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

Hey! Me again. Erm, about a year ago, I was told along the grapevine that you were concidering putting an entry of mine in the Underguide. Then I was told you were waiting for a less painful time for me. The thing is, it's been ages and if there's another reason for you not wanting to use it, I was wondering what it was so I could maybe change it a little?

The article is about my termination.

Thanks
Gen x

Hi
There are a few reasons for this, but it seems unlikely the UG will be able to feature it

When we select entries, we have to send them off to the h2g2 towers, and I don't believe your piece managed to get past them. I don't remember exactly why - it was, as you say ages ago.

However, I'm sure I'll talk to the editors this week, so I'll ask Jimster about this again

Make whatever changes you like, my dear.

We will, as Jodan said, be discussing this and some other entries with the Italics. We need to get our heads around their thinking - or more acurately around the thinking of the Higher Ups.

Unfortunately none of us have the freedoms we once had, and even more unfortunately none of us are telepathic.

Take care

(agc)Ben

Thank you! That's all I really needed to know. I'm not intending to change it at all. I just wanted to know where it stood.

Gen x

This hasn't been forgotten Gen, it's just taking time.

Waz

thanks guys. keep me informed please!

The issue is that the Beeb like to put support information alongside publications about difficult subjects ("If you or anyone close to you has been affected by issues raised in this tv programme, then please call our help line..." etc etc etc).

I have suggested that we provide links to responsible organisations in the entry, but have not got around to finding any. The problem, of course, is that the anti-abortionists will want us to include links to the anti-abortion agencies, and I guess that - with gritted teeth and careful labelling - I could do that if push came to shove.

I am busy at the moment, but I do want to see this entry there, so what I will do over the next few weeks is find links to responsible organisations, and prepare it as a polished entry but one not with the official UG status. Then we can submit it to the Italics, with a suggested strap-line for the front page, and see what they say.

As Waz says, this is not forgotten.



Ben

****

note to self so I don't lose track

in this country, British Pregancy advsiory service, Marie stops clinic,

most NHS trusts should run a decent and timely service, though it's a post code lottery,

and the Brook clinics will know details but they only see under 25s

for young people the Youth Service (connexions they're called) drop in centres will know the local reptable establisment,s but again that's only for under 25s,

Life, the pro life group have care centres,

****

I have polished it and the entry - without the UG logo - is here: A3204983.

I am going to email Jimster asking him if there are any aspects of this entry which he wants changing. The reason for the long introduction is that the BBC have rules and regs about what can be seen on a screen one click away from the front page. I am working in the dark to a large extent, but hopefully this covers it.

Cheers.

Ben

Ben - its great. Thank you... let me know what gets said next!

I will do. Don't get your hopes up, sweetheart. But do keep your fingers crossed!

B

*crossed*

Hi Pantherlady

I put the entry to Jimster, and have had the final definitive answer. He says:

"After discussions with Editorial Policy, we still feel that we cannot
give this entry a spot on our Front Page...."

"But promotion on the Front Page is just one part of h2g2. Thanks to your polishing and 'editorialisation' of the entry, we would be willing to add the UG stamp to the entry and include it within the UG
categorisation...."

There has been a long-term debate within the UG volunteers about what to do with entries which fall into this category. My feeling has always been that we should avail ourselves of Jimster's offer and promote these entries within the UnderGuide pages themselves, and I have put that suggestion to the rest of the UnderGuide volunteers.

I wouldn't normally discuss internal UG debates on site like this, but you have been so extremely patient for so long with this one, that I do feel you deserve an interim update.

So, it won't ever get its day of glory on the Front Page, but I am hoping that it will become an official UG entry, be categorised and searchable, and that I will get the go-ahead from the other Miners and Polishers to mention it with a link on some of the other UnderGuide pages.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I am still fighting your cause.



Ben

Ben...

You are not the bearer of bad news at all. From what I understnad, this is still a good turn out and that's all that matters.

Thank you!

Gen

Thanks for being so understanding, honey.

B