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

You know that's a good point Gosho - I'm thinking of the last one I saw - being over 18 |I'd probably have never started contributing because I'd have thought it was a squeals and cuddles site.

I've never been on another site that welcomes new visitors in this way, so although I'd prefer a more 'tailored' message I think it's still nice to be welcomed and have someone to talk to straight away.

I think Gosho's quite right. And I think that Cunningly is also right. It's important to be to the point AND also welcoming, and the two aren't mutually exclusive.

I use smileys only when necessary. For instance, when I think the person I am trying to communicate with might miss the the fact that I'm joking. But seeing as how I'm a miserable morbid Welsh git, it's pretty noticeable when I'm joking and those occasions should be few and far between.

The other piece of software I thought I might write was a web-based engine for a (notorious) game, that was played extensively well before any rules actually existed for it. Now the rules DO exist, although they have fallen into disuse (even if the game goes from strength to strength): http://www.nomic.net/deadgames/mornington/dunx/old-rules/ruleset-1.txt

My reasoning was that anybody who could write an games engine that could deal with *that* level of detail could write any kind of web application, period.

But all this is just hypothetical, as long as I have no domestic Internet connection.