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

Entry: Unwanted Magazine Subscriptions (A Comprehensive Look) - A3979263
Author: FacianeA - U1528997

It's kind of short, but I believe it to be quite helpful. It's my first submission, and I just want to see how I measure up.

This is a good idea for an entry. When I first saw it, the thing that went through my head was 'I want to tell hijm that this is inappropriate for Peer Review.' Sorry, but I think it's important to be honest.

Then, I read it, and, though it is short, I realized that it is, in fact, the start of a great entry, and one that should eventually warrant inclusion into the Edited Guide. If you can come up with a few more things to do about the subscriptions, then, you've got a real winner on your hands. I'd also suggest learning some Guide ML, because you've got a great start here and Scouts like that sort of thing. I'd point you to it, but I get the feeling that you are fully capable of finding it yourself.

You've impressed me with this concept, and I really look forward to watching this entertaining, yet informative entry develop.

Thanks. It's really encouraging to hear stuff like this. I'll do what I can, but right now, it's like midnight where I'm at, so I'm about ready to sleep now.

Well, here's what is very close to being the finished article. I was just wondering if I put too many footnotes in there. I learned GuideML and went a little crazy.

That's very funny! I love it. I doubt others will feel the same way I do, but it does manage to remain informative and very factual while keeping a great sense of humor, so as far as I can tell, it still qualifies for the Edited Guide. Well done.

There's not too many footnotes?

I don't think so, and the one that goes "Though it isn't pertinent to the discussion, this is an example of a rhyme" is among the funniest things I've read for a while. The only fear I have is that a sub will yank them because they're not "pertinent." I wouldn't yank them yourself, though, because they work great, except maybe the last one, which is less funny than the others.

The only actual advice I can give is, I'd either remove the numbers from your list and leave it a "UL" or change it to an "OL" if you think the numbers are needed. It'll make it a bit cleaner.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking exactly.

Oh, I failed to notice, but you mispelles 'pertinent.'

...and I misspelled 'misspelled.'

Fixed it! This beast is finally finished. (I hope)

I think it's got some way to go before being finished.

It is a good idea for an entry although I didn't find it quite as funny as Mornessar. I guess we both have our funny bones in a different place because I found some of the humour rather strained and not at all funny.

Some typos:
anymore - any more
paper mache - papier mache (and if you want to be really flash you can add the little accent over the 'e' of maché by typing 'mach', and then hitting 0233 on the number pad at the right of your keyboard while holding down the Alt key. Assuming you're using a Windows box, that is - don't know if the same works for Mac or Linux.

Cactus gardens aren't pointless - I love them and plan to plant one when I get my own place Motor sports however, are a complete bloody waste of time. Except for Formula 1.

Yeah, I know that it's probably funnier to me than it is to others, and I as much as said so in an earlier post. I'm just glad somebody else is getting in here, because I do think it could be brought into the Edited Guide, but I don't know enough to help sufficiently.

You're doing a pretty damn good job so far

FacianeA...

This is the germ of a good entry for the Edited Guide, I think. The subject matter is surely something deserving of a mention in the Guide on Earth in Century 21.

I'm just not quite sure how to help you with it. Is it the tone that's a wee bit off? Is it the pacing? Is it just "too relentlessly" tongue in cheek? (I guess I'm thinking about the truly desperate soul who comes crawling to the Guide in search of salvation from the onslaught of unsolicited magazinery.) I just don't know. Soooooo...while I ponder further, here are a few 'technical details' to have a look at:

- seemingly-harmless (remove the hyphen)

- as mentioned elsewhere, the word "pointless" comes dangerously close breaking the to "oh yeah? that's your opinion!" rule.

- ...you’re not even paying for it, then you might even suggest... (do you even want both evens?)

- ...as a place to urinate on for a small dog or housecat... (maybe rather 'as a place for a small dog or housecat to urinate)
- (I'm having a hard time feeling good about even making that last suggestion)

- ...up inside your attic behind or similar neglected area... (something's wrong here)

Okay, now I'll try (really, honest, I will) to put into words the odd feeling that there's something simple but fundamental ajar here. (Of course, it's entirely possible that the piece is just fine and _I_ am slightly ajar.)


m

You know, I couldn't quite put my finger on it either, but as kept reading through this I began to get the impression that I was trying to hard to come off as some sort of devilishly clever cavalier or something. I don't know, it might just be because it was my first time writing for the guide or something. Whatever the reason was, the important question is: Is it worth rewriting, or do you think I still have a chance the way it is? Or is this just completely off the mark of what you were talking about?

Oh by the way, I tried to fix everything I could to the best of my ability, so there's that.

Tongue-in-cheek is good!

I think this is interesting, but it doesn't quite get at what I'd really want to know, although it mentions it in the intro -- "You have no idea why it is addressed to you and you really want to know whether or not it is costing you money."

For me, this is the vital issue. I've had 'friends' who've subscribed me to magazines as a joke, not realizing that *I* would actually be receiving bills for the magazine. With many magazines, if you haven't contacted them before the 2nd or 3rd issue is received, you're financially liable for the cost of the subscription, even if you didn't want it -- and if you just ignore the bills, they will sometimes go to collections agencies, which will of course damage your credit report.

Other times you've filled out a form or a raffle entry somewhere that had fine print about a magazine subscription -- and again, to get out of it, you only have so long to contact the company before you'll be responsible for the costs.

Of course, figuring out how to contact magazine companies can be a hurdle -- they generally make it very easy to subscribe, but often annoyingly difficult to unsubscribe. It once took me a good 90 minutes of hunting for phone numbers, being passed on, being disconnected, calling back, etc -- and that was with the aid of the web.


Mikey

It looks like FacianeA has elvised (last posting May 9th, about 3 months ago), so I propose a move to the flea market, as it looks good enough to become the basis of an edited entry. Any seconds?