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

Some people belong in a different world.

I think its that people belong on different lists.

For myself I wouldn't bother with that way of classifying people. There's all sorts of little contributions that can't be measured on lists.

But yes I think I probably belong in a different world.

Just because Ben thanked the people she did it doesn't mean that anyone elses contribution is any less valued

Indeed, as I understand it there have been perhaps a dozen or more others that did the trench-work and scullery duties. The list could become very, very long ...

The people thanked there are the members of h2g2c3. Kea did contribute, but later on and not as part of the Ccoommiittee.

It would be a list this long

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/A86021237

Okay so kea does actually belong on a different list.

And in general I'm just putting forward my perspective..it would indeed be a boring world if we all thought the same.

They are different lists, Effers.

That list was the Interim Committee who put together the bid between March and May. We really could have lost the bid, and these are the guys who got up close and personal with the uncertainties and who made the decisions as well as doing the work that meant that we won the bid. So these are the people who took "maybe..." and turned it around into " YES!". It was a closed group because of the issues of commercial confidentiality.

We opened it up as soon as we could and kea was one of the first people if not the first person who was not on the Interim Committee to work on making noohootoo a reality, Gnomon and Lanzababy joned soon after and Bel and Lil a while after that. And there were other people who worked hard during that March - June period and who put their faith in the IC to make the decisons: huge credit goes to the proof readers for the book (Trout Montague, Rod, and Rudest Elf mainly) and to Twigster who made a video for us.

Since we won the bid, the doors have opened wide, and the lists of current volunteers are being refreshed even as I type.

But - and this is the important thing - those 17, those happy few, those band of brothers - are the ones who had the balls to stare a complicated situation in the face and make difficult decisions about how best to deal with it. That's not just about hard work, that's about having the courage do try something and risk failing.

I'm very, very proud of them.

Look its totally confusing to most of us about these committees and their different names...made all out of letters and numbers I think.

We just get to know who did a lot. Thats all I understand.

Apologies for being a bit bolshy about the first list. You know how incredibly grateful and respectful I am of all you guys.

So heartfelt

And the "unbland" contribution was indeed used, as were a lot of others, in defining what h2g2 is and can be: A80734863 , http://www.h2g2c2.co.uk/?pid=7 which I think I used as the introduction to the book. I can't remember now, my mind's been defragmented a couple of times since then.

Look sorry for not properly respecting things and I'm pleased about 'unbland'

And I'm sure its been defragmented a few times..so's mine of late for other reasons.

But kea is still a sensitive subject and I was just making sure she got her due. I was wrong about the lists.

Lets move on.

'And all shall be well and all manner of thing well.'

When we do emerge Golgafrincham-like at the end of this transition, we can sit around making documentaries about ourselves

Let the lovefest begin...

No worries. Kea's contribution is to take things apart, make sure they work properly, clean them thoroughly, and put them back together again. I really value what she does, because that's what I do too. She seems to be busy in RL at the momentand I miss her and the work she does dreadfully. She keeps people honest. Not that they are dis-honest, but she forces people to think things through rather than muddle through. Like I said, I really value that.

The real challenge for the 17 - what turned us into a band of brothers - was the fact we couldn't put our ideas out on site and see what the community thought. It was having to work confidentially and make really important decisions without discussing them on site first which turned the pressure up.

But as you say, time to move on.

I'm not sure I can see the sea, but I sure can smell it. Can I have fish and chips, please?

Ben

and we've still not decided the most important thing.... What colour and texture will the new site be...

[puts out the deckchairs and sends for candy floss]


breathe the ocean scent! mmmmmmmmm

No really I'm much clearer now. thanks for taking the trouble to explain.

And yes you guys were risk takers and had balls, you should indeed be proud.

Suddenly I like lists

I thought we were going to force everyone to use Brunel...

It was very difficult to have to be all confidential sometimes. When there was scare-mongering and speculation going on. And sometimes when I just wanted to run around the site going WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Nice job, everyone. (Especially for keeping the secrets, I know that was hard.)

Just to let you know, the contract has been signed! We've updated the Announcement Entry - the one this conversation hangs off - and we've added a picture of Robbie Stamp signing the contract. Cnngratulations to Not Panicking Ltd - Robbie Stamp, Brian and Alyson Larholm, the h2g2 Community Consortium - on a successful bid.

Please bear in mind, although H2G2 is now legally in new hands, the BBC has agreed to run the site for one more month from today (31st August 2011), the day the contract was signed, to enable the new owners to set the site up on their own technical infrastructure.

During this month, normal BBC editorial and moderations rules will still apply.

Exciting times