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

B'el - everything in your welcome posting is very useful and relevant. It's a lot of text, though - perhaps h2g2 needs to be a bit simpler

I agree, but if we need to try harder, then there's a case for recruiting more volunteers so that we don't. I'm saying we find out, discuss it in the relevant volunteer forums, then approach the Editors if this is what's required.

I'm glad we have some relative newbies in this thread.

Obviously, Challenge h2g2 can be promoted more widely.

And just a random thought that popped into my head: how about a system of "PR buddies" or something? A page where people who are nervous about braving PR can ask for help, and get assigned to one specific volunteer, who will tell them whether the Entry is ready for PR (not no longer in need of any changes, just ready for PR or should go to the AWW first) as well as stick around and answer any questions about the process and comment on the entry while it's in PR, too. In return, the new writer promises to read and comment on at least one other entry in PR while theirs is there...

Informally, this has happened quite a lot, so why not make a place where people who don't have hootoo friends they'd like to ask yet can ask?

Thinking cynically, I'd say working harder won't do at all. Anyone who tries to work harder in the short term ends up getting fed up and working less in the long term. The idea of enlisting more volunteers sounds good, but having a review of what they do first would be advisable.

>>>how about a system of "PR buddies"<<<

I recall there being a 'ride into the guide' page once upon a time. I don't think it helped much, as newbies didn't know it was there or couldn't find it. I think an initiative based on volunteers approaching and helping individuals would be better than a page where users can ask for help.

But how do you find individuals who need help? That's the trouble

Alex is in the kind of business where they find him...

Hello all, as a newcomer who has been delighted to have an article make the edited guide I would like to make the following observations, sometimes a pair of fresh eyes can see things from a different perspective.

In reply to B'el in post 32, there is a huge discrepancy between the link that shows who's online, (at this moment 2170) and this link, which I discovered in an old and dusty (vacated by the elvised owner)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/online?thissite=1

Currently there are only 61 researchers online (on h2g2)

I've been curious about this apparent difference since joining. It can't be possible for the ACEs to welcome 50 people every day who are only interested in using the main BBC pages and have never heard of hootoo? From looking at this link quite often, the numbers here vary from a low of about 24 to never more than in the high 60s. ( at one time) obviously we have more regular members, just not online at any one time. What I am struggling to get to is that I feel there are probably only 4 or 5 serious new members who will need a bit of encouragement per week. I agree with B'el, and I think the statistics of people you are somehow being sent ( I don't know how this works) should be revised.


As for Peer Review, the guidelines for entering are very clear, but I guess people don't read them before they post there - I mean the ones that post *before their ACE message reaches them.

Also, and please take this is the spirit it is meant, as an outsider the fact that so many of the articles being entered, and chosen for the EG are by your esteemed selves might possibly be seen to be like pushing your way into a very cosy private club. Only hard-nosed folk like me(?) might wish to brave it. I have seen some quite caustic comments, but much more often the scouts, sub-editors and others have been very patient and sensitive. I don't have any suggestions about how you get over this impression as I know you want to continue to provide excellent and interesting new entries.

since discovering hootoo I have become very attached to it, and wish it a long and safe future.

Oh, and your ACE is your buddy. Maybe they could find someone if they're asked and can't help.

lanza, the page ACEs use is at <./>NewUsers</.>. It think it used to have some mechanism for selecting only h2g2 newbies, but I can't seem to find one now.

The previous 'PR Buddy' scheme ('Hitchhike into the EG') is at A1355195. The last posting there was 2 years ago, from someone from Dubai looking for work in the UK as a receptionist... The last *real* posting there was over 3 years ago.

There isn't any. In theory, yes, it should only show new users of this site, but many people don't even know which site they signed up on.

Ok, so much for that idea. It's been tried and failed.

Which areas will newbies be looking at? Only the FP and (perhaps) their ACE messages, presumably.

One thing that springs to mind for the latter is just mentioning that you need to check back for replies, using your space or the "My Conversations" window - you won't be getting an e-mail that you got a reply, like you do in many fora. (Or are they forums, for internet ones?)

Thanks Alex, it seems to show one new person every 30 mins. The infant mortality rate is a bit high hey? These can't all be destined for h2g2.

Mala, is there anyway that an automated message could go to the newcomers email address, after a period of time, to remind them of their personal space and Aces message? Other places do this ( and you're correct it is forums - not fora)

Hmmm. Users not being able to find things or understand the site has been an issue since... well, ever. I've been working on improving the Help Pages, with the intention of making it easier for new users to find stuff. Evidently it's nowhere near that simple - so what's wrong?

I remember being welcomed by my ACE (I even remember who it was- knitbunny, now ). What was important to me wasn't what she said on the first post, but how she responded to me when I asked questions (which I'm sure 100%.
I think less may be more on ACE welcomes. When I welcomed I always tried to tie it into whatever they'd written on their Space (on the days when you couldn't comment before they'd written their Space), to try to engage them in conversation. Once they'd responded, I could more easily direct them.

(probably a because this has taken me ages to type)

In my experience, not everyone likes to read. As this is a site for text-hungry people, by and large, I don't know how you can make allowances for those people who navigate in a different way.

Perhaps ACEs should try to whittle down their posts a little, in order to avoid scaring off newbies who just want to chat. Perhaps a standard ACEs' page of extremely useful links would help, so that ACEs can direct new users to that.

Sorry. I'm typing this at work so it has got quite disjointed.

(which I'm sure 100% of ACEs already do)