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

You seemed like an interesting person to talk to since I glanced at your page after you posted to the conversation about being accused of a troll. So I thought I'd drop a line.

As way of a brief introduction, my name is John, I'm 25 years old, I'm married, and I live in Chicago, USA. I like classical music, adventure CD-ROM games, animation, sci-fi, and American football. I also enjoy writing (when I can find the energy!).

There's more to tell (isn't there always?), but I figured I'd give you a chance to respond.

Hello John, pleased to meet you.

I'm welsh, 25 next week currently working in a directory enquiries call center to fund my masters and I'm in a long term relationship.

I like a broad range of music, but most of all The Beatles and Buddy Holly. I also enjoy Sci-fi, good TV, reading and writing. I'm also currently addicted to The Sims And I'm a writer.

How long have you and your wife been together? What type of Sci-fi - film, TV, book? What do you write? What else is important to know about you? (If I'm being too nosey tell me and I'll shut up)

Hi, and happy early birthday!

My wife and I have been together a year this August, and things have been going pretty well. I used to be into all kinds of sci-fi novels, but have gotten a bit away from that in recent years. I'm a bit more interested in sci-fi films now, especially since I've always been a movie fan.

I wish I could say I wrote anything that was terribly interesting, but mostly I just play around with short stories and ideas for novels. I have a couple that I'm proud of, though, and I may post something here one day in the near future.

As for anything else you should know about me? Um, I'm a Christian, so I go to church every week, and I sing in the choir from september through May. I'm not terribly political; I run middle-of-the-road if anything. I think Guiness is the greatest drink ever invented. And if you asked my wife, she'd call me a tickle-fiend.

And any more details you'd care to share?

Well, lets see,

I take writing pretty seriously. I did a degree in literature and writing and got a first. I graduated two years ago. Now I'm halfway through a masters in writing, for which I'm doing a novel, set between 1908 and 1943, told through diaries. It's a massive and ambitious project but I have lots of support and I'm enjoying it. It helps that it's a period in British history that I'm incredibly passionate about. If I weren't the research would be overwhelming!

I have a kitten, which you probably gathered from my page And I've recently taken up gardening. I was surprised that I enjoy it so much. I only started for research purposes, gardening features heavily in the novel and I had to get some firsthand experience. But I'm loving it. I think I've found a lifelong passion.

I'm not religious. If I had to define my beliefs I'd probably settle on agnostic. I'm not antagonistic to religion at all, It's just that for me thare are more important concerns and beliefs that shape my life. I respect any strong belief that others hold though.

Politically I'm probably quite far left, though I'm not at all politically active. Nor am I interested in having great flaming rows about political or social concerns. Conversation is fine, good and interesting, and opposing views make for lively debates, but when it gets angry I walk away. With the exception of hate groups I'm willing to respect beliefs that are different to my own.

I think the greatest drink ever is

Ah, my wife is very much into gardening. We live in an apartment, but walking out onto our balconies is like stepping into a jungle!

A future novelist! Well, then you're someone I definitely need to keep in contact with. I've often toyed with the idea of doing some serious writing, but it generally doesn't come out the way I'd like it. Practice makes perfect, I guess, but it'll take a lot of practice to be where I want.

Religion and politics are two things I definitely avoid until I know someone really well. And I also avoid talking about them online too much if I can avoid it. You don't want to offend anyone, but some people are determined to be offended by anything. I think I've known too many people that are offended by the idea that someone is a particular religion, lives in a certain country, or what have you. I say what's the point of being offended by someone until you meet them, no matter how much of what they are or what they do you might disagree with? Then again, you'd probably expect me to say something like that or else I probably wouldn't have dropped by to say a friendly hello.

I got a story accepted to the underguide today, so I put a couple more in! I'm a bit wary of putting too much of my fiction on h2g2. There are things I would like to get published and putting them on here might compromise the first publishing rights. Gameplay has already been published and Rusalka is too long to be published, so I don't mind putting them on here.

Why don't you put something into the AWW? All writers need feedback on their work, and this is a good way of getting it. And now would seem to be a good time. The underguide is badly in need of material.

I don't blame you for not talking about your beliefs. I try to avoid doing so as much as possible as well, just because there are too many people looking for a fight, or who are willfuly ignorant and hurtful. It makes me angry or upset, and I'm not looking to change peoples minds so what's the point of getting into it.

Perhaps I will give it a shot soon.

I did read Rusalka, by the way. I found it to be an interesting story and well-written.
I assume that the story is to some end a reflection of your personal feelings?

Anyhow, if you ever want to talk about what you believe I'll be happy to listen without being mean or nasty, I promise. After all, if I can read "What's Wrong with Americans" thread without blowing up too often, I'm sure you and I could get along. Just be sure not to be mean and nasty back.

*slaps forehead* I'm sorry, I didn't realise. Yes, I'm female and so is my girl. We've been together for nearly five years and she's my world. It never occurs to me that people won't make the assumption.

I assume (apologies if I'm wrong) that you have religious objections. I don't mind if you do, so long as you aren't going to rant at me or insult me. Though I'd be very surprised if you did.

Hi there! Just dropping in. I'm the aforesaid girl of Speckly's. I've been keeping half an eyeball on the thread, and so I say welcome, you sound like a great guy. I'm in work currently, so only a brief hi!

Well, how do I put this?

Do I have a religious objection? Yes, I do, but it doesn't exactly come into play. Why, you may ask? The reason is that is that I'm a Christian... meaning, faith in Christ. More than any behavior that may be found wrong in the eyes of God, is the importance of being forgiven for your sins by trusting in him through Christ. Sounds like pretty standard faire, doesn't it?

Well, it's also the reason that I'm not going to demand you stop your "evil activity". If you don't have a faith which says you're doing anything wrong, how could I expect you to desist? If you were a Christian, then I'd suggest we have a long talk about it, but as you're not, I'm talking to you like any other non-believer. Besides, in the US alone, close to 90% of people have sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage. Am I to look the other way when it comes to most couples but persecute others?

Sorry if that's a little long-winded, but you get idea that though I don't think I'd say "good for you," I don't think I'd ever say, "I hate you for what you are." I try not to hate anyone, if I can help it.

Hi to you too.

And rest assured that I'm not hitting on your girl, though last week I did give her a when she made fun.

(Is she even ticklish?)

No, but I am and it gives her an unfair advantage in our tussles. Or if she wants me to do something, anything, she only has to tickle me until I give in. Within 3 seconds.

I'm a tickling wuss.

Fatty

I feel for you. Well, not really, but it makes me sound sympathetic.

Sounds reasonable to me.

I consider myself to be a highly moral person. In fact in relationship terms probably more moral than most. G (lizardy) is the only partner I've had. I would never be unfaithful and I never intend to have any other partner.

Maybe I'd say "good for you" after all.

Mind if I ask how the two of you met (before it's time to sign off for the day)?

We met at university, when I was but 18 (23 now). Neither of us had had a relationship before, tho' I came out at 13. We'd known each other five weeks when we got together, and all the evidence suggests love at first sight, that rare and possibly mythic beast. So now we're old marrieds, only not.

We met at uni. I had seen her around (and been fascinated by her from the first moment), and we shared a class. I heard her saying that she was going to the library so I went and waited so that she would bump into me and I could talk to her. We spoke after class once a week for five weeks then got together. We've hardly been seperated since. We shared classes at uni and lived together from a week after we got together. Now we live and work together, and we couldn't possibly be happier.

Just wondering, seeing as in the US, there's a lot of sexual (as well as other kinds!) of experimentation in college, but past graduation, a lot of people settle into the heterosexual single routine of dating, getting married in the late 20's, getting divorced in mid-late 30's etc whatever their feelings once were.

That's not to say that it's so unusual for it to happen any other way, though. I think I'm enough of an odd duck to have had two very brief relationships in college and then date someone whom I eventually married at the age of 24.

Gotta get going, but I'll talk to you later.

See ya.