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

These are really good, Jordan, and just the sort of thing I hoped would come out of Stocholm Syndrome. Thumbsup.

I'm not entirely sure about: No two accepted entries should be based on the same intent.

No two personal pieces about grief then? I know you don't mean that!

What happens if you think you can substantially improve an existing entry? Should bad existing entries drive out better new ones? This is a key question now we are 12 years old and one I may post elsewhere.

Really good work that sheep.

Ben

You're right, that could be phrased better. Sometimes it's hard to put the phrase around an idea that needs to apply to all these different genres.

I think you know what point I'm intending to make, is there a better way of phrasing it? Semantically, I think "intent" is close to being the right word. I could argue that if there are two personal pieces, then they haven't got the same intent, because the intent is in part to share a personal story. I could also argue that replacing and improving an entry is also part of the entry's intent. But that's not obvious from the wording, and it would be great to be precise, so that we can avoid the misinterpretation that the present guidelines have suffered from.

I'll give it a think.

Prolly better to make the distinction in the guideline for the type of post : EG / UG. For the EG it could read like "do not do duplicate entries / same intent" and UG "Try not to write the same".
Entries should not be replaced, but rather amended or annotated. Two Entries in the EG about f.i. the Titanic may both be valid as they would contain two different aspects or points of view of the disaster.
If an Entry can be positively said to be inaccurate or wrong this can be noted by the editor like "[this no longer is true - Ed.]" possibly with a referral to another Entry.

Just putting a muddy boot in...

Cheers!
Martin
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Free?! Does that mean I can't get a Discount?
I thought I heard a Dolphin Wistle ...

Hi Martin
I'm trying as much as possible to make a set of guidelines that can apply to both EG and UG entries. If this is to be a writing site, we need *general* principles on writing, I think. Otherwise this would probably be much easier.

I sympathise with your plight Jordan.
My guess is that it is difficult to draw up a catch-all set of guidelines and a bit of elaboration is needed in the different areas.