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

that's fine.

I'll have a look there soon- thanks!

"Love the "badges" idea. Some groups like the Thingites and P.U.D.D.I.N.G. already have them, no? (And I'm sure the Musicians' Guild does, though I don't actually have it on my PS"

I'm glad you liked the idea. I had visions of people saying (and still think people will think), "Oh we've got enough badges". I think my idea was kind of a "home" area that people can go back to people they're familiar with. Of course they can branch out. But I think the problem here is that there is so much to hootoo that it is easy to get lost. The reason I mention Harry Potter though is that the idea there is that you have a house you belong to and have people you know on a smaller level. So if we can club together the remaining sections of hootoo we can build from there. I expect not everyone will like the idea, but I think those that do would benefit from it.

Okay you've got your journal as well, but not everyone has such an active network as I've had (though admittedly a lot of people on my friends list have gone or are no longer regulars - "Was it something I said?"), and others.

I think perhaps the matter is more down to some sort of community support team - which no longer really exists in any official capacity. I guess the original h2g2 team had the foresight to appoint people to look after the community - which is why we've still got (though somewhat depleted) what we have today. I don't think it would take much effort on the BBC's part to get the community up and running. But given we're unlikely to get a vast amount of attention at the moment. However I don't think this site will ever be executed as such - simply because Douglas Adams was far too loved by so many people within the organisation. But what might happen is what happened to Doctor Who in 1989, which was basically not cancel it, but hide it until the general populus forgot about it... sort of. Which is what concerns me a little about people being content to keep going until it dwindles to nearly nobody...

So anyway, as I've had a little experience of community organisation, and a fair bit of teaching experience, people like to belong to something, and I think the badge thing (whether that be for groups that exist or suitably appropriate group badges ala. Harry Potter's Hogwarts), would get people excited (and get some people moaning like hell) at least to get people interested again, and not talking about the site's demise... which is ultimately the point I guess.

Thanks JEllen and Frenchbean, I've added you guys as well.

Terran, I like the badges idea too. If anything it will become a discussion point. Gotta like that.

If I may state the obvious, ~we~ are the community. Granted, the BBC can pull the plug, but discounting the cya regulations they have in place (perfectly reasonable ones from their pov) we have a lot of freedom.

The writing contest idea, for example, could be initiated without BBC approval. taralome and psychocandy, you both said you like the idea. So, shall we start a conversation to discuss nuts and bolts? I will donate the money for the prizes. It won't cost the BBC a penny. And I can promote it as h2g2's President.

Being the President gives me absolutely no leverage with the powers that be, but it can provide a bully pulpit. It is a position created by the community. The italics had nothing to do with it. There are two h2g2s. The technical, legal side of it is pretty much out of our control. We're stuck with whatever the BBC provides. But we can create Terran's dormitory atmosphere or sponsor contests or hold meets or whatever just by doing it.

Hyp, I'll help out as best I can, so if you'd like to start a discussion, I'm there.

Count me in

I can help a little.

I'll do what I can.

Wow, brave plan.
Seal available if required.

Thanks everyone. I'll start a conversation tomorrow and post a link here. Today I'm rushing to get Mother, feed her, do her shopping, get her safely back home and then it's back here to get ready for a baseball game tonight 80 miles away.

The more I think about it, the better I like this idea.

Hyp the Insane

As usual, I have arrived to this conversation late on account of real life whithout which I would spend much much more time here. So anyway, count me in, in a 'fiercely determined to keep up' kind of way

btw, can I vote retro-actively for Hypatia as president? She seems to be very good at it.

(meanwhile, i'll just go have a look for places to post links to this site)

Why thank you pailaway.

The discussion is here: A38600129

Awesome Hypatia

(Hi guys, how goes it?)

*waves*

*waves back*

It goes in...uh...waves. <winkeye

And thanks.