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

Where is the spirit in that rule? I often here something and ask if anyone has a link where I can get more information (so I don't have to keep making uninformed comments). I would -not- want to ask them to put up a special entry or modify their own just so I can get a link.

It is my opinion that the external URL's will be the hottest issue with the new beeb Guide. The Towers are not going to be able to lift the ban, but the researchers are going to need a suitable workaround. The beeb wants to learn about online communities, and they're going to discover rather quickly that one of the most important functions of such a community is the rapid exchange of information across the globe. Ready references to the internet form a vital part of that. Kill them, and you kill off the most culturally relevant service such a community has to offer... although you can spread ignorance quite readily in the resulting vacuum.

That's my biggest fear. That the community side takes a nose-dive due to the restrictions being imposed. Hey, I just noticed the 'Yikes' button has moved to the other side of the screen, away from the reply button. Thank goodness. It was bad enough when they swapped the preview and post buttons around. Could have been embarrassing, accidentally hitting the wrong button
Ho hum. Away this weekend, so no PC time for me. Catch you all on Monday, by which time, perhaps the site will be up for real.
Later.
J.

Nods sagely

Col. S, I agree 100%. It is the communication aspect of the community (note that both words have the same root) that drew me into the guide to begin with. I know that there has to be limits on what can and cannot be posted to fora, but it still reeks of excessivness to me. If I want anarchy I can browse and post to USENET, but I have never seen the gross debauchery here that is found on usenet. That is one thing that I liked about h2g2. With the moderation system posts articles etc can be policed. This is a good thing. But the lack of oversight (perhaps this is too strong a term but I can think of nothing else) makes me feel that signal will be lost in the noise. Just because someone has contrary views or opinions, does not mean that thier views are patently wrong. The whole "offensiveness" issue will be a real problem as there is at least one incident that resulted in teh banning of a researcher over so called offensive behaivour. I mostly fear that the yikes button will be overused by people who wish to annoy someone they do not like. It seems too easy to abuse.

OK Rant over... Who needs a drink?

Col. S, I agree 100%. It is the communication aspect of the community (note that both words have the same root) that drew me into the guide to begin with. I know that there has to be limits on what can and cannot be posted to fora, but it still reeks of excessivness to me. If I want anarchy I can browse and post to USENET, but I have never seen the gross debauchery here that is found on usenet. That is one thing that I liked about h2g2. With the moderation system posts articles etc can be policed. This is a good thing. But the lack of oversight (perhaps this is too strong a term but I can think of nothing else) makes me feel that signal will be lost in the noise. Just because someone has contrary views or opinions, does not mean that thier views are patently wrong. The whole "offensiveness" issue will be a real problem as there is at least one incident that resulted in teh banning of a researcher over so called offensive behaivour. I mostly fear that the yikes button will be overused by people who wish to annoy someone they do not like. It seems too easy to abuse.

OK Rant over... Who needs a drink?

Marv, since you posted two rants does that mean I can have two drinks?

I'll second that!

And Colonel, I agree. Well thought out and, IMNSHO, should be copied and pasted on the testers forums in it's own thread.

Of course you can have two drinks Loony. You ahve two hands.

Woah.. I objzhect. It's not fair to require hands to get an extra drink around here.

Paws are always acceptable.

Heh.. So you decided to come back here, too.

That gives 'Nonnie the advantage - 4 drinks to 2.

Here ya go, 'Nonnie: (Just for a little variety )

I have to say that the self policing of fora at the old Guide seemed to work well enough. I don't think I ever ran across an offensive link in any discussion I joined in. It disturbs me greatly that the trust and faith that was once shown to the researchers is now going away. It makes me feel less like a valued member of the community and more like a kindergarten student.

I am glad to see that the complaint button was moved though. I narrowly avoided clicking it a few times.

G7

PS - The Pres (of HeadSnot) has asked me to point out that "poo" seems to be an acceptable word on the Guide. Just interesting to see what is allowed and what is not...

I've raised the point of the URLs with the Towers already, although probably not as eloquently and succinctly as I did above. I will remain vigilant on the issue, but right now, I think posting again on the subject would just be belaboring.

Over at the Ezboard site not one post, out of the thousands posted, has needed to be moderated, much less deleted

Exactly. Nor do I think there ever will be a post like that...

G7

I've posted a link to the Bush House (where the BBC's h2g2 staff are based) webcam on my page. It means I can watch the watchers

I do hope that you're keeping them in line, Loony.

G7

In a move I consider quite odd, my How to drink in Utah article has been removed from the list of accepted entries on my page. I guess that the old method of sub editing is no longer in force and being applied retroactively to our entries.

Marv, it is probably in the queue waiting to be moderated. They are working backwards. The newer stuff is being moderated first.