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

So what fascinates you about the 15th Century?

(and also I wanted to say what utterly brilliant posts you put on Science vs Faith - and elsewhere for that matter. My heart lifts each time I've seen you post).

Your life sounds almost as interesting as mine

The 15th century was the last one before the Europeans found the Americas. I admire some of the Native American cultures, had been reading about the Anasazi and was in a mood to be contrary the day I said that. I have a degree in history and always enjoyed reading about that time period. Once I reached the 18th century, I always lost interest. I must not have had a lifetime during the 18th century.

I really appreciate 360. It's more what I was looking for than hootoo. I enjoy my h2g2 conversations, but they're mostly just gab fests. Simon thought I would enjoy 360 and asked me to check it out.

Thanks for your kind words and for making me feel welcome at 360. I sure have a lot to learn, so don't be surprised if I come up with some incredibly dumb statements.

You'll have to try harder if you want to come up with any dumb statements! It's just great to have you along.

It is interesting what time holds your attention - I'm interested in 16th century and 19th century...think I may have been around then. Certainly was in the first World War. No, not accurate...THINK I was in the WW1 as I had one distinct memory come through while having a massage and if it wasn't me, it was certainly someone who was passing an experience on. Very strange.

Science vs Faith is fun - but nowadays I find it so strange to talk to people who don't want to believe in miracles! I love miracles - probably why I attract 'em (and usually need them!)

It's not just centuries with me....it's countries. I love history, obviously. But I'm bored to tears by most American history. And the Revolutionary War period especially puts me to sleep. But I can get so engrossed in English history that I forget to go to bed.

And I'm fascinated with certain countries and totally disinterested in others. Can't read enough about India and Tibet, but have absolutely no interest in China. Love to study Italy but get bored with France and Germany.

About Science vs Faith...........it appears to me that the "boys" just want to debate. Debate is fine as an intellectual exercise, but we're at the point of one saying black just because the other one says white. But, they seem to be having a great time. I guess I was expecting a friendly exchange of ideas rather than so much confrontation and one upsmanship.

H

Boys will be boys. To be totally honest, I encourage it because it puts the figures up (political!) and keeps them happy. What I do find disturbing is the ageism - they don't realise that they are doing it but they slam out at the older folks on 360 and are really quite rude to them (not FwT who's a complete sweetie).

Several times I've noticed that anyone citing experience is walloped for accusing the younger ones of lack of experience. At 17 you really aren't going to have as much experience as you are at 74.

Except, of course, that isn't entirely true - some people have one year's experience 74 times rather than 74 years' experience...but not the people on 360!

Yes, I like FwT very much.

Am I misunderstanding or is the BBC keeping track of the total number of posts? Would you like for me to invite a couple of people to join 360? I never would have known about it if FwT hadn't invited me. There are a couple of people who post to Lil's Atelier who might be interested.

You understand right! BBC sites like this one stand or fall on the amount of 'hits.' When we started we were going to be funded well but there was a departmental change and since then we have been going by the skin of our teeth.

One whole website maintained totally by one part-time woman! As it is, we are doing astonishingly well - but the more hits we get the more attention - and the more chance of a proper budget. THEN I can develop the site properly. I have so many plans!

So yes, if you can get more people on, it would be wonderful. They don't have to post - it's looking at pages that counts for the Beeb!

And thanks

I contacted 5 folks and asked them to check out 360. I'll keep my fingers crossed that a couple of them will be interested.

Thank you...and suggestions are always welcome on what I can do to make the site more attractive. Sometimes I get a bit frantic as there's so much to do but then I get a new burst of energy and do it!

Nowwas is very keen...I would love 360 to sponser people to a conference in Alexandria and it goes completely against the grain to say 'I can't right now...' Bother!

I went to a meeting of the Religion and Ethics department yesterday and did a load of 'networking' to give us a higher profile so I've got to follow up with emails today...

Maybe on the 360 front page there could be a list of general topics to make it easier to find the conversations and articles. Anything that eliminates steps. I don't know enough about computers and html to be able to give intelligent suggestions. But I wouldn't think that people who are genuinely interested in the subject matter would care about whether it's alabaster or goo.....that sort of thing. It's the content that is attractive.

Ok, so you're already doing that. I wasn't going to the actual front page. It's very nice, by the way. Have they ever puiblicized 360 on the h2g2 front page and in the Post? I know I'm supposed to pay attention to both of those, but to be honest, I don't read either one very often. When someone in a conversation I'm in has an article or poem or something published then I usually check it out, but otherwise, I just go to my home page and to my conversations. Guess I'm not a very good hootooer.