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

I'd rather see a load of unsuitable stuff go into PR to be redirected than not see anything go in it.

I don't know what input I can have on this discussion since I'm one of those Scouts who only goes into PR to click a button every month, but I kind of liked the idea of having one Peer Review that the EG and UG and any other community-based writing initiative can pull from as wanted. I know this isn't quite h2g2's usual style of operation, but in my dream Guide, I would like to see more intermixing of EG-style and UG-style entries.

I also think the EG could stand to learn from the UG's "don't publish anything if there's nothing good to publish" maxim (sorry, I can't recall the exact wording right now). I think my private standards may be unreasonably high at times, and it is certainly unfair to demand perfect writing from anyone, especially given that we are volunteers, and most of us don't write for a living. Since my entries are nothing remarkable, I especially shouldn't be talking - but of course I am. However, it does seem to me that h2g2 has had a history of recommending an entry for the EG just because it fills a hole, or it fulfills a certain set of accepted requirements - but I think an entry has to do more than that; it has to be fun to read and eloquent and properly informative. I also would like, in a perfect world, to see entries that have a clear sense of the author's voice: that is a way we can distinguish ourselves from our *ahem* competitors, by writing entries that could not have been written by just anyone. However, I do recognize how difficult this is to do (I certainly can't), and I have no desire to criticize or laud anyone's efforts in particular.

This is not a specific suggestion (and I think my post long since veered off the point anyway), but I think it bears acknowledging honestly that I think h2g2 does have a certain tinge of amateurishness. I'm wary about saying this, because I recognize how much effort so many people put into their work for this site, but if I have to choose between writing for h2g2 and writing for a well-known American non-profit where I'll get paid, I'll choose the latter (as I basically did). I liked what some people said about trying to get more involvement from BBC admin, in some sort of radio or publishing sense, because that would lend more legitimacy to this project. I feel like it would be easier to aspire to a higher standard if I got the sense that someone on high thought this site worth it.

Again, I offer no specific recriminations, and I'm aware that I can't possibly begin to practice what I preach, but I do believe that there is work to be done.

Thanks everyone. I thought we were running dry with suggestions, but I found 55 new posts this morning.

Just to repeat, I've started to collate these, and then I'll present them topic-by-topic on new threads, so we can approve/reject/discuss them in detail. This will happen later this week, probably, but only after the suggestions here have dried up, so keep them coming in the meantime.

Icy

Tiny little aside - I'm incredibly insulted by the "tawdry little whore" remark. As I'm 6' 7" tall, I demand to be known as a tawdry freakishly-tall whore.

Deal. TF-TW it is.

Just for the sake of completely irrelevant conversation, are you taller or shorter than Egon?

B

How tall's Egon?

Many years ago, Azara wrote a very good Entry on Peer Review, which includes how to post comments: A580835

I don't think much has changed in the intervening seven years.

I think Egon was about 6'5" - I'm just about 6' even when I'm not wearing the high heeels.

I'd agree Gnomon, that's all ggod advice, though I think comments into a PR thread can be used to ask questions as well as correct errors.

On the "Don't publish anything if there is nothing suitable to publish" topic, remember that at some stage in the last year (can't remember when) there were so few new entries coming through the system that in one week they only published four new ones. That included one day with no new entries at all.

I am suspending this suggestions thread now, so that we can vote on these ones. Many thanks for all your contributions - it's been very valuable, I'm sure you'll agree.

Please keep the momentum going by voting on these suggestions at F3719964?thread=5529824

This includes any suggestions you made, or any which you have supported or otherwise on this thread. I'll only count votes on the Voting thread.

If you post any new suggestions here, then we'll sweep them up later.

Icy

I missed this thread and gave up on the backlog when it descended into bickering by page 2.

The technical footering about is all very well, but imo will really make a minimal impact at best. I've suggested it before, but I'll do it again.

Publish a book.

Why - It will undoubtedly open up H2G2 to a much wider audience. There are a number of H2G2-type writing sites, none of them has the breadth & scale of H2G2. However, they have some very good writers. Most writers crave recognition. What better lure could there be to H2G2 than the possibility of becoming published? It will also have the knock-on effect of re-invigorating past & present H2G2 contributors.

How - An obvious problem is that of rights and copyright, not to mention reimbursement. I suggest do it for the BBC charity "Children in Need". They already have the machinery & expertise for publishing and even if they don't, they could point us in the right direction. I'm thinking of the "Janet & John" books here. Select an independent guest editor to select entries, contact all those involved and ask if their entry can be used and Bob's your uncle.

The trickle down effect of greater exposure, new writers and increased motivation will improve both the Guide and PR at a stroke.

I don't think you'd have to ask the authors of Entries can their contributions be used, as we've already agreed that anything we write can be used by the BBC for anything they want.

It would still be polite, though

I'd like to know on what grounds anyone would say no.

B

Yeah, who wouldn't want people to read their entries?

Maybe if you're no longer happy with an entry?

Actually, that's a fair point. I do cringe a little when I read some of my earlier ones.

B

I've had repeated threats over my first. Not my fault that my home town's a hive of villainy.

A hive of scum and villainy? Oh dear.