This week, Peet points out a glaring ommission in my questions¹

When did you join h2g2?

There's a bit of a dispute over this. I know I joined on the 12th of May, 1999, but the system insists I joined in late June, despite me being able to point to the date on the article I created on my first day...

Huh, that is weird...

How did you hear of/find h2g2?

I heard it mentioned on "Tomorrow's World". That dates things...

Why did you join h2g2?

I've been a huge fan of Douglas Adams since I first heard the Hitchhiker's Guide on the radio in 1978.

Did you jump right in, or did you lurk awhile first?

Straight in. I'm not shy.

Have you written an Edited Entry?

Yes. The entry I wrote on the first day I joined became "Edited" - eventually. But I think I hold the record for the longest time in the editorial queue - just over four years elapsed between submission and acceptance!

How many?

Just the one.

What was your first Entry?

The Grand and Loyal Order of Mudsharks.

What is your favorite Entry (of the ones you've written, if any)?

Door Buzzer Roulette - a game for really, really stupid people.

Proof that annoying people who write well can result in entertainment for everyone else!

²

What is your favorite Entry by someone else?

Too many to choose from.

Do you belong to/have you started any clubs/societies/what-have-you on h2g2?

Yes. I am a Thingite, a Zaphodista and a member of the h2g2 Black Hole Escape Committee.

Is that/are those club(s)/society(ies)/what-have-you(s) still active?

Yes, No, and Maybe, in that order.

Have you held any volunteer positions in the past?

I was a (sporadic) Community Artist for some considerable time, and very, very briefly I was "Chief Guru".

Are you a current volunteer?

My Community Artist status was revoked when we moved to the new hosts because I hadn't contributed for a few years. Partly, that was because my graphics computer died and I never got round to getting involved again after it was fixed... I'd still like to be involved occasionally, but I haven't overcome the inertia to re-apply.

Well, now you've a handy dandy link right up there...

Which elvised researcher do you miss most?

Nighthoover, of course!

Have you been an elvised researcher?

Nope.

What brought you back?

See above.

Have you been known by other names on h2g2 (not necessarily other accounts)?

My name has been in a state of flux since shortly after I joined.

Is there anything from h2g2's past that you miss?

The ability to illustrate your PS with your own images.

Is there anything from h2g2's past that you wish you hadn't witnessed?

The destruction of threads by BBC Moderators who spent three months deleting every post with a link in it before deciding to just change the rules to allow linking to external sites, back in 2002.

What aspect of current h2g2 do you wish had been extant when you joined?

Nothing. It was pretty much perfect when I first joined up. Perhaps the "Plain" skin...?

Have you been to any meets, of any size, whether "official" or not (meet=over a dozen, minimeet=6-12, micromeet=less than a half dozen)?

Yes.

How many?

Two meets and a mini-meet.

Was my self portrait there?

At least once, yes.

How many copies?

One, flopped over in a puddle of beer, completely and utterly laminated.

If you've been to multiple meets, what's the farthest you've traveled to one?

Edinburgh.

If you've never been to a meet, why not?

See above.

Am I asking too many questions?

Technically, yes.

Is this getting annoying?

"Getting"...?

How about now?

Eep...

If I were to give you a mufflewhump, what would it turn into, keeping in mind that they can't turn into anything sapient nor anything that can act against the giver's (ie, my) interest, and that they only work on h2g2?

I'd turn it into the one thing that's even less likely than a mufflewhump - a decent working "Search" function on the site that works on both threads and articles.

Had you even heard of mufflewhumps before the previous question?

Oh, Yus.

Have I given you one before?

Oh, Yus.

Did you know me before this interview?

Oh, Yus.

Do you have a question for me (fair's fair, after all)?

Why didn't you ask any questions about what people actually use the site for?

Because I didn't even think of it... *hangs head in shame* 'Twould've been a great question, too. I was focused a bit more on history.

Thanks Peet!

Next week, we'll be hearing from msmonsy.

The Venerable Researchers Archive

Amy

03.06.13 Front Page

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¹But he gave me lots of stuff I'd never heard of to link to, so I forgive him²³³See the thread on the entry...