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

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I usually only sign into hootoo to unsubscribe from various conversations that are of no interest to me (or have been started by people I ignore).

Sure, I'm still doing the Post and some aceing, and I try to keep up with friends' journals, but I've lost all joy to write on here.
I don't even dare to put anything in my first journal post because it might offend somebody or trigger this obscure filter.

How sad is that?

If you could find a stand-in, it might not be a bad idea to take a break from editing The Post. You've been doing it for a while now - and from what I hear that has had its frustrations (modding and so on) - maybe if you had some time away you could come back to it fresher.

It's a good idea, but not sure how to make it come true.

Sorry to hear this, Bel.

I haven't really run into any problems with moderation myself other than the one time when my claim of plagiarism was moderated. The rest of the time, it's just the page disappearing for a few minutes until the moderators look at it. It's usually back within about 2 minutes. And I don't have any problems with the "rude word" filter which doesn't allow you to include certain words in your entry.

Mostly a case of Boredom, it seems to me. Drop all you can (!) and make a clean break, then come back to us (please) only when you can or want to. You might be too busy in RL too.

Don't forget, Bel, that you have the sexiest voice on h2g2! And that's official - because I've heard it and I say so. And you're a bit of a smasher in your photo here.

Jabs

Thanks, Jabs.

Gnomon, maybe I wouldn't have noticed so much if it hadn't been for so many articles come and go (or rather go and come back) in the Post.
At first, I thought it was a bug. Then I realised it was the filter. I don't have the wish to swear. But it would be much easier if the moderation emails pointed out which rule an entry actually broke. Those automated messages are good for nothing but upset and frustration.
It can't be easy for the eds to deal with all the objections.
They would make their own as well as our lives easier if they would look into this and search for a solution. It seems as if you can't write anything however inoffensive without being moderated these days.
It spoils the fun of writing.

I understand you Bel. All the random moderation takes the fun out of it, making writers on the edge and wondering, 'will this pass or won't it', or (worse still) not making the writer wonder and them the perfectly innocent entry or comment gets moderated for who knows what reason.

I dare not say what I see extremely frequently (more than previous years) on the ears of people in the streets of Edinburgh these days, for fear of triggering the Mystery Filther.

And

I've never really had a problem with the filter, but I seem to be in the minority.

Bel, we all have ebbs and flows of enthusiasm for this place. A few months ago I found myself hardly visiting at all.

Take a break and come back when you feel like it. We'll be here.

Cheers all.

What irks me most, is that this place is for writing, and it's come to a point where I can't be bothered to write on here any more.
This filter is stifling everything.

Hi Bel! It's funny, I hardly ever run into the moderation problem ... I do, on occasion, but it doesn't bother me that much. But it sometimes seems to me this place is going dead ... not much action here. Maybe that's the 'stifling' you're talking about. Not vibrant as it was ... in the 'old days' there was much more discussion. What puts me off writing here is that it seems no-one is going to read what I write. But I still like this site.

If Douglas Adams was still here and writing, I wonder how much he would get moderated ...

Yes, the lack of comments can be discouraging. We just have to believe that people are reading. If we are honest, we read a lot more than we comment on, too.

>>we read a lot more than we comment on<<

I must admit to being guilty of that, too. Sorry


lil x

...and me

I try and comment when I read. I know some of my friends read my stuff, but then I don't have many (active) friends here.

B'Elana, I am sorry to see that you are not in a happy place these days

Maybe a short break is in order...find other things to do that give you pleasure. If you wish,write about them in a journalfor your consumption only.

Just remember...there are many in our family that love you very much.


Best Wishes......
MadSnacker.

Thank you, MS.

A diary is not for me. I like to share my thoughts, find out what others think.

I'll come around again, no doubt.

This is all a right kerfuffle. Perhaps this will cause the editors to rethink the current policy.