstanding, I don't include you as one of those people.) I'll catch up when (I hope) people have cooled down, got it out of their systems, got some more perspective and can discuss things rationally again.)

BTW I posted to someone frustrated by recent moderations, nothing at all to do with the SBVM, earlier today that I wonder if h2g2's increased profile on the BBC's site had anything to do with the 'tighter' moderation they seemed to be experiencing. It could be a complete red herring but maybe there's something in it.

And now I have to get out into this grey day and get to the shops. I'll drive back through the Moss and see if the Canada Geese are all still there. Its a good place to go when life starts feeling a bit 'scratchy' .

Take care of yourself in those 'scratchy' forums.

This sort of thing is *bad* for the h2g2 community and site. Personally, I hold the editors *more* responsible than other people because it is their site after all and they should attend to the concerns and interests of *all* users. They have the power, they should use it wisely. My opinion, my stance. As far as what *I* can do, I am trying to calm things down a bit where I can, but I have some obligation towards some of my friends ... things involved like saving my life.

Oh well. I'm trying to take care of myself, and of lots of other people too!

Hi Willem, just calling in to ask if you're ok, again, and for the same reason as before. I respect your loyalty to friends and your wish to calm things down. Sometimes people need a bit of space and perspective to calm down in. I know you know this already, its just a reminder if you find your efforts aren't appreciated.

Make sure you do take care of yourself. For your own sake, but since I don't think you'll give that much priority, then also because the fitter you are the better you'll be able to help others.

Likewise. I've posted elsewhere, but wanted to add my voice so you may catch me in two places.

x x Fenny (hoping for UT)

Hello Wazu and Fenny; please don't worry about me, I'm really fine! Bit busy right now ... that will get better later, I hope. Will send more info soon.

That's great Willem. Hello Fenny, I've seen you around but I don't think we've met, so . . . 'hi' .

Willem, I called in here to say that I've thought a lot about the issue of SL, particularly Barton and Lentilla's points in the Don't ban thread but I ended up on posting on the other side. All the arguments against seem, to me, to be arguments about the original ban of Arpeggio and as such they ought be discussed as that, not under the SL suspension heading. I'm only telling you here because I want to be up front with you. I will carry on reading the threads there and think about any thing you or anyone else posts, for or against.

Well, Wazu, I don't think Arpeggio should have been banned in the first place ... I think the idea of a 'lifetime ban' is totally overblown, in fact.

You *are* aware, I hope, that SL is not aware of being an alter of LeKZ's, and that calling SL 'LeKZ', or claiming that he is an alter of LeKZ, could serve to greatly enrage him? Which I don't think will be a good idea. SL has the ability to cause harm to LeKZ.