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

Today, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced that he would be asking HM The Queen to dissolve Parliament in preparation for the General Election. This means that the election conditions that we'd previously mentioned are now in effect across all BBC Communities. As a consequence, we're now in a position to give you more information on how the forthcoming General Election will affect h2g2. The BBC's commitment to impartiality comes under greater scrutiny during a general election. In order to enable balanced and interesting debates, messageboards and discussion forums across the BBC will be operating under the BBC's agreed policies. For further information, please consult the 2005 Election Guidelines document [http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/producer_guides/"]. This year, h2g2 will be hosting its own discussion areas during the election in a specially-created forum that will be post-moderated from now until the morning of the election. This forum - which can be found at A3772974 - will be the only area on h2g2 where discussions pertaining to the issues behind the election will be allowed (other messageboards and discussion areas will also be available across the BBC). Posts pertaining to the election made in discussion areas outside this forum may be failed. Our proposal to host election discussions was based upon a proposal that came from within the h2g2 Community. More than ever, we'll be relying on the reactive self-moderation of the h2g2 Community during this time. We'll also be working closely with our colleagues in the Central Communities team and our advisers on the BBC Editorial Election Board. More details can be found on the Election Forum Page [A3772974] itself.

*runs for cover*

>>This forum will remain open until the morning of 5 May, 2005, when the polls open, at which time all discussion topics will be locked until the morning after the polls have closed (during this time, we request that political discussion on h2g2 is kept on hold until the polls close). A new non-election-related discussion topic will be opened on election day.<< from the Election Forum page

What does "A new non-election-related discussion topic will be opened on election day" mean?

Why?!!!!

Ahh good point Kea! We meant the Talking Point, as the election discussion is currently on the homepage in that position.

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Wahey we get to talk election on hootoo.

Thanks italics! I am sure you worked hard for us to have this privilige.

Also to the community lets make sure this works, then hopefully we wont ever have to have topics forced off hootoo again....

*my lips are sealed*

*offers DD some glue solvent* Campaigning may be a bit tricky then

I asked this question on the last announcement thread but didn't get an answer from the slopey types, does this only apply to new postings, or are we going to find that chunks of older (hours, or days older) postings start to disappear?

k

Hi Kelli

Older postings will be left intact (as they are heritage), but any NEW postings made to already-existing threads fall under the new election guidelines and therefore will be moderated as and when necessary.

Hope that clears things up!

Paully

Having a hootoo discussion is a definate step in the right direction :D

It is a shame to see 2 moderated posts already though, try to keep it together folks.

Now I don't want to tell the Editors how to do their job (who am I kidding, of course I do!), but would it be a good idea to temporarily edit the <./>askh2g2</.> page with a link to the Election Forum so that newbies or people who aren't subscribed here post lots of stuff on the election in inappropriate places before May 5th?

Damn page could do with an edit once in a while, anyway.

B

>>It is a shame to see 2 moderated posts already though, try to keep it together folks.<<

The two moderated posts were jokes about the leaders of the three main parties (which I wont mention here ). Which is funny as I said on one of the posts that it will probably be moderated.

>>Ahh good point Kea! We meant the Talking Point, as the election discussion is currently on the homepage in that position.<<

Does that mean Talking Point will be about the election for the next month?

Well done on getting h2 it's own discussion space though

Ta Paully.

k - creator of heritage

So out of interest would the two moderated posts have been ok in the discussion forum? or is making jokes about politicians totally out for the election?

And comments about jokes about politicians being out, are they out as well?

'And comments about jokes about politicians being out, are they out as well?' - I imagine jokes about individual British politicians, or named political parties are out, but not about politicians in general, eg the 'What's the difference between a politician and an X' for instance.