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

I have just been reading all the sad, miserable, dire predictions of this quite magnificent site.

I am absolutely amazed that there are no new entries.

How and who knows about what entries come in?

Is this perhaps the reason why people are not writing for publication?

As I said in my reply to our President's letter I did not join h2g2 in order to write. I joined it because it seemed a fun thing to do . I thought that DNA had started it in order for the very new group of people who had private computers to be able to get in touch with one another. I think that it has succeeded admirably in that.

However there are those who do sadly have prejudices.

It could be because they have problems with older people

It could be because they only like perfection - a difficult one that.

It could be because they do not like "new" people "joining" their club so to speak.

Perhaps it would be nice if our -(oh dear what were they called - those who cared for us newbies when we first joined?) could be started again?

I know I appreciated the odd little comment I received every now and again.

I find this dreadful trait of always trying to

get others to conform
getting cross if they do not

getting cross anyway

Both these traits are so off putting.


I would willingly write a piece of the joy of growing old.

Would anyone ever read it? I think not.

I would willingly write a piece on living happily in a wheelchair?

(ABBI AND I HAVE PLANNED A HOLIDAY IN THE ROCKIES TOGETHER. THERE IS ACTUALLY A WOODEN SLATTED PATH ABOVE THE TREES ESPECIALLY FOR WHEELCHAIRs!

HONEST.

(AT LEAST I THINK IT IS TRUE!!AND IF IT IS NOT IT SHOULD BE!!)

Would anyone read it. I think not. On the other hadn perhaps they would.

I would willingly write a piece on Open Heart surgery and how to live happily ever after.

Would anyone read it? I think not

I tried to write about a wonderful holiday I was going on to Devon with my late brother and my son.

I was very ungraciously told by someone that they had arranged the rooms for me at the hotel. I thanked the person politiely and looked for the person everywhere when i got to the hotle.

It was only on my return to where I live that this "dear" person had been pulling my leg and that s/he was actually at another hotel.

I actually do not think that is right.

I think that there is too much "sharing" of personal information amongst the hierarchy.

On a site like this I think that if we wish to share something we put it in our postings. I do not think that anything else should be shared.

Anyway, with the permission of my friend LLWaz, and Gnoman, (who gave me a very lukewarm encouragement to try and write something ) I intend to do just that.

And for all you clever people, I would like to advise you that I have actually been ASKED to write about my life and the research that I did during the heady days in apartheid South Africa during the 1970's and 1980' When it is published - probably towards the middle of next year I shall let you know about it.

And please, for goodness do not say that this site is going to go under,

We should all of us fight to keep it going.

I am quite sure that the BBC would never put an end to something like this site. Tf they wish to, I actually do think that, as a democratic group of researchers, we should be allowed to know what is going on.

Incidentally. If any of you ever look to see who is on line - very often there are over 2000 researchers on line. In the good old days if there were over 300 that was a lot.2000 researchers is not the sign of a dying group of researchers.

Is this called a rant? If so I have quite enjoyed it.

But please please please do not say that without new entries this site is going under.

Incidentally, How many researchers have now got a blog?

Has blogging taken over?

If so that is a total bore.

I wonder if an easier way could be fond to retrieve our passwords? I know that on both occasions when I "forgot" mine I had the devils own job of trying to get on to hootoo with my old persona. And conce again it was thanks to Gnoman that I found myself again. !!

I have just had a thought. Could it possibly be this dreadful habit of having several personae that has put the death knell on this fantastic site? Je me demande......
.

Ever the optimist

Christiane
Radiantjoiedevivre
alsoRan1

Christiane,

The number of people that show up on the "Who is Online" box is incorrect, as it includes people who are online but not on h2g2. There is a way (which I can't remember) to show only those logged into h2g2, and the result is a much smaller number.

The purpose of h2g2 has always been to write the Guide. There was never any secret made of this fact. The fact that the site also allowed people to talk to each other is a bonus which has been sometimes regarded as a good thing and sometimes not by those who control it.

I firmly believe that if people stop writing, the BBC will close down the site. But this doesn't mean that everybody has to spend all their time writing. Nobody would want to do that, and people who do write need other people around to talk to them and keep them sane. So while we as a community must get writing, that doesn't mean you are not welcome if you don't. Nobody every said that, and you shouldn't get in a huff just because we are trying to save the site.

Hi Christine Yea I enjoyed your rant, if that's what they call it? The word you were looking for was "Ace" they come to meet to new people joining and make them welcome
I have not written either, well I have made comment on some other folks entries, and that ended up with my name being added to it (which I never knew about at the time)
I just enjoy writing my Snippets for which I plug as ofter as possible

I just enjoy the banter, and do not really get involved in any high profile discussions, after all, I am just a normal working class bloke, who had the opportunity to have a full and active working life, before I had the accident that ended all that

Anyway, rant away, they cant touch you for it
Smudger.

Dear Gnoman,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

I would also like to write to
Dear Hypatia, LLWaz, Jordan and Pinneped,

I immediately went to the "Who's online" control. There are two indicators there for sorting the researchers. One can sort them either by ID number or by name, In both instances I was shown that there were 69 Researchers online It is 5.50 a,m, so it is probably a bit early for the UK Researchers and too late for our American researchers.

In any case my dear friend(s) I am absolutely sure that you know all this. What I do NOT understand is how can so many people be logged onto our site if they are not actually Researchers. I know the dreadful problems I had - and which you so kindly helped me with - when I forgot my password. So I am afraid that I do not believe it, when I am told that there are not enough people on the site in order to keep it going.

Did Douglas Noel Adams write out a sort of contitution for this site? It would be useful if we could see it. I know that there are still some Researchers who knew him and worked with him.

If the BBC are making it obligatory that every Researcher has to write in order for the BBC ro continue "funding" it - are they funding it? - then perhaps we could ask the Researchers if they would like to pay a small charge in order to become Researchers.?

I do go back to my point that if we are a democratic group of people then the problems which we - and it would be nice to know who are included in the "we" - could share it with us.

I do think that on the whole we are such a group of very close knit Researchers. Each of us has got something to give and many give of thier time and labour and expertise willingly and without complaining.
I think that it would be necessary to point out to to the "powers-that-be" that the ID numbers of new Researxhers are now in the six figure catefory. This does not seem to me to be evidence of a declining membership, or one in which both creative writing and friendship cannot be successfully combined.

You do not comment on my suggestion that it is perhaps this new "craze" of "blogging" which could be at the root of the problem. I know of at least one Researcher who has left this site in order to have a blog. That surely is his/her right.

I do think that our very individual, fascinating and quirky approach is both energising and uplifting. We appear to be able to cater for all Researchers. And what a brilliant idea to call us Researchers - because essentially we all are

Would it not be possible for the four signatories i.e. Hypatia, LLWaz, Jordan and Pinniped(or their proxies) amd for some nominated /elected researchers to go and interview the BBC powers-that-be and demonstrate the strength and originality of this group of Researchers. In any case, could we not encourage the powers-that-be to take us into their confidence and inform us what the problem is and who is requiring this great demand for creative writing?

It would be great to be able to resolve this problem in a democratic, creative and inspiring way.

With warm good wishes,

Christianeradiantjoiedevivre
aka
Alsoran1

My so dear friend,

Thank you for your charming letter. You are such a special friend. And I love your writing. I learnt so much about oil rigs and the totally demanding conditions in which you have to live, from your writing. You may remember that my son-in law also worked on an oil-rig in the North Sea for a couple of years.

Don't ever underestimate yourself dear Smudger. You bring so much into our lives, and the way you deal with your housing problems, and the care which you give to Mk 2 are an inspiration to us all.

I do think that we are all necessary so I hope that the "powers-that-be" will agree for us to organise a delegation to go and interview the BBC and see if we can resolve this problem.

We are all very spcial people - and ones which I am sure Douglas Noel Adams would have been proud to call his friends.

with many good wishes to you and thank you for your kind words.

Christiane radiantjoiedevivre
aka
AlsoRan1

Traveller in Time on top
"What you see on the < <./>online</.> > is not only the Researchers logged in and browsing the site, many are sister site members. There are the message boards as well as several other sites using the Single-Sign-On system.

Use < <./>online?thissite=1</.> > for Researchers only problem is after refresh you will see all others again . "

Thank you Traveller in Time.

Not sure I understand. What are the other sites?

Isn't a rather crazy idea to mix them all up? It is strange but I now cannot get onto the "Who;s on line" ever since I have mentioned it. I managed to get onto it before 7 a.m.

Ah well,

Christiane.
radiantjoiedevivre
Also Ran1

Using Traveller's link, I see there are 37 Researchers on the system at the moment (08:37 am).

For the edification of all hootoo Researchers please see something called "Points of View" which is the new web page created especially for those who wish to write blogs.

The deed was done without many of the 915 Researchers (who are now on at the moment) - and as I recognise the names of a great many of them I cannot believe that the figure given to me was correct.

I cannot stand suberrfuge and doing things in an underhand way. I was am anti-apartheid researcher for twenty years of my research life in South Africa.

What we have had done to all of us is neither fair nor just.

It was fine if some people wanted to write blogs. But do not put enormous contraints on the majority of the researchers in order to create a new blog site with a ready made base of potential "bloggers"

Besides which it has totally betrayed the ideals of our founder
Douglas Noel Adams.

I believe that the correct way was to have advised all of us what was going on. Advising us that there was an offer to turn us into a blogging site if we did not write regularly for the Editors or Peer Revue or Underguide. In this way we would have made a more sensible choice. Believe ne I would have submitted writings as often as I could.

Instead of which here is the site.

"Point fo view"

Done and Dusted
And calling me by my name radiantjoiedevivre.

I wonder who thought up this plan.

I wonder when it was started.



Christiane
radiantjoiedevivr
AlsoRan1
.

I've no idea what you are talking about, Christiane.

Is this something to do with the "Points of View" television program on the BBC?

And what has it got to do with h2g2, which is still operating exactly the same as it was five years ago?

A good rant is good for everyone now and then. It's good to let off steam.

Is Points of View the 'Talking Point' A29268390 advertised on h2g2's Front Page this week?

If it is, it's only a gathering of members of the sites ideas and wishes, Christiane.

No change has been made and the intro to it warns us any change is actually unlikely. It's just the h2g2 staff gathering information, probably so that they can make a case to the BBC as to what a good site this is, why it deserves ongoing funding, how its members would like it to develop. That's their job - Hypatia, Jordan, Pinniped and I are just ordinary site members and our views are individually our own and not always the same as each others. (There's at least an equal number on h2g2 currently telling us we're in a minority in wanting the Edited Guide guidelines widened.) There are many others expressing a range of views on the Talking Point page.

Online numbers - the link shows the total number of people online on any one of the BBC's sites linked by the DNA hub (there's an explanation of that on http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/hub/ ). The only way to see specifically h2g2 members online is to use the link Traveller gave up there. But a word of warning on that - it reverts after a few seconds to showing everyone online across the whole hub. (Mixing all the sites up was a crazy idea. They're all too different and the staff of each don't act as though they're part of a whole - well, that's my conclusion from of the daft things that have happened between sites.)

As Gnomon said, nothing major has changed about what the site's about since it started really. Did you ever go on the introductory tour? If not it might give you an overview of the site, it starts at A317459, and though some details might be out of date it gives the general idea.

Something else you might find of interest, A550955, Douglas Adams' 'My Vision for h2g2' if you've not come across it before.

Take care, Christiane, I'm kind of sorry you've got embroiled in this through my journal entry. But like Gnomon, I want this place to to survive. More than that, I want it to thrive and the writing side of it is what mainly interests me and keeps me here, so I do, occasionally, say so in my journal ,
Waz

My dear Waz.

Well, for over two weeks I have resisted the temptation to type in the words DNA/HOOTOO. Determined to stay away . Cross, hurt and actually feeling a great deal of angst at my self imposed exile.
this morning I typed in the magic formula. There was Websalors marvellous posting to me.

Then I turned to this . and there were Gnoman's and your postings. .

I had never gone through those two links which you gave me. I have read both of them.

Yous see, my dear sweet friend. I actually had never read The Hitchhikers Guide...... when I joined. So I rushed out and bought it and read oit, and laughed and was totally enraptured by it. But I also realised that, in some funny way, I did "belong" because , as a small child I read everyone of Jules Verne's books. I suppose that in some way he was my generations's DNA.

But for me, this site WAS STARTED BY DOUGLAS NOEL ADAMS. It was his idea and he started it. Certainly there were others who came in. But I honestly and truly believe that we should pay the greatest respect and honour to his vision and his wonderment at his idea.

This is my argument. The BBC took over - and I believe that there was a site to which I had been asked to cotribute called 360 - which has disappeared I think - and now I must say, it seems as if they are doing the same thing again.

The item that finished me off was when somehow - I do not know how - I was catapaulted onto a site called (I think Gnoman) Point of view - and there large as life, in blue lettering , - was " hello Radiantjoiedevive"

I shot off like a frightened rabbit and let off steam.

I do not want to join another site. However, having tried to write for the last fortnight, and having read the fact that there are guidelines, I shall try now. But for this site. I hope that something will be worthy of inclusion.

Thank you for your interest. I am glad that you did let us know. I still believe that the decision should have been open and decided by all. I am sure there would have been fewer rants and researchers being upset.

With much affection

Christiane.

Hello Dear RJDV

I have been watching this h2g2 for many years and one thing I am quite sure of is that "this dreadful habit of having several personae" will not be putting any death knells. If that were the case it would have collapsed long ago.

When the BBC took over h2g2, they used the clever software that runs h2g2 for their own messages boards, and Points-Of-View is one of them. Points-of-view is a TV program where Terry Wogan reads out people's whinges and grumbles about BBC TV shows.

The message board people were all used to their own colours so they were kept to keep them happy, not to scare you. The messages boards are mostly for talking about BBC programs, Points-of-view is blue, The Archers is mustard yellow.

As you are logged onto h2g2, you are also allowed to go to the message boards if you like. If you click on a conversation that someone at h2g2 had on Points-Of-View it shows in the Points-of-view colours.
So I think that is what happened to you.

dire predictions of this quite magnificent site..yup Marvin would be very comforted.for all of a nano second...as for readers and submissions
think they are still being submitted but depending on the user ae fild n different places...more than enough material to keep a community of hermits occupied till 3002 I should imagine....

Just popped in to wish a happy new year to you all....wonder if in 2040 will look back on my first post on these board circa 2001...pixals dont fade like ink do they...

Dear Logicus Tractatus,

Thank you for your good wishes for 2008. I wish you, as well, the happiest and most satisying year.

I had wondered where you had gone to!!. I missed, my friend, who loves Wittgenstien - whom sadly I do not agree with, nor particularly like!!. I went to a lecture at Oxford, whilst still a student (mature) at University and I was on a visit to the UK. A.A.Ayer gave it. I know that I went and spoke to him afterwards, admitting that I was a student from Africa. The amazing thing was that I appeared to be the only student who asked questions. But I HAD read the material!!.

I see your explication about how I shot into the other site.

However, I really do not agree with that sort of sharing of information. it. It sort of cheapens one. Rather like buying veggies from one supermarket and then being flooded with offers from other veggie growers!!. (Don't get me wrong I love vegetables!!)

Surely some things should be by personal choice. If one is destined to join/hear about/ share a particular item of information it will come to one in good time.

That catapault into that blue page - with its wretched moving figures completed shocked me, and when they used my name - which incidentally I only gained because I had foolishly forgotten the passrword for my original name ALso ran - made me very cross!!

However, if folk want to have that sort of interest they have every right to have it. But please do not force me into it!!. I think that is the great plus about this site. Oe can agree.like/appreciate/ etc. ideas or points of view but one can also just swan away, - generally without anyone recriminating or, perhaps sadly - even being missed!!.

However, I find, that as I get well into my dotage, my temper is more easily lit and charged and fused. As the moving men will remeber I hope when we move to the coast!! However, I live in the hope that they will agree with where I would like to have some particular item placed etc.

I am hoping to be able to go back to my favourite philosophers when living in my "eyrie". So much to do - and literally so little time.

Sincerely,

Christiane
RJDV aka AlsoRan

Dear friend,

Thank you for explaining this to me!!.

I went to your site - and was immediately blinded by all those moving letters etc. - so I then went onto your site on hootoo. Very pleasant change.

I still do not quite understand what has happened. I have actually not had any replies from on "high" on the conditions which were made for us.

I would happily write but as I am not very good at understanding techinical instructions - would probably end up doing the wrong thing.

Anyway, as I am attempting to finish three books -foolishing starting the second and then the third, before having finished the first or the second, I suppose that I could melt away, like a dewdrop, or a sliver of ice, or even perhaps a little snowball witholut causing much angst to anyone. Except for a few special friends who have always welcomed and encouraged me!!.

All good wishes for this coming year.

Very sincerely,
Christiane
RJDV aka AlsoRan

Just had to find this thread to let you all know about my latest brush with all this Health & Safety (P/Correct) rubbish! The council came to install a recording device so that we can record the barking dog next door, (not bad, its only took them Three Years, to reach this point)

Anyway, they said that they could not plug it into an extension cable of any kind, it Had to go directly into a wall socket, for.......yes! You got it.....Health and Safety reasons!

Smudger.