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

Dear Entity! Looked at the safety site, scared stiff.
What can you say about an online game where you can earn virtual money and exchange it into real money, or vice versa? It's very popular with teenagers here.You can enormously improve your position by investing real money.There are legends about people paying thounds of dollars for ammunition. Of course you have to give personal details if you want to have access to the internet bank. The game is very popular with teenagers here. The glamour of it!..
Inexperienced o

"Looked at the safety site, scared stiff"

Yes, but at least now, you are aware of what to look for and how to safeguard yoursef.

I always look at the internet as I would a library.

There are areas and books that you really wouldn't want your kids to get involved in, so, rather than saying "No, no!!" which, if your kids are like the ones I know, just makes it all the more attractive, I sit down and discuss the pros and cons with them.

When my brother was a teenager I actually brought him a copy of Playboy and went through it saying things like "Yeah, she's pretty but don't you think that the way she is posed there makes her look cheap? I don't think that the editors have much respect for her do you? But this article here is pretty well written read it and we'll discuss it." This demystified the magazine and sharing it with me made it all a little too nuch like "learning" He kept looking at them but with a more critical eye and eventually lost interest in smut and preferred real books.

Now, with my nieces and nephews we discuss websites and things that they hear about. I tell them about "scams" that I've heard about and how easy it is to lose money on the net (and, on occasions, themselves) and I try to redirect them to more interesting sites (like h2g2 )

Kids will be kids and will explore all sorts of things, some good, some not so good. I think that the key is to teach them critical thinking - let's face it, by the time they are teenagers we hope that they have a decent set of values anyway.

As I said, I would never allow younger children to surf the net without supervision, but, I believe that with teenagers it really is a case of "knowledge is power" - teach them what to watch out for and hope that the values that you have taught them win out in the end.

They may make mistakes but, hopefully, they will learn by them, and if you are open with them they will come to you to discuss things.

Those sites you mentioned are popular here too, but I believe that those people who lose themselves in them do so because they have nowhere else to go or no other interests to keep them occupied.

'how easy it is to lose money on the net'
There must be some observations somewhere about computer conning. What are the economics behind these money-involving on-line games? What are the traps? How can the personal information, like one's internet bank account, be abused? Any links?
'Impersonating' sounds really nasty too.
Sorry if I'm taking too much of your time. I'll do some research on the ground, of course.
Perplexed,o

I think that the scammers work the odds - they send out so many emails asking for bank details etc that, even if they find one gullible idiot it makes it worthwhile. Remember emails cost nothing.

I get heaps of emails purporting to be banks and asking for details - I simply delete them but someone who is new to the net would be fooled - the emails look very real.

I found a website once where smart people took on The Nigerian money scammers and got the to send photos of themselves holding sillt signs. They then publicised the photos and subjected the scammers to much ridicule.

You might enjoy the read

http://www.419eater.com/html/letters.htm
http://bustedupcowgirl.com/scampage.html

It's almost a bit sad - these people are so stupid

And you never waste my time - I may take a little time to answer but I promise I will answer, it just depends on how busy I am

BTW - have you decided yet about adding to your onscreen name?

I'm not sure about the online games - it's not something that I get involved in.

I firmly believe that "if it sounds too good to be true, it's probably a lie"

Dear Relevant Entity (whatever it may mean <wink&gt No, I haven't started toying with my name yet., as in my case it would amount to 'cleaning the floor with a toothbrush' instead of sorting out piles of textbooks, dictionaries and papers on my shelves and tables. Oh yes, and 'cleaning the toilet'(although I'm trying to go feminist, start an uprising and make this highly efficient in terms of character-building act the prerogative of men.)
Toying with Smileys is enough for the time being.
You can see I have popped up at the RPS. BTW, how many deadlines does one have to fail to meet in order to be admitted?
Penitent, o

Oh yes .... the joys of housework

I believe that the RPS was founded by someone who had cleaning the toilet in mind. I think that we are all memebers of the RPS

Our esteemed founder Douglas Adams used to say,
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by."

Feeling ignorant !
Is it possible to read Douglas Adams on the net?
Eager,o

I'm not sure - but have a look at his page at U42

If you can get hold of either the Radio show or the book of Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy you are really in for a treat.

There's more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/drama/progpages/hitchhikers.shtml

as it says on that site "Once you've encountered the Guide, your view of 'life, the universe and everything' will be transformed forever."

I envy you - the discovery of HHGTTG for the first time is a great experience

Got it.

What? Got the book? I hope so, or if not, I hope you can get it

Yes, got the book from a bookshop, and you may be pleased to hear there was a whole array of D.A.'s books on the shelves.What are your favourites?
A bit less ignorant, o

I love all of them, though I haven't read the Dirk Gently series for years.

If you can get access to the radio serial - give it a listen. It is where it all started. The books came later and Douglas was able to expand on a lot.

Warning! Be careful if you read these books in public - you'll get some strange looks when you burst out laughing

I have read and re-read the HHGTTG series many tines and never tire of it.

Enjoy!!

I just had a look at the front page and Virtual Worlds are the current talking point - you might like to look at A18957180

Dear Loyal Entity, thanks for remembering me!I hope you are OK, whatever that stands for in your case. .
o

"thanks for remembering me"

I'm fine and you?

How are you getting on in this big place?

<"thanks for remembering me">
What's so funny about it? Does it sound as if I were dead?
Well, I am, almost.(BTW, what exactly is this thing about?I love it).
Or as if you were dead but had remembered me in your will - but that's a possibility, isn't it - you being bodiless and ageless
Do tell me what made you laugh - it's vital(linguistically)
I seem to be surviving here, just as I am in RL.
No wonder, as I am obviously trying to live more lives at the same time than is advisable.
My family object to being offered the leftovers of me.
o
Thanks for...?keeping in touch? You know you are my first love on h2g2 - hope nobody sees it -

"You know you are my first love on h2g2 " - oh you make me blush

I laughed when you said "thanks for remembering me" because I thought that it was funny that you would think that I wouldn't remember you, why wouldn't I remember you? Do you think that you are so unmemorable? When I found that page I instantly thought that you would be interested

I take great delight when someone I welcome takes the time to answer and when they become a real member of the community it makes me so happy It's like someone becoming part of our big family.

Dear Feisor, I'm alive and in a hurry as usual!
My husband seems to have a second cousin once removed or something
in Australia, getting there just after WWII from somewhere in Europe. Any genealogy links in Australia? That is, if you ever have time or have stumbled across them. Kind regards, o

There are heaps!!

Here's the page from Google Australia - have fun!!

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=genealogy&cr=countryAU&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0