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

*floating in, in her usual vague, elf-like manner*

I'm running the Ethereal Elven Garden over at the Hot Spot <./>A624322</.> run by Apollo...

...and, since I'm trying to keep the visitors to my garden enchanted as well as in a bit of awe, I was wondering if you, while it's still dark and slowly nearing midnight...

...could be heard howling nearby, or passing nearby in your form - just to keep the visitors alert, if you know what I mean... *trying to look innocent* ...over here... <./>F75930?thread=141736&latest=1</.>

*crawls back up on her chair again*

You know, until I joined h2g2 I used to think I had a quite lively imagination - until I came across you and Affy - how *do* you come up with all those wild and crazy ideas?

I just had to laugh when I saw your reply to my posting in the 'Gear Replacement' thread!

Glad you liked it. Sometimes I wonder whether the jokes I make actually strike people as funny, since normally they just carry on with the story. Occasionally, I'll get an but usually people don't like to break the flow. It's very nice to get the feedback.

Of course, *I* laugh at all my jokes, so at least there's that.

As for where we come up with our ideas, well, they just come to us. We mostly make it up as we go. Affy and I work very well together, though. I'm pretty good at embellishing things and sometimes come up with ideas myself. But Affy is the creative genius - he is a fount of originality. Put the two of us together (with a bunch of other creative folks) and great things happen.

Both of us are also good at picking up on someone else's lead and taking it farther. For instance, the current stuff on the gear thread. Someone said something like: "where to now?", so Affy created a whole bunch of funny options. Of course, he set up the next joke by including a route that sounded nice. YK took the bait (probably knowing he was stepping into a joke), and chose the nice sounding one. I saw the joke possibility and reacted with horror (not having any idea what horrible thing might lurk in Butterfly Bay, but prepared to make something up if needed). Then I went away for a week, so Affy had to step in and make up the something horrible. So, then we still had to choose our route. You suggested the Maelstrom and going with the flow. A story line immediately came to my mind (we enter it with engines off, spin around alot and get dizzy, then end up on a sandy island, which turns out to be the bottom of the ocean at the centre of the whirlpool - vertical walls of water surround us. The whirlpool is open to the sky at the top and extends right to the bottom of the ocean, leaving a fairly small circular dry spot of ocean floor in the centre. We can find all sorts of things down there - but that is as far as my vision goes. Someone else will come up with something else and the story will go from there). Anyway, with that potential story line ahead, I made my post, but did it in character - we're scientific geniuses, but we tend to overlook the simple approach. And we're like kids in a candy shop when presented with new appealing ideas.

So, there you go. A window into the mind of GL.

Of course, the story could go in a completely different direction if someone posts something that wouldn't allow my potential story line to occur. But that would be just fine - I would just play along until I thought of something else.

"A window into the mind of GL"

GAAAAHHHHHH!!!

Hi GL
I've pressed the bottom button on this thread because it seemed the right thing to do . Since you bothered to give me your views with regard to 'Conversations' I thought I'd have a quick gander at your private space.
Note the you live in London Ontario, I passed through there on my way up to Owen Sound and Lions Head some 20 years ago. Just a point of no real significance but it does show that I do hike about a bit.

Nice to see you here, AB. Thanks for dropping by.

So, you've been to Canada, then. Was it a vacation, or were you visiting relatives? What did you think?

I've been to the UK once, also about 20 years ago. My wife's grandmother was still alive at that time and living on the Isle of Wight, so we stayed a couple of days there, then went and spent most of a week in London. We loved the place and would like to go back again. Maybe when my daughter is a little older.

My best man at our Wedding emigrated to Canada some 40 years ago. We celebrated our Silver Wedding with him at Grimsby Ontario. We took a camper and moved around a bit. Hence jouney up to Lions Head. We moved all way round Lake Huron. We really loved it we've been back twice since then. Its a great place for a holiday but I'm not sure that I would want to live there.
Just checked your daughters age. At 9/10 years of age a trip to the UK would really mean something to her.

*surprised*

Hi Ancient Brit!

Hmmmm... does this mean you're slowly beginning to accept that h2g2 is the way it is?

You...
- hit the 'reply' button in the latest posting
- posted in an already existing conversation rather than starting a new one on GL's user page
- posted something that had nothing to do with what had previously been discussed in this conversation, so called OTD (Off Topic Drift)

*checks backlog but fails utterly to find anything that could be classified as Topic*

Hi Titania
I'm glad that we are back in touch. It concerned me that you dropped me. I really am interested in this topic please bear with me.
Sorry GL Titania has intervened in our coversation re. Canada under the subject heading of Greeting GL. You should be aware that Titania and I have had dealings on subject of correct buttons before.
To pick up the points she has made:-
Posting 7 started our thread and in it I acknowledged pressing the bottom button. You accepted it as a Greeting and chose to continue under that subject heading. Since then, following your acceptance with regard to subject heading, I have replied directly to you by pressing the reply button on the post to which I was replying.(this happened to be the bottom button). It is a conversation in your space, I follow your lead. I could of course have opened a completely new conversation in your space but posting 7 was not intended as a conversation merely as a Greeting. It was you who developed it as a conversation.
Titania broke the thread of our conversation and to my mind should have posted her reply under a new heading (Let's say 'Point of Order'). This would have clearly shown that a new thread was being introduced and in fact that it was she who was introducing it as a third party.
I shall be interested to see how you react to this posting. Do you reply to my earlier posting or this one, or both ?
In this case of course no harm will be done by pressing the bottom button because it's not too busy and virually any reply button will do.
I shall set up a link from 'Conversations' in My Space to this thread.
.

.
DearTitania, .....................................................................................................My Space. - 16th. Aug 2002
.
Thank you for your recent brief and meaningful letter, sent to me by pigeon post. Of course I accept h2g2 as it is. A great place to be, warts and all. Just let's agree to differ on this point. I am truly an Ancient Brit set in ways determined long before h2g2 was even thought of. Please, please do not hold this against me. I truly welcome anything that helps me to progress in this modern environment.
As far as possible I live my life within the rules/guide lines of those who create them. I find that such rules/guide lines are set for my help and I try not to go outside them by more that I consider necessary to meet the circumstance. In most cicumstance I find that this does not cause me or anyone else for that matter any harm. Honestly I can find no reason whatsoever on my part to ignore the BBC Guide lines with regard to Conversations and I can certainly find no justification for just ignoring them.
I'm sorry but I shall continue to try wherever possible to follow the Guide Line and Press the reply button of the post to which I am repling. Old users, set in their ways, will never know with certaiin exceptions of course.(I'd put a smiley here in todays world)
I hope that this letter will clear up any misunderstanding that has occured in the past
Yours sincerely
Ancient Brit

PS. Sorry GL for cocking up your Greetings GL conversation.

Hmmmm... sorry, but I really don't understand your reasoning, AB - do you mean I should have carried on my conversation with GL in this thread (I was the one who started it) and completely ignore you and your postings?

Or do you mean that since you introduced the topic Canada we shouldn't talk about anything else but Canada from now on?

And the subject 'Greetings, GL...' is intended, by me, as an opening phrase rather than a topic

Sorry GL but Titania seems unsettled because you picked up a conversation with me.
Titania
You appear to only read what you want to read and understand what you want to understand dear. We've been here before. Must I repeat myself and go on to say that I explained the position in my entry posting 7 a week after your posting 6. Posting 7 was a greeting to GL in his space he accepted it and engaged me in conversation. You interupted that conversation in full flow. I had no intention of breaking the Guide lines nor had I any intention of playing it your way. I did what I thought was correct and I have no doubt whatsover that in so doing I have not confused or abused anyone. If you want to go on grinding away on this subject please put your view to the conversation entry in my space (That's where GL and I met) and leave GL in peace or continue the conversation that you claim I interupted.
You do realise that you started a similar debate to this in my space under a welcome heading when there was already a 'conversations' heading for you to have joined. You gave me up as a bad job remember.

[d'E] <-- random nonsequitor calling card (and probable spelling mistake)
[] <-- never spells anything incorrectly

Well, well - I go away for a couple of days and all heck breaks loose! (Just kidding)

AB - I have no problem with this thread (or any other) rambling around where it wants to. As you said, there are only a few participants, so we can easily follow what is happening.

This thread exemplefies the "big room, one speaker at a time" model that I proposed to you. Titania started this thread some time ago, so that established that she and I were both here. Then you arrived and woke us up (as soon as you posted here, this conversation jumped to the top of both of our conversations lists). I replied and you and I started talking. Then T noticed this conversation and wanted to say something to you about it - so she did. That started a sub-conversation between you two. d'E has now dropped a calling card, so that he will be informed whenever someone says something here, presumably because he is finding the conversation interesting to listen to.

So, what happens now? Well, each of us can stand up and address any of the others. I can talk about what has happened while I was away (oh, wait...I've already done that). I can resume talking about Canada/UK travel with you. I can say something to Titania about what she has said. I can write a grocery list on the back of d'E's card, and wave at the departing Zeppo (Zeppo is d'E's ).

And after I post, you are free to reply to any and all of us at the same time.

So, you see, since there are several people here, and at least two conversation threads running, it would be awkward to try to reply to a particular post. In this one post, I have talked about all of the backlog since I last posted - so on which of those individual posts should I have pressed the reply button?

Now, back to the travel conversation. You wouldn't want to live here? Why not? I know why I wouldn't, but it would be interesting to hear why you wouldn't. Actually, I'm being a bit facetious here - it is a great place to live. I would prefer a better climate, though - lots of the winter is spent indoors because it is too cold to want to go out and lots of the summer is spent indoors because it is too hot to want to go out. A place where the weather is always moderate would be nice. Perhaps when I retire, I'll move somewhere else.

Thanks GL,
I get your drift with regard to button pushing and can manage OK. I just get the impression that people just jump in say what they want to say and jump out again. I have neither patience or the skill to carry out more than one conversation at a time, particularly on one thread. So I shall just press the button on your the last relevant posting which happens to be the last one (as more often than not it is ). If I had wanted to talk to Titanina I would have pressed the reply button on 12/13 that way I get the message to which I am replying at the bottom of the screen for reference. For d'E I would press 14. (Why have the buttons there if your not going to use them ?) Just on more on this subject I am genuinely interested. How does d'E come into the picture, is he inherently nosey ?
Back to Canada. I put age as my main reason for not wanting to live there. I was getting on a bit (Silver Wedding) when we first visted. We stayed about 8 weeks and whilst we had a wonderful time, and have had on subsequent visits, my wife and I both missed the comfort of home, our neighbours and friends, the pub, local eating places, trips to the seaside and our life in general. I'm a stick in the mud.
I note you use climate as a problem in Canada. In England we don't have a climate we have weather, enough said. Isn't the climate/weather becoming a world wide problem for whatever reason ? From forest fires, drought and floods, everywhere the weather seems to be upside down. Lets hope it settles down in time for your retirement. I thought your winter was the great excuse for your 'projects', something that Canadians always seem to be happy to discuss. You must have one or be planning one.
Anyway I must stop rambling.
Tell Titania, I'm having a go at the DNA site on button pushing, not doing a deal of good on there either .(Don't no any other emoticon). I do hope that d'E won't pick me up on spelling.
See you Ancient Brit.

Zeppo is the nosey one. I'm just curious. I often lurk around conversations on h2g2 without posting anything, but sometimes I want people to know that I'm doing it, thus the calling card. It also helps mark your spot in busy conversations. I particate in several conversations with both GL and Titania, so joining another one is quite natural even though I haven't met you yet. It's always good to meet new people, even virtually.

I used to try to use the appropriate reply button in my early days on h2g2. It works well in short, slow conversations, but rapidly becomes a hindrance in the longer faster conversations. It also took me about a year before I joined the longer, faster conversations. They are too daunting at first.

And I have never been to Canada or England.

Look at that - I didn't use the reply button on the last post! The reason is something you mentioned, AB - that you get the post you are replying to at the bottom of your post window for reference. That can be a big advantage and was something that never really sunk in for me - I always knew the reference post was down there, but never realized that that was a good tool for remembering what you wanted to say to someone whose post wasn't the last one. (my favourite smiley - if you click on any smiley you get taken to a page that gives you the codes for all available smileys).

I can see how it must look like people jump in and out of conversations. Since all conversations are readable by anyone on the site, the site etiquette is that you are free to jump in whereever you want. My experience is that people invariably make you welcome. Usually, when people jump into a conversation, they then keep reading it. It may look like they have jumped out, but they are usually still reading but don't have anything to add - after all, unless they unsubscribe, the conversation will keep popping up on their list.

So, you wouldn't want to live here due to ties to your own home. Well, that is much better than not wanting to live here because there is something wrong with here. I don't have any projects planned or on the go - we moved from our house to an apartment a year ago, partially to divest ourselves of the responsibilities attendent on owning a house and the accompanying projects. We have been quite happy with that aspect, but we miss having a yard and so are now looking to buy a house again. Unfortunately, the housing market here has gone wild and it is difficult to find what we want. For example, last week a house came on the market that was almost right for us. We made an appointment to see it as soon as it came on the market - 5:00pm that day. By the time of our appointment, there were 18 other showings between 5:00pm and 10:00pm. The house was listed for $174,500, it got at least 4 offers to purchase and I just found out that it sold for $187,000! That's $12,500 more than the asking price! Phew!

What do you know a Zaphodista following BBC Guide lines. (got him). Keep pressing the buttons, which ever you prefer.)
GL would you believe I've done a journey that almost links you with d'E. Having driven from Owen Sound at southern tip Geogian Bay over to cross the border at Niagara and then on down to Newark, New Jersey.
As you Canadians might say from up the elephants arse almost to New York's armpit, as you Americans might say.(Getting to like him too)
House prices are rocketing here too. Hope you find what your after. I suppose schools are a problem for you in the house hunting game, just as they are here in England. I can't imagine my wife and I moving house at our stage in life. It's our Golden Wedding next month, we honeymooned in Scotland and we're in two minds whether to take a trip up there to reminisce or stretch our legs over the pond.
I suppose you head south d'E the Carolina's or Florida, but if you've never been to Canada you ought to try going north, I think you would enjoy it. Anyway the the dollar exchange rate is well in your favour. Would you believe that the first time I came over the Canadian dollar was acceptable like for like in the US. That was in the Buffalo area.
Must go breakfasts on Ancient Brit.

What do you know a Zaphodista following BBC Guide lines. (got him thanks). Another one that you may have forgotten, the little button marked 'This is a reply to this Posting' does just as it says. Of course it's not a lot of use if people don't press the right reply button in the first place (I like him too).Keep pressing the buttons, which ever you prefer,
GL would you believe I've done a journey that almost links you with d'E. Having driven from Owen Sound at southern tip Geogian Bay over to cross the border at Niagara and then on down to Newark, New Jersey.
As you Canadians might say from up the elephants arse almost to New York's armpit, as you Americans might say.
House prices are rocketing here too. Hope you find what your after. I suppose schools are a problem to you in the house hunting game, just as they would be in England. I can't imagine my wife and I moving house at our stage in life. It's our Golden Wedding next month, we honeymooned in Scotland and we're in two minds whether to take a trip up there or stretch our legs over the pond.
I suppose you head south d'E the Carolina's or Florida, but if you've never been to Canada you ought to try going north, I think you would enjoy it. Anyway the the dollar exchange rate is well in your favour. Just a point of interest to you both the first time I came over the Canadian dollar was acceptable,like for like, in the US. That was in the Niagara/Buffalo area.
Must go breakfasts on Ancient Brit.