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

Popped in to say Hi

vegiman

Hi.
I remember the name.
You've been gone some time.

~jwf~

Just checked out your new homepage
and find it quite inspirational.

Hopefully, more will return from the
Great Vogon Detour and rejoin this
wondrous exploration of cyberspace.


~jwf~

Well many thanks for the compliment.

I have been going round old names I remrmber to see I can get any response. You are the first of many I hope.

Originator of The Post
The Fun Run - which became the Peer Review
Newcomers page which became
http://www.h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/classic/NewUsers

Just to name a few.

I will cooking up some other venture

I'll let you know when it happens.


vegiman

Nice to know my name has resonance.
As for being the first of many to reply
I hope you are right. Folks have really
thinned out and any old-timers who still
lurk have become reticent to engage. We've
had a lot of ups and downs and the core
who rallied around the new management were
enthusiastic and hard-working and hopeful
but after a year even some of them will be
growing weary of the daily grinding.

We need a little esprit-de-corps, perhaps
a cause or a common sense of purpose.

All management structures, no matter how
well intentioned are percieved as hierarchical
and by definition many of our most individualistic
researchers continue to rail against 'the machine'
and rant against 'the man'.

I must confess the new management has been
generally pleasant and forthcoming any time
they've had to deal with me. Many of them
had learned from experience that I am just
a and never to be taken seriously.

But seriously, having 12 years invested in
this site I'd like to see it begin (continue)
to fulfill some of its promised potential before
the hole whirled goes to heck in a hand cart.

For me that promise was a resource for information
and advice and entertainment and to a large extent
it fulfills that promise. One of its great distinctive
properties - diversity (of age, education, culture)
has also proved to appear divisive by anyone with
a less than fully opened mind.


~jwf~

ps:
I have to say the Post is currently in very good hands.
But like everything else here one wonders how long those
involved can continue before hitting a wall of burnout.

Thank you ~jwf~

Very delicately put and not a put down to be seen.

I like it.

I will soon be opening a page where we can discuss this without to much waffling and off topic issues, I hope.

If I can use some of your thoughts on the new page, I think they will inspire many into action or at least deep thought.

I need a calming factor as I do tend to go at things like a bull in a china shop.

No pressure, what ever time you can give with your pearls of wisdom will be appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to write your reply, A true blue as they say. Are you a Goo fan ?

all the best
veggie

Whoops

I forgot to explain

The new idea is to bring about a view of what Researchers see as the future of h2g2.

What they see as good and what they see as a way to get h2g2 into the 21st century.

I would like to invite you to join a team where we can get researchers views and forward good suggestions to the New Towers. I think they will be watching with interest anyway.

As said: no pressure, give what time you can.

veggie

>> I forgot to explain <<

Like the great bull in the china shop.




And that sets me off on one of the primary difficulties
of cyberspace in general and this site in particular,
the inexplicable tendency to assume that everyone else
knows what one is talking about.

We all do it. It's basic human psychology. We feel most
comfortable among those of like minds and don't allow
or imagine that others are likely different from us in
opinions, lifestyles, intelligence, experience...

It is a problem. A quintessential problem.

People get angry when their 'brilliant' posts are ignored,
never realising that text communication requires the same
basic tenents of composition that mark good 'writing' in
traditional letter writing, scholarly works and popular
fiction and non fiction. Without voice and facial cues
conversation is limited. (Smileys do help )

I recall a conversation from the first year I was here
on the topic that brevity is the soul of wit. I tried in vain
to demonstrate that it not necessarily the case and got
hammered for being long winded and boring.

And yet, I continue to expand and expound on many topics
even though most people will automatically skip my posts
as soon as they see how LONG they are.

Another, relatively new (brilliant) researcher (CASSEROLEON)
is constantly being insulted and seeing posts
in spite of his pregnant postings which though they do
often wander off into seemingly offtopic sidebars are
among the most intelligent and informed being posted
here in many years. Most of the professorial types have
long since bailed out.


TXTSPK is not the answer. Thoughts must be fully developed
and explained without any assumption that the 'average'
reader has any idea what one is talking about.

Yes, h2g2 is rightfully famous for the quip and the pithy
response but fuller more in depth conversations should
never be discouraged by those with short attentions spans.

Oh look, a bunny.

~jwf~

I can understand some people in the past may question the length of your responses but if you think it may put me off asking you to join my gang

You are wrong.

The style of your writing reminds me of two very good friends in the past Zach Garland - past aka Zachsmind and a guy from New Zealand, Hypoman.

Both had the ability to stretch one point so far the elastic almost broke.

That along with Pastey who is adept at picking out one point in many to answer, ignoring the rest.

Would you consider being part of the non-official team.

I am not saying we may not clash heads but I never take offence, well rarely :-;

As the guide is a writing site first, a community 2nd but equally important, I believe your input would be appreciated. No I will take that back. Your input would be essential.

Just been call by better half

catcha soon
Veg

Job one is to check with the Post to make sure
they still have their finger in the dyke.

Or, to check with Pastey and see who he`s fingering.
Because...
A stable platform is essential but beyond my ken.

And once we have a stable website then content -
such as the Post - is the next essential element.

You should be having deja vu at this point. No doubt
you went through this at least 12 years ago when you
gave us the Post.

Keep me posted about how I can help or contribute.
Meanwhile I`ll carry on just being me and hoping
I haven`t wasted the last decade of my life.


-jwf-

>> I`ll carry on just being me <<

That is to say, I`ll carry on trying to keep
conversations alive, polite, entertaining and
informative... because...
while the Post and the Edited Guide are very
important they are fixed points in text - like
books, like words writ in stone and immutable.

There`s a quote about how the writing hand moves on
and for me the Guide should be a LIVING cooperative
of ideas and ongoing discussions. A chain reaction
of vital thinking, spontaneous combustion, and the
creaking open of ancient stone vaults.


-jwf-

"Job one is to check with the Post to make sure
they still have their finger in the dyke. "

The Post has survived many transitions and moved away from its original concepts. Like Chinese whispers, each new editor has interpreted the basics differently.

Original
Report what is going on on h2g2 that would create interest to every one on site.

Report what is going on in the Real World and create healthy debate.

Have a light sided side for people to muse at.

Allow individuals to put points of view (h2g2 wise & from real life) they feel strongly about and open for discussion.

A subject close to my but something I was to bring up at a later time/

"Or, to check with Pastey and see who he`s fingering.
Because...
A stable platform is essential but beyond my ken. "

My Name is Ken
Everything is beyond me - like the un-intended pun

I think Pastey is struggling ! battling against the odds. Any way we can find to help him get the platform strong will be a remit I would like to follow up.

"And once we have a stable website then content -
such as the Post - is the next essential element."

I agree and I would like to add Peer Review to that.

"You should be having déjà vu at this point. No doubt
you went through this at least 12 years ago when you
gave us the Post."

Yup, but they were fun days and along with Shazz & Pastey behind me - How could I fail.

"Keep me posted about how I can help or contribute.
Meanwhile I`ll carry on just being me and hoping
I haven`t wasted the last decade of my life."

I have posted a journal entry on My Space where the early discussions can be based in one place. Please sign in

Knowledge of your wasted time on the site would be of great relevance, Thanks...

Being you is just what the ordered

Changing the sites basic agenda is not what I am looking for.

Just help move it forward in time and not be stifled by fears of the past.

Live for today and plan for the future.

Veg

Ken? Ken are you still there?
Wake up Ken, you're scaring me.

~jwf~

I am still here but taking a bit of a rest.

I found myself being on h2g2 for too long and if you know anything about dyslexics - concentrating for long periods makes your brain very tired.

So I backed off for a bit of a rest.

Also I have been talking to a newbie. See the thread between Peanut & myself on my space.

He went through peer review and gave an insight of a newcomers point of view of the process.

Enlightening.

catcha soon
vegi