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

Hi guys,

As the Eds are busy I thought I'd run through what we ACEs do at the moment in case anyone else wants to help out.

1. In order to post welcome message to newbies, you will need a standard message. Much as you might like to customise it for each person, if you don't have at least a template you will find it very hard going!
I have just completely re-written mine to include stuff about Barlesque and the 'disposal'. Please feel free to copy as much or as little as you like for yours.
PLEASE make sure that it looks OK in Barlesque as that is now the default skin for all newbies. Links (including using the < . / > feature), don't work, and including http:// to make them clickable screws it up as well. Experiment, and come to a balance. I recommend that they switch to an old skin for now.
Mine: A80671296

2. Subscribe to: F27584?thread=7320441
This is where we tell people where we got to. Without this thread we will end up going over each others' work and causing more headaches than we need! Every time you do an ACEing session, remember to post here with the name and number of the last non-h2g2 person you came across. It's like a bookmark. It is crucial to our sanity!

3. Make a note of <./>NewUsers</.>
This is the most important bit. Check the box that says:
"Show only those with Introductions without any Postings made to it (ie those whom the Aces should welcome)"
This will bring you a list of everyone who has joined up to BBCiD in the specified time frame (not just h2g2ers) who has not had a message posted to their Space.

4. Check the bookmark thread (2).
That name is the latest person to be checked. Find them on the list (3). Everyone who appears later than that needs to be checked.

5. Post to Spaces.
Only post to those who are h2g2 users (must have updated their Space or posted to a conversation) or those with no postings whatsoever. Don't post to 606ers, Archers, Food, Relgion etc. If nothing else, the Archers people have been known to get shirty about us 'poaching' their users!

6. Follow conversations.
If a newbie has posted to h2g2, follow their conversation. Make sure that someone has replied, and if not, make sure you do. If they are posting a question, answer it or point them to the right place (usually Ask or a help forum) but do try to answer it as much as you can. Mention that you have left a message on their Space, be as generally welcoming as you can.

7. Yikes inappropriate posts.
There are quite a few people who join h2g2 to advertise. Don't be afraid to Yikes them - these people are not joining us for the right reasons. Welcome them as well though - often these are small businesses and they are run by real people who have been known post afterwards in a non-advertising way.

8. Check the Who's Online list (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/Online?thissite=1)
Sometimes we miss people. We know most of the regular users, so if you see anyone you don't know just nip over to their Space to check if anyone has ACEd them.


What has I missed, guys?

A slight change:

3. You don't need to check this box. We may as well view everyone because it makes very little difference anyway! If someone has left a message it's probably a good idea to check that it's an ACE and not another user or the newbie themselves.

Oh, and I missed something quite important:

9. When you've finished, post to the bookmark thread with the number and name of the last person that you *didn't* ACE. It sound a little silly, but that's the way it works best. I always tend to do a quick refresh of the new users list just to check who was the last person.