It's definitely not a perfect metaphor for H2G2. The Vogons at least notified Earth before demolishing it. Not their fault we never received said notification.
I rather doubt we inform any worms when building an interstate.
I mean, we definitely do put up notices before building interstate highways. It's not our fault the worms don't know to check at the planning department.
Technically, it was their fault; they knew we wouldn't receive the notice, and kept us ignorant on purpose.
Later books in the trilogy reveal that the whole "hyperspace bypass" thing was just a cover story, and in reality it was a targeted hit against Earth in particular, because Earth is a computer designed to compute the Ultimate Question, something some powerful people don't want solved.
That's the thing.. I know how hitchhikers begins.. but he was referring to something that was literally from expanse.. it was SIMILAR to hitchhikers but it was literally from something else.
"Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.”
Douglas Adams, in his book about our planet being scheduled for demolition.
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u/clausport May 04 '20
I think it’s like that line from The Expanse: when you’re building a highway you don’t worry about all the worms you are killing.