A Conversation for Old Announcements: January - September 2011

Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 281

Paul Goodenough

Hi all,

We all have been reading your comments on here, and although I totally 100% understand and share your frustration that parts of the site aren't working, for the sake of clarity I think it's only fair we're also allowed to state a few points.

The tech issues
Some of the tech issues are coming from within the BBC DNA system and not from the front end H2G2 build. The DNA guys are working very hard on this and we'll help them where possible.

The design
H2G2, to be relaunched, has to fit in with the BBC's design guidelines (www.bbc.co.uk/gel) that's unfortunately a fact we needed to adhere to in order to get the site completed. Essentially, we have a suite of widgets and designs we can choose from. Yes, we are very proud of our work, we love the site and we've done everything we can to make it as professional as possible. We understand that parts of the design nuances have been dropped, but this was both essential for the relaunch to happen, and also enable the site to be accessible to new people.

We don't know what h2g2 is
Simply put, that's not true. I'm personally a big fan of Douglas, his work (non Hitchhikers also) and of course H2g2. I admit freely I'm not a contributor. I read, I learn, I appreciate. Unfortunately running Aerian allows me very little time to do much else.

We don't care
I can tell you without fear of contradiction, you could not get people who care more than the team involved in this. Sam, Chris and Nick all sweated blood on this project, and Ben, Ben stayed late and worked overtime on H2G2 for the last eight months on the site. He literally lived and breathed H2G2.

This is in no way meant as a defence of our corner. I just think in the interests of fairness you guys should know what did and did not do, and why.

In conclusion, I'm sure you'll all agree, H2G2 thrives because of the passion of the community. We're all pulling in the same direction to try and get things right.

Thanks all


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 282

Malabarista - now with added pony

Hi Paul, thanks for weighing in. It must be frustrating to see all the negative comments - it's just easier to complain than to praise for many people!

We had a similar situation when the last new batch of smileys was brought out (a much smaller change, of course) and there was what seemed like a neverending flood of complaints from all corners, rather than appreciation that there were new ones at all. It put me off ever drawing them again - so I'm glad to see you're staying enthusiastic about it!


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 283

Baron Grim

Thanks for replying Paul. Unfortunately this all seems so petty now. It seems you haven't heard yet but there have been some very troubling announcements this morning about the future of our site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F77636?thread=8018187


Monday 24 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking???

Post 284

shagbark

That announcement changes everything. I'm saving a backup copy of all my articles.


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 285

Paul Goodenough

Hi all,

We all have been reading your comments on here, and although I totally 100% understand and share your frustration that parts of the site aren't working, for the sake of clarity I think it's only fair we're also allowed to state a few points.

The tech issues
Some of the tech issues are coming from within the BBC DNA system and not from the front end H2G2 build. The DNA guys are working very hard on this and we'll help them where possible.

The design

H2G2, to be relaunched, has to fit in with the BBC's design guidelines (www.bbc.co.uk/gel) that's unfortunately a fact we needed to adhere to in order to get the site completed. Essentially, we have a suite of widgets and designs we can choose from. Yes, we are very proud of our work, we love the site and we've done everything we can to make it as professional as possible. We understand that parts of the design nuances have been dropped, but this was both essential for the relaunch to happen, and also enable the site to be accessible to new people.

We don't know what h2g2 is
Simply put, that's not true. I'm personally a big fan of Douglas, his work (non Hitchhikers also) and of course H2g2. I admit freely I'm not a contributor. I read, I learn, I appreciate. Unfortunately running Aerian allows me very little time to do much else.

We don't care
I can tell you without fear of contradiction, you could not get people who care more than the team involved in this. Sam, Chris and Nick all sweated blood on this project, and Ben, Ben stayed late and worked overtime on H2G2 for the last eight months on the site. He literally lived and breathed H2G2.

This is in no way meant as a defence of our corner. I just think in the interests of fairness you guys should know what did and did not do, and why.

In conclusion, I'm sure you'll all agree, H2G2 thrives because of the passion of the community. We're all pulling in the same direction to try and get things right.

Thanks all


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 286

Paul Goodenough

Excuse reposting, error on my part


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 287

Paul Goodenough

Thanks Malabarista, it's much appreciated!

I'm personally quite tough skinned luckily. Unfortunately I know that Ben and Paul from our crew were quite hurt as it represented eight months of 8-10 hour days for them, so it's quite disheartening. Combined with the BBC's bombshell, it's been a tough morning for everyone with a vested interest in H2G2.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you or anyone else that I and we will be doing everything and anything we can to help get the site a new home. I've got my nuclear powered thinking cap on as we speak....

Thanks


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 288

Lanzababy - Guide Editor

aww Paul smiley - hug

Whenever new things arise there are loads of people scared of change. Sadly they make much more noise than the ones who are prepared to wait until the final outcome (I'm talking about the re-launched site here) Personally I was totally shocked by some of the negative posts I read, whilst others were modded smiley - rolleyes. I think part of the cause of this is not actually seeing the people behind the scenes as real persons.


Anyway, the double whammy effect has made me reel this morning, but I am so pleased that you are considering sporting your 'nuclear powered thinking cap' smiley - eureka for us.




Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 289

Prof Animal Chaos.C.E.O..err! C.E.Idiot of H2G2 Fools Guild (Official).... A recipient of S.F.L and S.S.J.A.D.D...plus...S.N.A.F.U.

I also hope that you guys behind the hootoo scenes don't lose your jobs as well


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 290

Effers;England.


In all sorts of complicated ways I can't really explain this makes me realise that the end is nigh.


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 291

Effers;England.


This whole affair has fed into me getting quite unwell. But the second I get better I shall write how angry I am.


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 292

Baron Grim

You don't need to explain, Effers. You've expressed your thoughts sufficiently for us to know how you feel.


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 293

Effers;England.


My thoughts are about something much bigger than just me....they are about our culture...and I'm now pretty unwell because of this car crash.

And yes some people at the BBC clearly don't have a clue about their *responsibility* to *EVERYONE*

They absolutely won't get a penny out of me at the end of May.


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 294

Malabarista - now with added pony

I just wish we'd had the new skin back in October. Maybe if that had brought in more users, which I believe was the plan all along, we'd have had a chance to prove our worth...


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 295

Felonious Monk - h2g2s very own Bogeyman

"My thoughts are about something much bigger than just me....they are about our culture...and I'm now pretty unwell because of this car crash.

And yes some people at the BBC clearly don't have a clue about their *responsibility* to *EVERYONE*"

Oh, for heaven's sake. The BBC doesn't *have* a responsibility to *everyone*, stupid. It is a *public service broadcaster* and it has a responsibility to *broadcast* to its licence fee payers. H2g2 doesn't site well within that remit, that's all.

If you can't get over it, then please at least understand this simple point, will you?


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 296

Effers;England.


Good points FM.

But cultural stuff gets into our very DNA...and the BBC has been a vital life force behind that. H2g2 is part of it.


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 297

Ancient Brit

Too right Felonious Monk. The BBC never truly embraced the h2g2 community. The writing was on the wall when The DNA Hub took a dip and DNA sites were cut.
Message boards can come and go but a community is something else.


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 298

Paul Goodenough

I totally agree. It's so easy for us all to have a jolly good rant. We all need to vent sometimes. I've been guilty of it myself. And who hasn't walked into a shop and complained about the new way they've laid out their items?

We're all working hard to raise a bit of a buzz out of this. The more positive noise about H2G2, the easier it will be to find a new home.

Thanks for all your comments, critical or not (preferred the not). They are all taken on board.


Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 299

Lanzababy - Guide Editor

>>>The more positive noise about H2G2, the easier it will be to find a new home.<<<<<


this sort of thing has been crossing my mind, we need to be featured in all sorts of media in a favourable light.



Thursday 20 January, 2011 - The new H2G2 is live and kicking!

Post 300

~ jwf ~ scribblo ergo sum

smiley - yikes
Stunned.
Shocked.

There are now a dozen threads raging against the news.
Not sure if we can do anything but rant on and hope someone
hears ours weeping in the wilderness and finds us a new home.

Will keep watching.

BTW: If it becomes necessary
(ie:someone pulls the plug)
we can always meet at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/n2g2/
to plan the future of h2g2
or to announce the good news that
someone has found us a new home.

Stay angry. Stay active.
Stay in touch.
Fingers crossed.

smiley - cross
~jwf~


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