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

Vicky - you're speaking sense, and such an email would be a good start to proper discussions. The problem has been adequately identified in this thread, and this is how I see something happening if it is to result in any progress:

1) Preparation / Contacting Italics.
2) Discussion on aceforum with Aces and Italics.
3) Presentation of ideas onsite and subsequent discussion.
4) Second discussion on aceforum.
5) Some people to carfeully summarise the proceedings briefly and with minimum possible bias.
6) Presentation of ideas back to Italics.

So right now, we're not at step 1 yet. I'll endeavour to change that before the weekend - I believe the process outlined above to be necessary, and it's not something that we can rush. We have to make sure that the Italics can be around to contribute, and so they need to be involved at the start and if anything, the timescale has to be theirs.

Anyone want to argue for some other course of action - I don't like it when there's only one plan!

Whoami?

I have a question.

We have ACEs (TypeA) who help people and welcome newbies,
we have, apparently, ACEs (Type B) who help people but don't welcome newbies, and
we have GURUs who help people but don't welcome newbies.

What is the difference between an ACE Type B and a GURU?

Good question Amy, but not one that I can answer

Unless, it's that type B are the 'peace keepers' but, hang on type A do that too. Hmmmmmm


Emmily

Since when did we have different types of ACEs?

Gurus tend to know more about the actual mechanics of the site and some of the proceses, log in problems and that kind of stuff. (Actually very hard to define. An italic once said if h2g2 were a plane, ACES are people who can offer , and a but that the gurus know where the emergency exits are. Probably misquoted that but you get the idea.)

Aces are more of a friendly face that can direct someone to a place they are looking for, advise on the best places to get to meet other researchers or write for the guide etc. Alot of aces know the other stuff too, so that is a good point Amy.

Perhaps those Aces that admit they don't see their role as a 'welcoming ace' should consider swapping their badge for a guru.

If they don't have the extra knowledge then the answers to the most common queeries can soon be picked up and learnt - thats how I got to know them.

Interesting.

*If* there are insufficient Type A ('welcoming') ACEs to keep up with the flow of newbies (and the evidence points that way), and *if* new Type A ACEs can't be appointed because the ACE membership is finite for some reason, then persuading some of what I am calling the Type B ACEs to transfer to the Gurus might go some way to solving the newbie-acing problem because it would pave the way for new ACEs to be appointed.

But if the Italics just don't have the time to appoint/transfer volunteers then the only logical solution to the newbie problem is for those that are willing to work harder or the 'unaced newbie' list will continue to grow. I can see how that would be less than satisfactory - and I'd probably grumble too - but having some ACEs removed from the scheme won't in itself solve the newbie problem.

So I'd say that the question you need to ask the Italics is whether they can appoint some new ACEs now or not. And if they can appoint new ACEs now, how can it be made clear that the new ACEs *must* welcome newbies even if this hasn't been a requirement in the past?

Not much from me ... I'm a sporadic Welcomer due to w*rk commitments but try to help where and when I can

Re inactive ACEs - Abi used to send out an email every 9 months or so - a sort of ACE roll call, asking us to evaluate our willingness and commitment to the ACE scheme - then, depending on responses, she would recruit and audition. New ACEs are usually much more enthusiastic - new blood is always welcome - but we need to make it clear that a good basic knowledge of hootoo aand an active participation is required.

I think that we should stay away from too many rules for ACEs (such as x no of welcomes) - we should remember that this is a VOLUNTEER scheme and, as with most volunteer schemes, some people lose interest - it should be made clear that one can drop out if that happens.

My commitment to ACEing has always been a personal thing - if I can't keep that commitment I will drop out ....

Just had a though - if the reason people remain ACEs is the badge thingy - maybe we need a "Valued Contributor" badge so that, if they do drop out they still have the recognition of a job well done.

Random thoughts ....

What Feisor said - although I'm unsure about the exact notion of the post-badge badge thingy. But it's an idea!

"this is a VOLUNTEER scheme"

Fair enough Feisor, I agree with you in essence but at the same time it's still a commitment

There is a thread somewhere about community awards. (again)

This ties in quite well with a site contributor idea if it ever came to pass. F55683?thread=442352

I was just thinking about the link with this Contributor idea

I beat you!

Feisor......

but by not haveing x ammount it still dose not solve the problem of the same Aces doing all the welcomes fair enough about the e-mail Abby sent but the ones who wasnt doing any Aceing said yeh we are still commited to the site/group but still got away without doing any Aceing the x ammount at least means that there will be some kind of fairness when it comes to Aceing
i do know that every one is on line for x amount of time and on some days cant make it online but when they do a little more effort by some aces who dont welcome or every so often do a welcome is needed i know morts come on and there are aces online but the list has been massive help wasnt offered untill she put on the aces page that if there was other Aces that could give her a hand doing some

As much as Mort as done ( hen!), she's not the only one who's ploughed in there and cleared the New Users list you know!

This problem has been ongoing for faaaaaar too long and I'm looking forward to having a good old discussion on the Aceforum about it, hopefully without the backbiting and insulting that has previously gone on!

No that is true she isnt the only who has got stuck in to clear it but many times in the past it has been the same ones who have done all the welcomes and of corse mort did loads and loads

the point i am making is that leave it as it is and the same people who will have got there badge and not continue to work for it which is wrong when things go right they still get half the pat on the back but not helped in any way

I'm not sure where you're going with this, but the main cosensus is exactly that.

I think I had the biggest tantrum about it though last time. Toys were flying everywhere!

I just got sarcastic!

mort....

yeh i know i still have the helmit with the dints in

ford...

yeh i had gathered you was been sarcastic im not meaning to be funny or anything god forbid but if i was a newbie that wouldn't make me want to stay it would make me pack my and leave h2g2

h2g2 is meant to be sticky and Aces are in fact meant to be upstanding members of the community and be friendly and helpfull at all times not just when it suite's them to be

Agrees With fords...

Ok, I have a question:

Does anyone know where the statistics that there are 80 ACEs came from?

I've just been through the ACEs dropdown list, there is something seriously wrong with that list.

There are 57 ACEs listed, of those 57

46 are no longer ACEs, and have an no ACE badge

of those 46

31 have not posted for at least a year.

Rather than take up too much space here, I'll start a new thread about dropdown list.

Re- recruiting more ACEs

Something else that was suggested before Abi left, was a buddy system for newly recruited ACEs. Whereby an experienced ACE would be teamed up with a new recruit, I thought this was a good idea, and something I would have appriciated when I was first recruited as an ACE.

Emmily