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

Hi Lil

I've been enjoying the chat about netiquette and Collective / H2G2. I just wanted to clarify something I said in one of my posts concerning the possibility that H2G2 suffers from 'anti-geek sci-fi snob' trouble makers! You went on to justify to me the way your forum works and described the range of visitors you have. Well, I think the RPG element of your forum is a very interesting idea, and certainly don't consider it anything like store-bought computer games. I was a keen paper and pen roleplayer for years through my teens so I am fluent in the languages of roleplaying, whatever form it may take. I am aware that it can be a rewarding and rich addition to interaction between people. Believe me, theres no need to justify 'adult play' to me (sounds dodgy, that! )

My comments about sci-fi snobs arose because of the stigma attached to adult make-believe of any kind, especially that concerning sci fi, fantasy or the like. H2G2 has a definite make-believe feel to it. Researchers take on a role which is echoed in nicknames, posts, subjects and artwork. Unfortunately, some people consider that geeky. When I was into my roleplaying I experienced some bizarrely strong, negative reactions to the hobby and I was merely suggesting that perhaps your forum/H2G2 suffers at the hands of the same sort of narrow minded people, as you requested insight into why your threads drift off subject and into the realms of nusience posts.

Hallo Bedlam!
Sorry not to answer you earlier, but I was off having real life obligations.

I do understand what you're saying and I quite agree with you that it's a specialized taste. Actually, one of our more intermittent salonistas writes role-playing games which then get played at conventions, and we find that the rules of real-life games (I've never played one) transpose remarkably easily to the online experience.

But we have never had an experience quite like the one we're having now and we're earnestly looking for a solution. Topic Drift, well, now that there are something like twenty regular attendees, another twenty or so who stop in now and then and a whole penumbra of lurkers, there is no way anybody could control things by force. The others accede to me only because I invented the place, and I've been voted down many times.

And it all has to do with netiquette, so I'm sure the solution must lie there also.