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

Oh dear, I think I'm going to have to become embroiled in this place again...

Oddly, I actually came upon it through the equally worrying fact that I've accidentally become addicted to the Archers (you made the right decision, Ruth!), since the BBC's message boards have now all been subsumed into the evil empire of DNA mwahahahaha!

But then I remembered just how much I used to enjoy this place, and just how wonderfully random it can be, and... well, I could feel myself being sucked right back in. Hey, there's even new smileys since I last visitted!

[As an aside, it occurred to me that h2g2 was building "social networks" long before MySpace et al; hell, it even has a link labelled "my space"; "h2g2.0" anyone? In fact, now I think about it, what about everything2 (aka e2) as well? Hmm... ]

Anyway, for anyone who's actually bothered to read this (is it just me, or is the "Journal Entries by Friends" link b0rked?), I should probably say something about what's happened in all these months, since my all-too-accurate comment that "Now, I can start the rest of my life. [Slowly ]"

Well, I moved back to sunny Eastbourne, my parents moved to Holland, my sister moved to Paris, my brother got married, and I wore a silly graduation hat. That was one summer. Then I sat around for a bit. And another bit. And got a job at the local Co-op corner shop, including the unlikely role of "baker off": getting up early every Sunday to cook ("bake off") half-baked loaves. And sat around some more.

And then, quite unexpectedly, in the space of a fortnight a few months ago, I found myself with a job programming travel websites, which I am currently enjoying far more of the time than not. I have the dubious pleasure of commuting to a station called Wivelsfield every day (more early mornings; ) and am currently looking forward to our "surprise christmas do" - surprise as in "be at Gatwick Airport at 6AM on such and such a day with your passport and overnight bag"...

All things considered - and, particularly, all *friends* considered - I'm pretty happy with my life right now. Long may that last...

Welcome back IM, you'll never leave!

That was a worryingly quick response; I'm guessing other people's Watch pages aren't broken then, or...?


What's most worrying is that I really should be eating something by now, which is all too reminiscent of the time I missed dinner at Uni because I was too busy taking part in a virtual picnic!

*resists urge to look up some appropriate food smileys...*

Yep the viewer tag is alive and well, although there are a few changes here and there. Whatever you do, don't in' swear!

I could certainly go for some right now.

What, no ing swearing!?

[Sorry, couldn't resist.]

Mmm... ... Mmm... ... Mmm... ...

Why are smileys so addictive?

A profanity filter got added late last year, it kinda didn't go down too well with a few of the old regulars so they walked. I guess these things happen.

Figures - h2g2's long had those kind of convulsions for various reasons, probably even before Rupert, but Auntie Beeb has certainly been the cause of a few.

Mind you, I've spent some time hanging around on Wikipedia, and even with the greater sense of purpose there, there's been a fair few social schisms of their own (particularly on the mailing lists); I guess it comes with having an online society - you get online social problems!

Still, whatever, I just successfully ignored 23000 posts of backlog on the 3N thread, so