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

It's up for some of us, and down for others. Personally, I haven't seen any error messages since Wednesday . It's one of those YMMV things.

While we're on the subject of acronyms, what does TWIMC mean?

What do either of those mean? Incidentally, I'd already pressed "post message" when I spotted it, so I just changed it quickly and clicked it again.

Are you sure I can have it?

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary = It may work differently for you

I now have no idea. Just think of it as something wonderfully witty though sharply barbed and now lost to humanity and you will be at least half right.

I looked on the 'net and found out.

To Whom It May Concern

Robert ()

Meanwhile back on Earth....

Have you noticed that the original poster (Prof. Burnham) was the teacher of the preppie that submitted this magnificent prose?

Probably got it this far as an encouragement. If you look on the Prof's page, his posts centre on the work of his pupils. I suppose desperate times require desperate measures. -We don't know what yardstick the kids aught to be measured by.

I don't suppose he'll be back too, neither -until next time. On the other hand, if he is a North American he might think something up with the British idea of a service here was directed at him. Once he was not able to get on a few times he probably stopped trying.

I can't help thinking that the server they are using on here is the one they gave Jimmy Hill or Desmond Lynham early in their careers with the Beeb. I don't suppose it was much use on Match of the Day then too neither!

Was there anything relevent in that post, 'cause I can't find anything.

Robert ()

So is it OK for me to have it or do you want to finish it? It's OK if you do, I have a whole list of things to write about (read: to get around to at some stage)...

For goodness sake girl, I don't want it. Since it is the original work of a newbie, I am not able to say what its value is -to me at least.

Would anyone object if I attempted to work on this article to make it suitable for the guide??

It looks like Prof. Burnham has elvised.

You might try signing on as The Grim Reaper to see if you can get any Scouts to get it put into the Flea Market.

I'd recommend dropping a message at the original author's personal space, saying that you'd like to take the entry on and develop it for the EG, do they mind, and that you'll credit them as a researcher.

Then take whatever of the text is useful and add the original author to the researcher's list, and develop the article. It doesn't have to go into the flea market....

Let me know if I can be of any assistance...

Otto

As far as I'm concerned, you can have it. Good luck!

I did as u said. Took the text, developed it and credited the original guy. As far as I could tell, he didn't have a proper page so I could leave him a message.

I didn't actually keep much of his stuff but he's still credited as the author and me as the editor.

Its now in peer review. Take a look.

2/3

I have, and commented. It's very good.

Thanks, Otto, I didn't know that once a piece was listed as reviewable and submitted for review it could be taken from the author in absentia. In the past, there wasn't any policy about this in the past except the general H2G2 one of assumed proprietorship by the author. I remember at least one past case where someone copied over and modified an original submitted piece, and the original author came back (how he knew this after elvising, I do not remember) and in the ensuing PR aggro the piece never did go through.

IN my case if you look a the original and then look at mine, you couldn't tell it was the same article.

Sure I did start with his . . . but I had to flesh it out. And I also got rid of a fair bit of his stuff in the process.

Also none of the stuff he had there was 'his' per se, its facts. And since I had to re-write it to fit my 'style' I'd say the article was all mine.

I don't mind crediting him, and I have. I would've done the article whether or not he'd done one.

2/3