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

Hi Kim,

I'm brand new to this site, and am exploring it for a class project about online communities. I would like to focus on some of the issues you've described in your conversations, such as where entries should be submitted, how people view the distinctions in the guides, and how they chose to post an article.

I started reading the Alternate Writers workshop entries because I wanted to see what sort of stuff is posted there. Your article on governments caught my eye, and I was not only entertained (and motivated to keep reading!), but enlightened in areas as well. There are some arguments about the relation of h2g2 to wikipedia, and I'm interested to why people think this. I think h2g2 is unique and interesting due to the social attributes involved, the ability to be more personal in postings (I think that gives off more context anyway, and agree that most writing is biased wherever it is published).

Anyway, I am interested in your piece, and what you think of posting on the site in general. Also, did you move your piece to the UnderGuide? What is it's evolution now? (I'm still picking up on the different areas in which pieces can be posted).

Any thoughts or opinions of yours would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for listening (reading),
Britt

hi britt,
well thank you for reading. It's always nice to know someone has had a little snigger at my handiwork. Yes, I moved my piece to underguide where my sort are tolerated.
When I first joined h2g2, I was really pleased to se that the internet had been used to bring to life the idea of the guide. I thought it was truly inspirational. Unfortunately for me, I didn't take full notice of the guidance notes for submittion and submitted to PR a piece which wasn't 'strictly factual'.
I was frankly astonished by the reactions it caused. I was also quite upset and to a degree offended by the dalek reactions it was getting. I found myself quickly locked in an arguement with long standing members of PR about what should and shouldn't be submitted, was redirected to AWR and have remained there since. I have no desire to go back to PR really.
My idea of what H2G2 was likely to be about was based on my knowledge of Douglas Adams and my geekish love of his fiction. His sense of hunour was amazing and the complete absence of it in the official guide here on H2G2 is, in my opinion, tragic.
Anyone who has read the novels, knows that the guide is often 'misleading' or 'widely inaccurate' but with this website's edited guide, the spirit of DNA appears to be gone. I cannot believe he set out for this to be an attempt to rewrite brittanica online - what would be the point?
The great thing about H2G2 is that it gives voice to people who have little opportunity to be published otherwise and if they wish, they can submit their work for review by their Peers. In principal this is fine - but when the reviewer's are merely blindly critical because the work doesn't fit into their narrow perspective of what is appropriate, then that is a pity and it's discouraging to new writers.
Some of the factual pieces are brilliant - it's worth visiting the site regularly to see what's up on the front page - and most writers love to engage in a conversation about the nature of their piece - and that can subsequently wander anywhere.
Just promise me you won't take it too seriously.
pop around to my space for a virtual and feel free to add me to friends if you want - oh and please let me know if you post anything.

many thanks - lovely to talk to you.

kd

hi kim,

thank you so much for your reply. (i'm trying to get the smileys down as well).
i'm very interested in what you have to say, and am wondering if you have any time in the near future for me to call you for an informal phone interview concerning the site and your interaction.
i have some info posted on my home space about the project, and if you have any questions or concerns please ask.

thanks for your time and consideration!
britt

that should be fine - please give me the url and if I'm satisfied you're not an axe murderer, I'll give you a contact number.

best regards

Clare

that should be fine - please give me the url and if I'm satisfied you're not an axe murderer, I'll give you a contact number.

best regards

kd