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

One thing which hasn't been discussed in any great depth so far in any of these conversations is 'Who do we appeal to?'

h2g2 is a niche website/project. We are indelibly linked to Douglas Adams and The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy, and therefore the majority of people who attracted to this site are going to those who are fans of DNA and his work. That can be good for us - it gives us an edge, a gimmick, or it can be bad - it limits the number of people who will choose us over, say, Wikipedia if they have an urge to write.

Either way, we appeal to a very different and possibly much narrower audience than Wikipedia in terms of both readership and membership in when it comes to the Edited Guide (I know that Wikipedia has nothing like the community we do, but this forum is discussing the EG primarily, which would not be the same of course, without the community). We have to bear that in mind when we talk about what we're trying to do with this project.

Thoughts?

I'm not sure I agree with you.

The DNA thing is like being colourblind. Either you see the site through DNA-coloured spectacles or you don't. I don't. I am not a great DNA-fan, and as such I find plenty here that is not DNA-related. If you are a DNA-fan then I guess you seek out the DNA-stuff that I don't bother looking for.

So... the DNA thing was a starting point, but it should not constrain us, or so I think.

Secondly, many of the non-DNA fans here came here via Google, or Babelfish (in the pre-Beeb days), or via the BBC site, or however, rather than coming here in order to scratch a DNA-related itch.

I personally think that we should cater to these people. I would think that. I am one of them.



I think the reason why we cast a smaller shadow on the Internet than Wikkipedia is that

(1) the BBC is not seeking out strategic links with other technology companies in the way that Wikkipedia does

(2) the BBC is not agressively marketing h2g2 as a brand in the way that Wikkipedia markets itself and

(3) our search engine is pants, it is worse than pants, it is pant-filled panty pants.

I really wish people would move on from DNA. With infinite gratitude to him, we should acknowledge that the guy is dead.

Ben

Let's keep DNA out of it otherwise we'll be into the "DNA wouldn't have wanted it this way" school of debate.

We've come across lots of researchers who have never heard of DNA and HHGTTG. We even had an editor who had Not Read The Books .

Ashley is a good man.
I agree that DNA should probably be left out of this. Not because his opinions and vision aren't important, but because it's so vague and easily misinterpreted.

(though I say he'd be with me )

With respect to all three of you, it would unwise to overlook the HHGTTG/Adams connection. Douglas Adams co-founded the site. It's billed as the Earthbound edition of the HHGTTG. Its name is a contraction of The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy. DNA is all over the Front Page. The Salmon of Doubt is published, we get a huge spike in new members. The film is released, another huge spike. h2g2 Mobile is launched, a slightly smaller spike. And people like me find their own way here through Biro-shaped holes in space.

Now, I'm not foolish enough to speak in absolutes around these parts - I know better than that, which is why I said in my first post that the majority of people who come here will be fans of DNA, not everyone. But this site *will* be viewed for the forseeable future by the media as 'that Hitchhikers/Douglas Adams website' and that's how it'll be seen by a lot of the web-users who know about it.

I think that counts for a lot in the way that h2g2 is perceived out there in wetspace as well in cyberspace, and how it affects us. But that's just my opinion.

So what are you saying? Do you want Hitchhiker fan-fiction - The Further Adventures of Arthur Dent sort of thing? Are you asking for special dispensation from the 'factual' requirement for EG Entries for writing 'in the style of DNA'? Are you asking for people to be able to submit flash animations of green line drawings on black backgrounds?

Oojakapiv's original question is actually an important one, though.

Who DO we appeal to? Who DOES read the entries?

Azara posted some stuff relating to this in one of the other threads. My view is that there are two major populations, the ones who came here because of the DNA connection, and the ones who came here via Google. But that relates to those who stay, not to those who read.

Ben

My guess is that the major part of the audience is already here and they read the article before it reaches the Front Page.

Maybe that's because the search engine is panty-filled pants...

(I say maybe, and I mean maybe - there are other reasons too, some of which have already been mentioned)

In answer to Amy's post 6 - none of the above.

Give us clue then, Ooj. What have you in mind?

I have many thousands of things in mind Amy, but my thoughts regarding this particular question have been, as far as I can tell, quite well explained in two posts in this thread.

That was a bit curt... let me elaborate, rather than repeat too much what I've already said.

Anyone discussing the merits or future if this website or sections of it should not overlook the HHGTTG/Adams connection and should bear it in mind at all times.

Can't put it any simpler than that.

No, wait... let me rephrase that in case I get accused of telling others what to think. People are so sensitive about that sort of thing these days.

Anyone discussing the merits or future if this website or sections of it would be well advised not overlook the HHGTTG/Adams connection or let it stray too far from their thoughts. In my honest opinion.

Ok. Thanks.