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

I can't help thinking that we would have far less people posting comments as guide entries if the front page had much clearer links to 'Ask h2g2' and 'miscellaneous chat'. They're shunted away to the right-hand side bar where, unless you're familiar with the site, you probably won't notice them. Meanwhile, there's a clear 'Write an entry' link on the left. Someone arriving here for the first time would be almost certain to use the 'write' link to post a hello greeting because the proper link is so hard to find.

Does anybody else think similarly? How do you think the front page could be improved for Hootoo newbies?

The tricky thing is that the site is meant to be focussed on the EG, so I assume they want that more prominent than the community threads.

Maybe the 'write an entry' page needs to be updated so it explains things before it shows a text box.

I think they are in the process of redesigning the FP

I think we have to wait for the front page to be redesigned first. I'm guessing that this problem is on their list of things to do to make the site more user friendly

I agree. I only get on to threqds by following the people who I like or know well. I've never been able to instaigate a thread myself - probably 'cos of the probelm that Radox mentions. Let's hope the Beeb sort it out pdq.

meanwhile, happy new year to all our readers

ASKh2g2 could certainly be more clearer, it took me a while to find it myself after a somewhat brief haitus. The most obvious solution would be to include making ASKh2g2 more prominent in a site redesign, which I understand is on the cards, somewhere (the last site redesign was in 2001 if I'm not mistaken!). General banter is after all almost as important as the Guide itself here and I'm sure the current site layout isn;t user friendly enough for new users, thus putting them of (seasoned veterans of h2g2 may not be able to comprehend how sinister the website looks to new people, especially in the age of "Web 2.0", or whatever the new buzz word is (I'm not saying dumb the website down though!)).

The FP was redesigned 3 or 4 years ago to include the convo links and make the community more accessible.

I do remember how hard it was to get my head around the structure of the place when I first joined (2002). It seemed anarchic - there were just *so many* places to go. I think the ACEs are crucial in this, and they do give a very good heads up about the place. I see sometimes that newbies don't reply to their ACE greeting though, so I wonder if it's also not apparent how the PS works.

Folderol being a case in point! Folderol, if you go to your Personal Space you'll see a post from your ACE. In that thread you can ask for help with anything about the site.

I've had a look at the ACE welcome and while it seems comprehensive I do wonder if most people won't bother reading that much. I know I tend to skim alot of stuff online now - often there's just too many words.

I don't know what problems newbies have. What do they expect? When I joined this site in 2000, never having used the internet before, let alone a website with forums and conversations, I soon found my way about, and it all makes perfect sense to me. I've never joined any other sites. (AFAIK Facebook etc., are new in comparison to hootoo) When I've looked at these new sites, I find them very confusing. If I was interested enough in contributing to them, I would take the time to find my way around. But, as they just seem to be for exposing your own doings and opinions, I don't see much point in them. Here, an entry or an Ask question is posted on a particular subject, and then people talk about that subject. Which can only be compared to Wiki, except that conversations are hardly part of the site, and there is no community feeling.

For those who like the fluffy banter of the new sites, we have Miscellaneous chat. Which I have just spoilt by being serious.

>>>I can't help thinking that we would have far less people posting comments as guide entries if the front page had much clearer links to 'Ask h2g2'

We're looking to address this in the redesign