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

Hey Deidzoeb,

Did you really volunteer to be 'the bottom-feeder'? Will you be changing your screen name accordingly?

Incidentally, it never occurred to me that your name should be pronounced remotely like day-job. Did you spot TR's alternative version? Nice one Tonsil!

With regards to 'unofficial sub-editing', I would have thought there should be some kind of period in AWW (or equivalent discussion space) with the possibility of polishing things up before claiming that *everything* people find on this alternative space is going to be of high quality. I think we are all agreed that not everything that fails to get through PR is hilariously funny!

Couple of ideas for a name for this 'alternative' guide

- "Not tHHGttG" à la Smith, Jones, Atkinson and co in the early eighties.

- "The HHG to Alternative Reality"

Spiff

Hi

I just read this piece I found in the AWW. Funny article that has already been 'rejected' from PR for reasons of unsuitability. As I understand it just the kind of thing we've been talking about. I laughed, anyway!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A586992

I also took the liberty of pointing him in the direction of the AGG page. Hope that's ok.

Spiff

That's exactly what The Post thought too... which is why we used it!

shazz

duh-duh-duh-yuuuuuh.....

hello, spiffer.

hello, Postie.

off to damage elsewhere.

jwf,

On second thought, we could always implement both the central-page/post column version of AGG as well as your AGG logon identity. If the Powers in the Towers decided that the AGG logon was dumping too much spam and moderated or suspended it, hopefully that would not affect the central page or post column or whatever.

Hi Spiff,

"Bottom-Feeders" is my wife's cute expression for the bonus fries that inevitably get spilled in the bottom of a bag from McDonald's, Burger King, White Castle, A&W, Wendy's, and most of the places we eat. For example, one would declare, "I get the bottom-feeders!" in much the same way that one would exclaim, "SHOTGUN!" before getting into a car with several people.

Guess I hadn't thought of the sexual meanings that could be conveyed. I just saw an ad for a bar somewhere around Detroit or Southern Michigan called the "Backpocket." Perhaps they refer only to the focus on pool (snooker, billiards) in their establishment, but the shirtless guy in the ad makes me think otherwise.

"...I would have thought there should be some kind of period in AWW (or equivalent discussion space) with the possibility of polishing things up before claiming that *everything* people find on this alternative space is going to be of high quality. I think we are all agreed that not everything that fails to get through PR is hilariously funny!"

No, I don't think we're talking about publicizing EVERY entry that gets rejected by the Guide. We're talking about the best of the rejects. I had imagined that this would work similarly to the Peer Review system. We would use the Alt Writing Workshop to suggest ways for improving articles, then eventually we'd pick out ones that we thought were best. Still debating whether we should take another step of "sub-editing" them after that.

RE: letting the Post edit material. Here's a possibility that would allow Post to edit our submission while still leaving the articles untouched as links: we submit a page written by one of us, giving links to selected guide entries, include synopses or attention-grabbing excerpts from the selected guide entries. That way, the Post can edit the page we submit, and selected articles remain as polished or as ornery as their authors feel necessary.

I still feel this is fundamentally an issue of ANTI-AUTHORITARIANISM. We will be able to find quality articles, we don't need to worry about copy editing beyond a certain point, and the people reading it will either take it at face-value and enjoy it, or else they'll consider it beneath them. This is a lesson for readers to become their own anthologists, get used to sifting through the slushpile of the h2g2 and the web, and see past superficial problems to the important parts of writing.

Plus any changes that seemed really necessary we could suggest to authors while their entries were still in the AWW.

WHO SUB-EDITS THE SUB-EDITORS?
Two new questions: do we need a cap on the membership numbers of this group of people picking out entries that we think are interesting? Should there be a rule about whether our own guide entries can be included? (I'm comfortable being left out of this, because I'm committed to writing no new guide entries until moderation is more realistic, which doesn't look like it'd be in the foreseeable future. Sorry if this suggestion would be a show-stopper for you, tonsil.)

Another suggestion for a name: h2g2 sub-basement. I don't remember if DNA mentioned what was kept in the sub-basement of the Guide offices in the books. Legal dept or Accounting?

Spamming links to AGG approved entries/postings would only annoy those who didn't like where the links went.

But, just the fact that no one has ever before been banned for spamming would be enough to motivate 'someone' seeking a new experience in a jaded world running out of new things to see and do. The spam would get ! And the war would be on. With one inevitable conclusion.

And any defense argument that 'a-secret-society-of-AGG-loggers-and-their-AGG-column' are not the people guilty of spamming on behalf of AGG would be laughed out of court. Once the Powers get into feeding frenzy mode and all the Hobbits join in, there wouldn't be any place safe for AGG. We'd be run outa town on a rant.

I do persist in calling the project AGG ..for its brevity, the somewhat contentious acronym, and, for the ability to re-create the logo with any keyboard without special graphix skills. Just AGG.

Let me acknowledge the absence of the term 'HitchHiker' in 'Alternate Galaxy Guide' by arguing that RL hitchhiking has become a dangerous ananchronism in our brave new world. It is also viewed as a parasitic activity by corporate mentalities and their armed thugs. And let's face it, an opposable thumb is hardly a definitive pre-requisite for intergalactic travel. All y'really need is a good clickin-finger.

~j~

"But, just the fact that no one has ever before been banned for spamming would be enough to motivate 'someone' seeking a new experience in a jaded world running out of new things to see and do."

I don't understand. You mean that the AGG logon would be used to drop links in related conversations, not as spam?

I liked the H on AGGH because it sounded closer to Charlie Brown's battle-cry "AAUGH!" But I never quite understood why it was "Galaxial."

I agree that AGG is good. But why did you reverse the Gs? I would have assumed it would be 'The Alternative Guide to the Galaxy' - thus getting rid of the opposable thumbs associations while keeping the reference to DNA books.

Spiff

Hey Dei,

my first ever simul post!

Spiff

Great minds click alike!


Well are we ready to create a new user ID called AGG?
(And it's all good! Any way you wanna say it: Alternate Galaxial Guidance, Alternate Guide to the Galaxies, Alternative Galaxy Guide, Alternate Galaxies Guide ...whatever.) Just AGG. Hitchhiking is such a 70s thing, such an old-fashioned, old-hippy means of getting about. Today most travellers would rather hike, hop, drive, walk, fly, click, pedal, surf or slither their way through the Universe.

We need someone to set up a homepage as AGG.
Oh, OK I volunteer. Or is there an IT-wiz among uswho can do that in some slick way that assures an 'editors only' access? And the ability to all log on there simultaneously for 'editorial meetings'.

You all want to be AGG editors don't you? All members would have the same rank and title, 'AGGeditor' (no subs or seniors) and each of us would be equally responsible for AGG homepage content and 'AGGeditor' behavior when posting AGG approved references (plugs, adverts, links) in pertinent and relevant threads.

I hesitate ..only to confirm we have concensus on the notion that 'funny' isn't in itself enough to merit AGG approval. A greater Truth than the apparent Truth, or some other socially valuable content must be present to merit the distinction. 'The 27th Letter' is a perfect example of wit with purpose. I haven't had a chance to read the other nomination myself yet. What was that link again?

~j~

Oh ..wait! Maybe it should be GAG !

ummm, you guys ever get the feeling that you been here too long?

Y'mean ..?
Or has something I said or an attitude I projected, set off mildly paranoid alarms bells? Sorry. But let me assure you my web-philosophy is pure dot.communism.
My mission, to share the Cosmic Joke and the Truth of Life with anyone willing to laugh at their own pathos. That laughter is our only defense in a cold dark unfeeling Universe.
'One for all and all for one' may be a fine and noble ideal in theory, but to practice true dot.communism successfully, one must understand the corporate and copyright enemies of Truth, and fight fire with water.
In other words never take serious and righteous work seriously or righteously. If it ain't fun (Funny) or it ain't fair (Truth), it ain't worth diddly.

~j~

I tripped over the Ban The British Film Board site last nite.

I couldn't believe it. You guys get it on a national level while we still rent movies that were edited for specific municipalities.
Every little community in the US used to have it's little committee of rejects from the school board that snipped and sniped.
Cable pretty much put the kibosh on that.

Rules, rules, rules.


...........I am
walking.........in
..........circles

........chasing
...my.............own
.........tail

.........trying
not to..........show
......frustration

........because
this..............place
......is so tight

........everywhere
you step.........something
........grabs your

.........ankle
and..............drags
..........you

.........into
...the..........abyss
.........!!!!

jwf,

I was just about ready to second you on "AGG," then you come up with GAG. Now I'm torn. I like the idea that we're so open/anti-authoritarian/sloppy that we wouldn't even reach agreement on what our acronym officially stands for (Alternate Galaxial Guidance, Alternate Guide to the Galaxies, Alternative Galaxy Guide, Alternate Galaxies Guide ...whatever). But it could work as GAG the same way (Guide to Alternate Galaxies, Guide to Altering the Galaxy, Galactic/Galaxy/Galaxial Alternate Guide/Guidance/Gemstone/Gargantuan, or simple denial that GAG stands for anything else).

On the other hand, I have as much antipathy to the word ALTernate as you have for the notion of hitchhiking. Firstly, because it puts in mind all those newsgroups, alt.comics.peanuts.erotica and alt.snippy-b*****ds.whoinventedflaming etc. ALT is slightly less old and tired than "hitchhiking!" Secondly, because in the late Eighties/early Nineties, corporate radio took perfectly good Punk, removed the grit and balls so it became creamy peanut butter, and renamed it "Alternative" music, as if it wasn't corporate approved music anymore. None of this will prevent me from voting on AGG or GAG, I just wanted to bitch about it.

"Or is there an IT-wiz among us who can do that in some slick way that assures an 'editors only' access?"

We could share our email addresses here and only tell the password to GAGgingAGG editors. We could also hold "secret" editorial meetings as necessary via email, or a message board or chat off h2g2?

"...and each of us would be equally responsible for AGG homepage content and 'AGGeditor' behavior when posting AGG approved references (plugs, adverts, links) in pertinent and relevant threads."

I had assumed we would nominate articles at editorial meetings, vote on them, and only advertise those articles which we agreed qualify? This would ensure that a light-headed AGG editor didn't start nominating lots of lousy ones, and might take care of whether selected articles need to have a socially valuable message. I hesitate to agree that our selections should necessarily have socially valuable content. Would the original Vogon Poetry from the Hitchhiker's Guide meet that requirement, or the Jabberwock or other nonsense by Lewis Caroll?

The 27th Letter is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A504217.

I propose we use the AGGingGAG identity when chastising researchers, so they don't hold it personally against us! (Just kidding. This is a joke about the h2g2 Editors identity! If this joke is deemed anti-social enough to get me suspended, it was nice knowing y'all!)

* Assuming that we keep an archive or at least an index to all past articles chosen, I suggest we still add good ones that may have been used already by The Post (like the one shazz mentioned earlier).

Ah the seredipidous synchronicity flows on in a mighty roar of bounty. Yes! I too find the words Alternate and Alternative and Alt:
(1) suggest unreasonable compromise for all the wrong reasons,
(2) are usually smudged with Goth blacks and reds,
(3) have too many body piercings,
(4) warn of substandard facsimiles and cheap reproductions,
(5) remind me what I don't know about computers yet

May I suggest A might stand for 'Another' as in Another Guide To the Galaxy or Another Galaxy Guide or ..wait for it ..Guide to Another Galaxy.

E-mail conferencing is a good idea. My link is on my homepage.
But for now, our discussions are so preliminary, and do not yet involve serious critiquing of writings by third parties. Perhaps we should continue to carry on these historic constitutional debates in this transparent public eye - if only for ease of research by future academics chronicling the foundations and the founding fathers of AGG/GAG. And there's always the chance of new researchers joining our crusade; we don't want to become an elitist closed circle just yet.

Are we all still here? Seems a few have fallen silent. And tonsil is definitely winding himself in circles with frustrated ambition. Peace people, these things take time. It won't happen overnight. Well sometimes it happens overnite but that's another story.

As to Jabberwok and Lewis Carrol and Vogon Poetry ..you may be right. Personally I find they have a positive social value if only to exercise the brain in non-traditional modes of thinking!

Now ..I was never really big on Vogon poetry until quite recently:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A660566

And they weird thing is, it's in the current issue of the Post!



~j~

Okay. Not want be editor. Want be writer. Will be scout if have to.

Post make things easy.

Not care what call it. call it Galactic Anomaly Group for all I care.

Long postings reinventing mouse....will probably get to trap, eventually.

You already have CW page and AGGH page. Sitting there.

Might frighten italians if spring new thing on them all time with two old things sitting there doing little.

Need one referee. Decide if entry need and what entry need. Help if entriest is still in building.

As for truth....ah....
I will settle for silly....

Well you're at least (as the Beach Boys said) True to your Skool.

The Galactic Anomaly Grope. I like that.


Should we at least ask Shazz if we can really have that page in the Post?
tonsil can start by writing an introductory column.
Maybe describe the origins of AGG/GAG (formerly AGGH/AWW/etc) and the premise behind this continuing, if low key, desire to organise an altenative view of the galaxy. Perhaps including links to this thread, 27th Letter, etc...
The rest of us can gather up some recommendable entries for the next issue. Besides offering links to AGG approved entries, we contribute a short piece decribing why each was selected. This will involve a need to communicate with the original writer, sub-edit, compare notes, and edit our commentary.
Shazz can pick the ones she likes. We'll keep submitting them and Shazz can run one, two or three (of these links with covering commentary) in each issue.
Suggestions?
And what shall we call the column? The AWW? We still seem to be at the workshop stage. Maybe we aren't quite ready for the heady prospect of Another Galaxy Guide(AGG).
Normally, as any publisher would, the Post team would really have ultimate editorial control of column headings, titles and headlines?

btw: Silly is more than just legal. It's fun. And it's True.

~j~

That sounds good. Just make it a kind of pledge to get the AWW moving a bit and make sure there is plenty of material coming out of it to fill a regular column in the Post. That sounds like a good compromise and fun to get involved with. Maybe other people will think so too!

Spiff

Otay. When want intro?