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

I don't think it's me that has my claws out - this time

Hi folks


No matter what the ACE's who are greeting at the moment are doing, the list is struggling to stay under 500 newbies.

At the moment, it is 483 and is fluctuting between that and around 520....

I'll get on the case when I get home

There would be enough Aces to clear it except most have broken down what Aces do and picked and chosen hat they suits them and only a handfull of Aces in actuall fact welcome new users the same ones who do it time after time

Traveller in Time on his head
"Still some 300 to go.
How about the roll call?
Next thuesday the numbers will rise again. "

Yeh that is a idea but how long will it last a week two before it goes the way of welcomeing newbies and only the same people go to the roll call and the others useing the exuse this is a volunteer scheem you cant force me to go to the roll call

yeh im welcomeing some as we speek i have found my old welcome page with all the links i need i know it was said us non Aces shiould not do any but its time to draw a line and get something done about this 80 Aces should be more than enough to keep up but with 4/5 Aceas welcomeing its not a case of treding water more like sinking faster than the titanic

Traveller in Time on his head
"I hit some 'newbees' every while, if they drop questions, or if they write an interesting entry.

I think it is of most value to greet and Guide 'newbees' if they are interested in such.

Do not forget the < <./>houserules</.> > regarding flooding, only ACESs are allowed to post the same message over and over again.
Although I wonder what impression a 'newbee' will get by this. Sometimes it has some remarkable similarity with automated SPAM. "

i have chaged the name so its not realy flooding

*little voice from the back*

Excuse me.. *ahem*... I know I really shouldn't be here, but.....

I feel so mean leaving newbies dangling there, especially if they are calling for help. I must admit to approaching a thread they have already started and keeping them company for a while, even giving a few little tips to get them going...(sorry)

Just thought I would mention it....

lil xx

Traveller in Time not a GURU nor an ACE
"By all means you are allowed to help any newbee in any way. These are public forums as are the forums on their personal space.

And where five give an answer to a strange question, there is five times the chance one did answer it right.

I personally think it would be best to just try and post to < <./>online</.> > newbees with a copy and past message.
Then the big backlog of users already offline. Tracking down any postings or entries made by a new researcher and respond to them perhaps including a link or load of _significant_ links on their personal space.
Anyway try to make it as personal as possible, some will find your bulk of greets as soon as they visit your personal space. And it really does look odd to find numerous identical messages.


Well, I have not (and I will not) checked all the introduction pages and messages. But perhaps it is an idea to check them regulary for broken links!

Things like:
>See all the < <./>Smilies</.> > here.
are nonsense! The smiley page has become an index! You could use < <./>/dna/hub/Smilies</.> > to point at a (nearly) complete list. But using the HUB will confuse them also.

Personally I like the phrase:
Check for <<./>smiley</.>> to see how we make these little icons in our postings."

A540271 ...there is something of a saftey net, by way of overlap on the knowledge base front.

Doh! Simulpost, both with a *guru* hint... Like they say, great minds think alike.

Traveller in Time Not a < Guru >
" < <./>Gurus-What</.> >

< <./>Gurus-Code</.> >
>Gurus have a responsibility to be as honest when answering questions as possible.
>No one person is expected to know all the answers to Researchers' questions,
>and it is important that Gurus do not try to answer questions without knowing the real answer;
>as the Gurus are an official body, they must be careful not to confuse Researchers.

Sorry, I will never manage not to confuse sometimes. Even using <<./>eureka</.>> is confusing for newbees.

But I think it would be a good idea if the < Gurus > would help checking the welcome messages and pages. "

*thinks it's an extremely sad day that out even with over 70 ACEs, researchers not part of the scheme are giving up their time to do other's work*

*, to greet some newbies*

Ford.....

its not that bad i look at it this way for every welcome i do i know that a % will stick around after us golden oldies have flown the h2g2 nest some of my welcom will become Aces and welcome nurture newbies and they stick around after they go and the site will go on and on insted of a few poor Aces who cant keep up with newbies us looseing a % becouse the welcome didnt come in enough time and h2g2 going down hill

so it could be worse

Traveller in Time on his head
"Do not panic, just some 450 new users in the last three days And probably rising tonight."

best work your fingers ready for work boys and girls!