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

Hey everyone! I am a new researcher and just completed my first (short) article, which is more of a rant/rave than anything. Click below if you want to read it, tell me what you think.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A572122

Very good idea to write an entry about this! I'm sure everybody has their own experience from the other, err.. I mean the other other side and wants to know more background of the (other other, two of them cancel, don't they) other side.

So you should better stick to the Writing-Guidelines and try to write in a somewhat (but not necessarily entirely!) sober manner. And please mind the 3rd person writing style (no 'I' or 'we' please). The Edited Guide is not aiming at rants, but at factual pieces. So I'd like to know /who/ is your customer, and why do they want to know all that stuff. What does your day or shift look like? What does it show about me if I frankly answer that I like garlic, drive an old car and.. you name it. I can't think of any car manufacturer who is also in the garlic business.

Usually my first question (from the other other end, of course) is, are you trying to sell any magazines or bookstore subscriptions? In three out of five cases the 'survey' will be over after the reply from the other end.
In the remaining cases it's 50% sure I'm going to receive another phone call the other day which explains that I've won a maaaaarvellous price just by taking part in the survey, but for some unexplainable reason this price cannot be sent via mail, nor can it be told what it actually is, and I ought to show up at their place next Saturday afternoon, preferrably accompanied by girlfriend or spouse, coffee and busquits will be served and children taken care of. That's what always makes me suspicious because ... there /must/ be a catch, nobody is that generous these days. And see what happens: they are setting up some warm atmosphere and trying to sell some obscure share-a-weekend-house-on-Majorca-part-time model, with the calculations only explainable in terms of Advanced Reciperversexlusive Bistromathics.

In the remaining 1 case out of 5, it's really a survey with oodles of (seemingly?) unrelated questions.

Ok, I'm drifting off topic and ranting myself, these aren't surveys at all, but that's what I suspect spoils your kind of business and lets people produce that noise.

Please let us know!!

I didn't quite intend it as an edited guide entry, just as a sort of little thing to write while working on some of my actual entries. Maybe I should move it to my journal. Oh well, I'll probably eventually edit it and make it look like an actual article. Just wanted to bring attention to it :P

Well, but now I know there's some insider out there, and I /want/ to know it all! No procrastinating please

Oh and I forgot: this IS stuff for the Edited Guide! Just take a little care of the style smallprint.

Well, I've begun changing it and adding more stuff. What do you think so far now?

Yes, your heading is right!
Perhaps add few words about anonymity and privacy of the data gathered ... after all, /they/ phoned me, so they've got my phone number and perhaps my name as well - at least in Germany it's usual to answer a phone call not with 'hello' but by telling one's name. I've never heard of names&address being sold to other marketing companies, but you might know more or just make the points clear.

BTW: where do you get the number from? a parrot picking it from out of the phone book or so?

Well, then I'd post it to the Peer Review!

It's now been posted to Peer Review. Here's the link to the post on Peer Review: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F48874?thread=119844

hey!...
to quote the Peer Review instruction: PR is for /finished/ work. Really doesn't sound good when there's a "to be continued" message at the bottom!

there isn't anymore...

Oopsie, had to delete my Temporary Internet Files folder to convince IE that there's a new version to load.

Just for the casual passer-by: this beatiful entry has been recommended for inclusion into the Edited Guide, so there.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'The h2g2 Writing Workshop' to 'Telephone Surveys and Their Actual Purpose'.

This Conversation has been moved because thias entry has now been recommended by a Scout from Peer Review.