The 'Tubby Code
A Classification System for Teletubby Fans
Created on: Oct 27, 1999 [v 0.2]
Version: 0.2beta
Author: MrPinga <mr-pinga@cyberweb.org>
You think all those 'tubby-'lubbers are the same? Well, think again. Or, to save yourself this painful process, just subscribe to a 'tubby mailing list and post a message along the lines of: "Hey people! I'm 'Tubby-nobrain and I think Dipsy is a god, Laa-laa sucks, Ragdoll should take the videos out of the show, Hamish is the best visualization ever, and I want to know how old everyone is!" You'll be surprised how many different responses you will get.
Frequent friendly "flame wars" are valid proof that 'tubby-'lubbers are different from one another. And, results of the ubiquitous "Who/What is your favorite ..." polls confirm it. These polls get a little annoying after a while, so, to help people out a little, I have created a thing called the "'Tubby Code." It was originally inspired by (and uses lots of customized portions of) the "Moonie Code" (Go the sailor moon!), which was based on the "Geek Code."
I will be attempting to make an encoder/decoder
at some stage in an attempt to flex my programming
muscles -- they're feeling a little under-used at
the moment.
:-)
The 'Tubby Code consists of a few sections. Each section starts with a capital letter and is used to describe a part of your amazing and unique personality. You'll learn more about the sections (as well as about the qualifiers, and the modifiers of the qualifiers ...) used in them later. For now, please remember you must pay special attention to case-sensitivity.
Because there are many codes on the 'Net, the first thing to do is to tell people which code you're using. Begin your code by writing something like:
Tubby Code(0.2beta)
The numbers enclosed in parentheses indicate the version of the code. They aren't really necessary, but you might want to impress those poor people who don't know what a 'Tubby Code is.
Undoubtedly, the most important trait of the 'tubby-'lubber is her/his devotion to the show. To tell the other 'tubby-'lubbers how much you love the 'tubbies, write:
TT:
Then, add a qualifier (choose the one that matches you most closely):
Use a 0 (zero) if you watched Teletubbies once, when your remote control was broken.
Use an ! (exclamation point) if you actually believe you are Tinky-winky, Dipsy, Laa-laa or Po. You're the alter-ego of one of the 'tubbies, you're the second reincarnation, you're them in a nutshel, you find you talk like one of the tubs, act like them, feel like them, think like them, dance like them, eat like them, sleep like them, you're their twin, their clone, you are them damnit!!
If you feel you fit somewhere between two of the above, choose the one that fits you most and add a "+" or a "-" depending if you're devotion to the show is higher or lower than the catagory-number you specified, respectively.
Additionally, if you do things listed in two or more very different categories, write the one that most closely matches you, then the highest of the other categories, enclosed in square brackets.
If applicable, add one of the following:
Example: The category that matches with me most closely is "5," but I have also taped episodes (all these belong to the category 6). I couldn't care less if someone calls me 'tubby-'lubber. Hence my code here would be: TT:5+
Example: Someone who watches Teletubbies only because they have to watch their children, has dreams about the Noo-Noo, visits Teletubby websites, but hates to be called a 'tubby-'lubber would be: TT:1[7]t-
Everyone has their favorites, and 'tubby-'lubbers are
no exception (well, some of them are, but that's
not the point.
;-)
). Anyway, it's time to tell all those pollsters
who your favorite characters are and how much you
love them (I mean the characters here of course,
not the pollsters.
;-)
). This is a separate section of the 'Tubby Code,
so add a space after your Tubby rating, then write:
F:
We'll start with the 'tubbies (if you don't have your favorite 'tubby, just skip this section). Write a "t" and choose up to two of the following:
Now, to the identifier of each one you choose add the qualifier:
:-)
As the prefix to the qualifier, add:
Like in the previous section, if you fit one category, but also do some things described in the different, higher category, do the following: write your category, then add the necessary number of "+"s that, added to your existing category, will form the symbol of the other, higher category you fit as well. Enclose the additional "+"s in square brackets. (Confusing? Well, that's only the beginning. (evil laughter) Don't worry, just take a look at examples below.)
Example:
I like Dipsy, but, for some reasons (which aren't
really your business -- and, if they were your
business, then you know them already -- so, nyah!
;-)
) my feelings towards him have changed from "++" to
"+." I also like Laa-laa a bit more than the other
'tubs, but I have no idea why. It can be something
with the way she stands all pigeon toed and attempts
to repeat
everything
... Anyway, my code for this section would be:
tDi<La
Example: Someone who's stable in their liking for Tinky-winky and generally fits category "++," but also tries to convert every other 'tubby-'lubber to their belief (that's category "+++") would be: tTw++[+]
Example: Someone whose feelings toward Po fits category "+++" and whose obsession keeps increasing, would be: tPo>+++
Some people not only like the 'tubbies, but the kids and adults from the short video clips. If you're one of them, add an extra part to your 'favorites' section (if you have your favorite 'tubby as well, separate these two parts with a ":"). Write "e," then describe your feelings towards Teletubby extras in the same way you did for the 'tubbies. Again, choose up to two of the following:
(I need some help here. I know people like
this, folks, so i need to know their names
:-)
.
I wouldn't have a clue -- I always fast
forward the video clips or go and get some
food/drink when they come on
:-)
)
Some people think Tinky-winky is a big clumsy
dork. Some people think Laa-laa is a big prima
donna. Some people can't stand Dipsy's Hat.
Some people ... okay, you got the idea. If there
are Teletubby characters you dislike, list them in
the new section -- the 'Dislikes' section (duh.
;-)
). Separate this section from the previous one
with a space, then write:
D:
Now construct this section exactly like you did construct your 'Favorites' one. The only difference are the qualifiers:
The prefix added to the qualifier means:
Are you a clueless 'tubby-'lubber, or are you one of those "been there, seen that, danced hard" pros? Have you already forgotten where you put your Teletubby videos, or do you bring your family to tears by watching "Dancing with the Teletubbies" ten times a day?
I realize such category may lead to abuse, putting
people down and whatnot. But, on the other hand,
it is quite good indicator of person's familiarity
with the Teletubby universe. And, it lets you
decide quickly, who to bug about the episodes you
haven't seen.
:-P
The description of your experience is a separate section of the 'Tubby Code. So, add a space after previous section(s) and write:
X:
First, let others know how long you've been
experiencing the wonder that is the Teletubbies.
;-)
In order to do this, for every full year you've
lived as a Teletubby fan, write an '*.' Of course,
this part of code can be fine-tuned by making use of
the square brackets.
Example: Someone who first saw Teletubies, less than a year ago, would be: [*]
Example: Someone who's been a Teletubby fan for three years would be: ***
Now, it's time to list how many episodes you've watched, and how often you get back to them. Conclude the previous subsection with the ':' and read on.
Like in the previous sections, you can use square brackets to fine-tune your answer.
There are several things 'tubby-'lubbers constantly argue about. Thus it's important for a 'tubby-'lubber to state their opinions on those subjects in their 'Tubbie Code. Before you tell the world your opinions, write a space after the last section of your code, followed by:
O:
As usual, if you have no opinion on a particular subject, or don't want people to know it, just skip it. To fine-tune your answer, you can use square brackets in the same way you did in the 'favorites' and 'dislikes' sections. Separate your opinions on different subjects with ':'s.
Some people like them, some people think they're just really bad computer animations. To express what you think about the visualizations, write "v" then one of the following:
Example: Someone who likes the visualizations, would be: v+.
Example: A typical, visualization-bashing 'tubby purist would be: v--.
Example: Someone who doesn't care about the visualizations would be: v.
Example: Someone who can't make up their mind about the visualization would be: v?
Incredible as it sounds, some people don't love the Teletubbies. Worse even, some of them loathe the show. Some spend their precious time on creating web pages expressing their disgust and insulting everyone who doesn't agree with them. Some 'tubby-'lubbers take things like this very personally, flaming back; others just shrug and move on. What is your reaction to the Teletubby haters?
Write "a," then one of the following:
;-P
) Sure, it's mostly because of the stupidity
of their owners. But, sometimes you happen
to agree with them.
;-P
)
:-)
Let's face it, all of those "codes" are nothing more than just an excuse to post a personal ad at the end of your .sig, right? So, now it's time for the section that most people pay attention to -- the personal information. As in the previous sections, you can skip the parts you want to keep in secret, and you can use square brackets to fine-tune your answer.
Put a space after the last section, then write:
P:
"I wanna know how old everyone here is!" A canonical question you can find in every second poll. So, how old are you? Please, don't lie. You can give an exact answer, you can give a vague answer (see below) but don't say you're 30 when you're 15. It's for your own benefit -- people can understand if you post something stupid and you're 15. But, if you post the same stupid thing and you claim to be 30, they'll rather think there's something wrong with your brain.
Anyway, to state how old you are, write "a" followed
by your age in years (human ones -- dog years don't
count
;-)
).
Because some of us don't like to talk about their age
(and, by a pure coincidence, most of those people
are women
;-)
) you can use alternative method to state your age:
Write "a," then choose one which fits you:
Is it really so hard to tell one's gender?
Unfortunately, yes. Especially when people use
cryptic nicknames.
:-)
Write a ":" after the last section of the code and
specify your gender by writing one of the following:
That's all! If everything went well, you'd now be
a proud owner of your personal 'Tubby Code. (though
it's hard to believe anyone would be patient enough
to read through this whole text.
;-)
) Anyway, I hope you had at least half of the fun I
had writing this. And, if you have any suggestions
how to improve the Tubby Code, make sure to write
me at:
mr-pinga@cyberweb.org
MrPinga
Tubby Code(v0.2beta) TT:5+ F:tDi<La D:Bs X:**:++ O:v-:a- P:a++:y
Teletubbies program, characters and logo: ®
& © 1998 Ragdoll Productions (UK) Ltd.
Licensed by The itsy bitsy Entertainment
Company. All rights reserved. Neither Ragdoll nor
itsy bitsy Entertainment, or The BBC nor PBS have
endorsed or support this site. Any trademarked or
copyrighted material is used here without
permission because they wouldn't answer my
e-mail request!
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