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

It's starting to look like we've got rid of all the operational bugs, bar the who's online one.

This means we can really get into sorting out the tools for the volunteers, and getting Barlesque back up and running.

It's not barlesque, it's Orchid. Orchid was foretold in an adventure thread back in 2000; it turns the researchers who use it into zombies.

Well done!

I think I'd like some sleep now...

I think sleep is an exceptionally good call. I intend to be finding some of that mystical stuff sooner... ... rather than... ... later...

Hi Pastey, Effers here

Is there a chance when you have a mo, to explain what these 'tools' are for Volunteers?

I'm not on staff and don't have a clue what these tools are or could do..My mind frequently boggles (well that's normal I know )..but you know MI5..MI6? type stuff.

No, I jest..but really I have no clue what soever what eg a mod tool is..but people use the phrase as if assumed everyone would know what the term meant..it's a bit annoying.

I looked google and was non the wiser.

Obviously with the new set-up.it's quite concerning at times who is doing what behind the scenes..and soon they'll be doing it with 'tools'

So could you educate the ignorant..and I doubt I'm alone in my ignorance?

Here or somewhere else on h2g?.

Thanks in advance.

I certainly can Effers, or at least I can try to the tools are basically web pages with forms (like the posting forms here) that allow people to manage the running of the site. For example I've just built some for the Artists. These have a search box so that they can find images that are in the image library, and an upload form so they can put images into the library.
The Gurus got a search screen to help transfer accounts. They can search by username, email address (if the user tells them it) or user number. The results they get then give them (hopefully) enough details to verify that the person trying to claim the user account is the real owner, and if so they've got the ability to "reset" the account.
I'm afraid I'm not sure how the moderator tools currently work as I'm not a moderator. But the new ones will be similar to others I've described.

I should also mention that all the tools are access restricted. If you're not a moderator you can't even see their screens/pages/tools. Only Artists and Guide Editors get to the image library, and only Gurus get to the user search

I hope that helps clear things up

Thanks Pastey.

I have big trouble comprehending that..but over the next day..re-reading I might understand it better.

But everyone else seems to know what they mean because I have seen them referred to frequently here particularly by kea and Mrs Zen.

I'll contact Mags by email though to maybe get it clearer. It really is more the Mod ones that I'm most interested and concerned to know about.

I think she *might* be a mod.

I've no idea if she's a mod or not, but I do know that the process of moderation isn't *really* an open for discussion one, at least not in any specific detail. I think. We've got the house rules, and we try and keep in them. I know that mods aren't allowed to be involved in moderating any researchers that they may or may not have "issues" with. There's a very strict unbiased policy in there. Heck, even I get moderated occasionally

The process itself is pretty much the same as it was with the BBC. We've got the same tools that the previous moderators used, but I think that our ones are better at the job. Individual posts aren't just looked at, but things are taken in context etc and they've taken a few words out of the automatic filther (I know this because I had to manually go into the database to do it )

There's quite a few things I could say in response to your post.

But I've decided not to get involved with any more discussion to do with that.

But thank you for taking the trouble to respond.

The tools are the buttons we have to carry out a job. So as Researchers, we all have access to being able to post to a conversation, create a Guide Entry and so on. If you're not signed in, you are not able to use these tools.

Those who have extra jobs get extra buttons/tools. For example the Scouts get given an extra tool that allows them to press a button and recommend a particular Entry to the Editors.

Tools are just the extra screens, buttons and features that allow different jobs to be carried out. Some are simple, like the Scouts, but some are really quite complicated, like the moderators and the Guide Editors as they have more complicated jobs to do.

I hope this helps.

Likewise thank you Vip.

In other parts of the site, I might almost suggest that we 'occupy' h2g2 and DEMAND 'the extra screens, buttons and features'

But I think that's been done.

Vip and Pastey for spelling things out in lay-man's terms