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

On a thread on this very site I recently asked if there was a stable nearby that I could hire or purchase such a thing, since there are rather a lot of them about at the moment.

One of the people in the thread seemed to think I already had one.

It made me wonder.

Do I have a high horse on which I sit to look down on other researchers?

I never thought I did because I'm in no position to look down at anyone but you never can tell how what you write sounds to other people.

I hear it in my head and my posts are meant to be civil, honest and funny (if applicable) but do other people hear preaching, mischief and jokes with jags?

I don't know.

There was thread last night where an eminent researcher wrote something that looked quite sharp to me - even considering that he is normally quite economical with words. Turns out that when he explained what he meant (using more words) and I re-read what he originally said it was totally not sharp at all except in my head. I didn't post to the convo by the way so no point in looking for it, I was just watching.

High horses, am I on one looking down, am I looking up or maybe I'm some sort of circus performer on and off while swinging a rope around my head?

Nah, you look down from your !!

Speaking brutally honestly - you come across as an intelligent person, who has strong opinions ("strong" does not mean "wrong", there is nothing wrong with feeling strongly), has a wicked sense of humour, and is very caring and compassionate to those who matter to you.

We've *all* said things online that can be read in the wrong way - text does nothing to convey the intonation which speech has, so a witty comment can sound like sarcasm, and arguments/misunderstandings can occur through no fault of the author.

Apologise to whoever if necessary, explain (as the other researcher you mention did), and move on. We love you, Fizzy, quirks and all!

wot Moonhoggy said

You were looking after a donkey a few years back...

.. Maybe you could pretend it's a bit higher

It's more in the eyes of the receiver really - people see what they want to see or have their own prejudices reflected back on them.

I sometimes re-read stuff I wrote a while ago and - shorn of context and immediacy - they can come across as arrogant and sneering. It's not intentional, just a poor writing style.

Don't worry about it

If it is the thread I think it is, I have to admit that I initially misunderstood it, too. Maybe it wasn't expressed too well, and the current bad atmosphere we have on h2g2 in parts may rub off so we misinterpret things more easily?

You're not on a high horse. I saw a thread the other day where somebody was their usual arrogant self, sitting on a high horse and belittling you. They're not worth worrying about.

People are rubbing their parts off in Hootoo? Shocking!! That never happened in the BBC days!!

Well it took about half an hour to get this journal to a level that a piglet could look down on, Hoggster.

I'm happy to say that the belittling didn't bother me at all, Bel - posts like that always say more about the author than anything else.

Thank you all for your contribution here - except Lil - who thinks Rusty the Shetland Pony was a donkey.*tsk* When will she ever learn to pay attention?

Hah! It was a long time ago and I didn't have my new glasses then

Yes Lil, it was 2008 a really, really long time ago if you're 13 years old.


If you're like me, rather older than 13 it was the week before last.


When will you ever, ever get with the relative time theory?

*shakes her snowglobe*


It's in here somewhere!

So, applying your theory, Fizzy...

For me, it was about amonth ago...

And for lil, it was yesterday?

I've seen you attacked a few times, Fizzy, but I've never seen you post in a superior tone.

I've upset people once or twice, usually because I post tongue-in-cheek stuff without telegraphing it with smileys.

That's cause you're in alabaster and have to type each smiley. If you were in a sensible skin like brunel you just had to click on a smiley.

And what's wrong with typing smileys?

I have less trouble with the forward smileys than I do with the backward ones.

Your last snowball sequence has highlighted a problem with these reverse smileys: the shadowing isn't consistent.


Mala!

It is - the shadows are being cast by the radiant magnificence of Fizzy on the middle!