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

Welcome to this website. I have just read your experience and analysis of community.

We are actually a huge mass of people with myriads of different interests - different ideas and come from many different places. The first thing you need to do - should you wish to meet fascinating interesting people is to tell us something about yourself.

Now I did and I told people about the real me.I was very slow witted and did not realise that I could be anyone I wanted to be on this website. I am seriously considering taking on another persona - but I do not know if that is allowed!!. I have a yen to be some wonderful tree in the jungle!!. However , I was fortunate in that there were a few people who read about the real me and replied. And they have remained friends ever since.

Many people however do not write about the real person they are. They write about who they would like to be. And that is also permissible on this website. The only thing which is not permissible is to be nasty to people, to use bad language and also to write in a different language i.e. one that is not English!!, (I know because I was moderated soon after joining and felt the most dreadful guilt - silly ass!!)

So have another go my friend. It really is worth it. I look forward to hearing from you - and also about reading about the real or imagined Ralph Verney - which I conclude is not your real name!!.

Kind regards

Also Ran1

My Dear Sir,

(1) I'm too old for this sort of thing.

(2) I was trying to say that I object to the current cant use of the word 'community'; this is part of my political stance.

(3) In a momentary mental lapse, I chose the wrong Verney - I meant to name myself after Sir Edmund Verney, who fought on the right (but losing) side in the Civil War. He was King Charles' standard-bearer, and was blown to pieces at the battle of (I think) Edgehill.
Sir Ralph Verney was Sir Edmund's son.

(4) Verney is also the surname of a young woman (no relation) for whom I predict a brilliant future. If she sees this, I fear she will end our acquaintance.

(5) I will contribute to this - entity, or whatever it is, when I have something really useful and subversive to say.

(6) I remain, Sir,
Yr. Obdt. Servant,

Ralph Verney.

Your name is Also Ran 1. What is the significance?

The significance of mine I told you in my last reply. I hope you got it, because there is nothing at my end to shew it was delivered.

I have experience of these computer 'conferencing' networks (in courses I have taken ), and I doubt they ever lead to real friendships, because one needs to see one's friends face-to-face, at least for part of the time. How could I ever buy you a drink?

On the other hand, I wouldn't want to burden you with my physical disabilities, such as my club feet or three heads, so maybe the anonymity of this forum is a good thing.

Friendships need interests-in-common in order to exist as something more than mere acquaintanceships. My principal interest is getting to know music, of all times and places in theory, but in practice, European music of the second millennium. At the moment I am undergoing a 15th-and-16th-century learning-experience (or 'orgy', to use the technical term), and my new favourite composer is Josquin Desprez.

Politics as an activity is not my bag, ditto religion. I have strong views in both categories, but hate to get into quarrels (which are what political and religious discussions often degenerate into); but also, I find the views of my political adversaries incredibly boring.

Returning to the above centuries, I am also interested in the dances of the period, both in Court and village, and would like to be able to dance them. Alas, some of them (such as the galliard) are only for the young and nimble, and all of them have to be learned and constantly practised.

Which brings me back to the young woman I mentioned in my last piece
She is very young, and being now extravagantly pretty, wiil turn, I don't doubt, into a ravishing beauty. Alas, even if I were young and single, she would be 'out of my star'. One can imagine her finding a suitable mate in Prince William, and eventually becoming Queen --- (well, I'm not going to tell you her christian name , am I?). Anyway, she is an enthusiast for 'old' dancing, and the way she dances pavans and galliards is a joy.

This will do for now, I hope.

Regards,
Ralph Verney

Dear Mr. three-headed Ralph verney,

Thank you for your reply. Incidentally I am a "she"; old, wheelchairbound, but still- fortunately I think - with my marbles reasonably rolling!!.

I love so many things - am really never bored, and find there are not enough hours in the day. I still have so much to do, and life rolls faster and faster the older one gets.

Also Ran should be self-sxplanatory I would have thought. Never got there first - but kept on trying!!

As you must with your charming young lady who might become the Queen of England. I hope she likes water-polo. Was very surprised to see the HRH was captain of his University team. Now that is a really rough sport. The swimmers grow extra long toenails so that they can scratch the opposition. That is absolutely true!! I know - I have seen them!!


Have a good weekend.

also Ran1

Thank you for your last letter. I am glad to meet someone who is interested in many things. So am I, but I wonder if that's a good qualification for contributing to the 'Guide', which I gather we are supposed to do - I mean, solid information is contributed by experts in such-and-such a field, while I know only a few elementary facts about (let us say) the Solar System, just enough to win points at quiz suppers.



(About the young lady I have been talking about - it would be a case of HRH keeping up with her, rather than the reverse. It would be lucky for him that he does water sports, if he were to sail out into the Solent with her on a brisk day, in the boat she has the use of.)


Kind Regards,

Ralph Verney

Well, my dear Ralph,

I have never written anything for the Guide. I have been asked to, but quite honestly all my experiences are personal and they apparently do not like the word T so I expect that rules me out.

But I have learnt lots and lots of things from all the friends I have made and also have made really good friends whom I can rely on to understand me when I have a problem or difficulties.

This site is an extraordinary one. One can unburden oneself and really find empathy and understanding which to an old biddy like me is very necessary.

Go well, dear friend,

also Ran1

Even though we have not met eye-ball to eyeball, I take the liberty of calling you friend. Surely better than either enemy or nothing?

Sincerely,

AR1

Dear Also Ran 1

Surely! I shouldn't object at all.

Don't you think we could change the heading of our exchanges now? I reckon we've got past the 'Hi' stage.

Having said that, I've no idea what would be a suitable heading. You've been on this project longer than I - will you choose? And what shall we find as subjects (apart from politics, religion and a certain brilliant young woman I worship from afar)?

I hope your "enemy or nothing" doesn't mean you've detected something inimical in me.

Your friend (I confide),

Ralph Verney

Hi Ralph,

Unfortunately I cannot remember the whole quotation but I think it comes from the Walrus and the Carpenter.

I was so pleased to hear that another rocket had gone into space and then to see that my friend pheloxi from the Netherlands has put in a whole lot of links so that I was able to read all about the launch - with a Dutchman on board Andre Kuipers.

I hope to post in my journal something very significant which has just happened so will cut my conversation short - please forgive me but it is something very important and moving in my life.

Bye for now

Also Ran1

Hullo, Also Ran 1,

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things,
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax,
And cabbages and kings,
And why the sea is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings."

Once you get this sort of thing into your head, it never goes away. I think this is the best sort of poetry, distant cousin to the old sagas and epics.

I'm not sure if I can recite the whole of 'Horatius' (70 stanzas), but I surely can spout large chunks of it, unless paid to go away.

'Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul,
With all the speed ye may;
I, with two more to help me,
Will hold the foe in play.
In yon strait path a thousand
May well be stopped by three.
Now who will stand on either hand,
And keep the bridge with me?'
----------

Meanwhile the Tuscan army,
Right glorious to behold,
Came flashing back the noonday light
Rank behind rank, like surges bright
Of a broad sea of gold.
Four hudred trumpets sounded
A peal of warlike glee,
As that great host with measured tread,
And spears advanced and ensigns spread,
Rolled slowly towards the bridge's head.
Where stood the dauntless Three.


Yes, I know it's not great poetry, but ain't it grand! Tomorrow -'Marmion' by Sir Walter Scott.

Kind regards,
Ralph Verney.

Well my dear Ralph,

You are spoiling me. It made me feel quite "warlike", and I was comparing my present day battles with the local soc. services like standing on a bridge!!. Thank 'ee kindly. I look forward to tomorrow!.

K. was a wonderful poet before he fell ill, and won the Poet of the Year award in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) when only sixteen. I have all his work here. One day, perhaps I shall share one with you. I did with a friend when I first joinedhootoo. And do you know it was monitored. The moderators thought that it was plagiarised it was so good.!!! I must admit that I could not take offence as it really was a very backhanded compliment!! But I assured them that as his mother I was the "keeper" of his poetry and had well over 300 of the originals in my possession. I am also "keeper" of his pottery when I can rescue them from being buried in the garden!! I do not know why he does that!. - I shall now have the time to try and have the poetry published. and also to arrange an exhibition of both his pottery and his art.

'Till tomorrow.

Also Ran1