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

Acolyte, Clelba ... going to greet and offer to help the newbies is one of an angel's main functions. As GB says, it gives newbies a few pages they can try - instead of just floundering around. It's worth doing, even if you only do a few.

Guardian Angels need to go meet & greet the newcomers.
Otherwise they will never know of our existence.
The ACEs do not give out GA links.
One of the most frequent questions I get asked by a newcomer is "How do I submit my Guide Entry to the Guide"?
So you have to be prepared for questions like that.
You tell them to submit it for Peer Review.
Next question {guaranteed}
"What is the Peer Review"?
GIVE THEM THE LINK.
Then they say "Thank you very much"

*nerviously* yeah heh heh sorry bout that thingy with Zec but I honestly couldn't remember, *as usual* any way I had noticed that the other one is "how does GuideML work" so it's a good idea to give a link for that too

no ones asked me any questions yet

well they WILL ask and when they do you'll wish they diddn't

*claps for KES*

Caleb if your uncomfortable greeting people and giving them links why not just say something like hi I'm a very shy Gardian Angel. I would give you links but I don't know what you would want so why not click reply and ask my any questions you have. I will try my best to help.

Would that be any easier?

Court.

yeah she's right you know

Maybe the rules of conduct should be more specified when you're asking to become a Guardian Angel? Seems to me that a lot of people are joining just for fun, not realising we're expecting them to greet newcomers...

well I guess you could put that in, possibly but would the angels agree to it

Acolyte, are you an ACE or a GA?

+confused+

*suddenly getting the feeling that there's more than one Acolyte around at h2g2*

neither I'm an AA(Avengeing Angel)

Heya Guys!! just thought i'd pop in and give a bit of clarification!

Well, to start... Greeting newbies is NOT a requirement for becoming a Guardian Angel...
However, willingness to help IS!

We don't EXPECT anyone to go out and greet, nor do we look down on/ penalize/ or reject those who don't choose to greet. Greeting is our hobby...

see, our goal is to be helpful to the newcomers to h2g2... it's difficult to BE helpful to someone you don't know exists, so many of us have found that getting out there and greeting the newbies is a GREAT way to get to know them, and eventually be helpful!

Though i wouldn't raise an eyebrow at an angel that doesn't greet or rarely greets newbies, I WOULD be genuinely disapponted in the Guardian Angel that could not be bothered to be helpful!

Hope this helps!!!
~Zax
The Archangel

Actually (and no one is to take advantage of this fact), GAs aren't actually *required* to welcome newbies. You can spend your time drinking and having fun with the rest of us. Course you won't get that lovely warm glowy feeling inside we get when we help out. But hey, you can live without that
Seriously- no-one is obliged to greet a set number of newbies every week. Not even the ACEs are required to do that. But then, welcoming newbies is great fun, and really rewarding. And where's the point of being a GA just for the free booze?

Clelba,

i apologize for not responding sooner, as i haven't been reading/contributing onsite through much of what has been going on, as i've been tying up loose ends behind the scenes. one way or another, here's the response to your earlier question:


"I think I want to be a special type of GA who doesn't greet people but helps with questions or whatever."

This 'special' group of GAs already exists, and you are already a member! it's called the "Guardian Angels"!


"I don't wanna be selfish, but it takes too much effort and time, and i really don't have any effort/time."

If you don't have time/energy/whatever, there is NO Problem WHATSOEVER with you not greeting. I haven't greeted a newbie for months, but when i see someone looking lost or in need of a hand, i pop in and offer help. that's what we're here for! (just be careful not to do it if they asked help of an ACE, as that would interfere with 'Official' communication!)


"...shall I just not bother with the greeting people?"

No worries! Don't Greet! not everyone has the time, which is why the GAs were formed! As long as you want to help, and don't turn away a member or user in need, you are doing all the job you signed up for!!!!!!!!

~Zax*
The Archangel
*Prime

*hugs Zax*
Good to have you around hon

Yay Zax is back
*Hugs*
dam I ant...I hate collage...we will have to cach up at some point dear

*Generals throughout the world know that few events lift the spirits of the ranks more than the occasional Field Promotion!

In light of this fact, May I present to you, The Archangel Zax: First of the Order of Guardian Angels, First elected Archangel. Friend and Ally to all!*

*A spotlight slams on, whipping around to pick out the solitary figure blindly groping for a microphone on the make-shift stage.*


*feedback: whaaaaooorrreeeeeeeooooeeeeeee!*

*taps mic*


AHEM!
HELLO EVERYONE!!

*mutters offstage 'can we turn it down?'*

RIght!
so! Rather than trying to perform a full-fledged ceremony here in the middle of the thread, we'll just do the Basics, and save the robes and glitter for later, eh?

Now, would Saint Kes, Patron Saint of Lost Poetry.. would you mind stepping up here?

*waits as the spotlight swivels to pick out a very confused looking Saint Kes*
*waits a little longer as he makes his way to the stage, and climbs the few, rickety steps to approach the mic*

Great! now...

*pulls the great Golden Sword from approximately nowhere, then taps it to the ground beside Kes' left foot.*

*raises the Sword up over Kes' head, and back down to the floor next to his right foot, leaving a bright golden arc shimmering in the air around him*

Saint Kes: For participation and action above and beyond the Call of Duty, for well timed and steady counsel... for your unflagging commitment to Helping Find a Solution, I hereby name you
ARCHANGEL KES!

*A bright red heart appears on Kes' shirt, pulsing in perfect iambic pentameter. Zax then hands him a lumpy package that looks remarkably like a wrapped beach towel.*

LET's PARTY!!!

Wahoo well dom my friend. wheres the party?

I guess we weren't prepared for that, with this special field promotion. Hmm..

*grabs the emergency Field Party Kit, and begins to empty it's contents.*

Until Ras gets here with the good stuff, these will have to do.

(Oh, BTW, Congrats Kes!)