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

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A574157

This is an article by myself. I'm pretty sure it's not been covered. Any critisism greatfully received!

However spurious the experience itself, this is certainly a well written, practically explained entry. Well done!

A clear, concise entry, easy for anyone to understand, and I like the methods for trying it out - good to get the reader involved, although I'm not sure if I'll have a go myself! I'm the sort who wouldn't be able to stay awake!

Good entry. Just have 2 points:

1) It's not "Janey learns to Astraly Project.", it's "Janey learns to astral project." No 'y', no caps.

2) Given that one of the things the edited guide strives for is balance in the entries, it would be highly worth mentioning somewhere that not everyone believes in the concept of astral projection.


Mikey

Nice one!

Just some small spell thingys:

parts of yesterday that effected you - affected
you will likely ask youself the same question - yourself
when your dreaming - you're
Astral projection not a 'specialist' thing - Astral projection is not a 'specialist' thing
doubts will disapear - disappear
Whenver a thought - Whenever
You don't need to be sat in the lotus position - need to be seated

Is sat used deliberately as I see it is used again : This could be sat in your...

choose another posistion - position
The only other requirment - requirement
Now your sitting - you're

In the What Happens could you line up your paragraphs with their numbers.

That's enough from me! I reckon if you just do the spell check, corrections and the last thingy I mentioned, this should get picked for the Edited Guide quite soon.

All points taken on board. All corrections made! Thanks people.

Couple of things: Infinity, when you suggest lining up the paragraphs with their numbers, what do you mean?!?

Mikey: I've now mentioned that not everybody believes in the concept etc.. It's at the end of the first paragraph. Do you think that's ok? Or should it be worded differently (or whatever!)

Cheers,

wow! i'd always(well not literally always, but for awhile) wondered about that. love your article.

Fascinating. Shouldn't you say something about how to get back, how to wake up?

Fair Point! I'll sort that out later! Should be sorted by the end of the day.

Editorial Note: This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review forum because this entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

If they have not been along already, the Scout who recommended your entry will post here soon, to let you know what happens next. Meanwhile you can find out what will happen to your entry here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/SubEditors-Process

Congratulations!

*rushes in, looks at previous post* ahhhh..., several hours late again. *when* is this going to stop happening?! ok, ahm... you'll be glad to know that since we think this entry is great, it will soon be part of the Edited Guide! when it gets in, you'll be emailed, but until then, please keep in mind that the Editing process can take awhile. Thanks for writing for the Guide, and thanks for your reccommendation.

Well Done!!!

Thanks to all who thought it was good! Can't wait to see it as an edited guide entry. It's quite exciting really!!
From
One chuffed Spangledman.

Just to reiterate Mikey's point - entries in the edited guide are meant to be balanced - saying "the astral plane is real" is not balanced. I'd recommend doing the necessary qualification yourself - if only because if you leave it to the sub-ed to qualify it, you might be unhappy with the results...
On the other hand, if you're happy to let someone else deal with such subtelties, leave it be!

Lucinda - can't spell subtelty?

Ack - sorry, missed your middle post to Mikey... apologies

> "It's worth mentioning here that not everyone believes in the concept of astral projection. After all, a dream is only a dream right? That maybe so, but after reading the following and trying out the methods given, your opinion on that may change."

The problem here is that you are implying that those people who don't believe in astral projection are wrong, and there opinion will change when presented with this entry (and remember, all entries in the guide have a stamp on them from the italics saying "this is factual").

I think you need a more systematic solution than a single sentence. For example, not all of the entry is equally controversial. The existance of 'lucid dreaming' is certainly not, though the interpretation of it as a form of astral projection certainly is. Similarly, the effects of meditation are not very controversial at all (though I know some who dismiss it as cognitive dissonance), but the interpretation of it is.

(cont...)

Another feeling I have is that there is some overlap between this entry and the existing entry at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A533152
- "how to fly using meditation". It looks like we have here two perspectives on the same basic human experience. Is that right?

I have to agree... this article takes too many liberties. "Astral projection, or an 'out of body experience', is something that all of us, as humans, can do." Say what? Can you prove this?

If this article is to qualify for the Edited Guide, it needs to be a bit more factual, rather than stating conjecture and unfounded belief as "facts." Unfortunately, that is now up to the Sub-editors.

Well, it's still on the comingup page, so until it leaves that page, changes made by Spangled Man will be reflected in the version sent to the sub-eds...

I personally don't believe that astral projection exists, but I still think this entry is worthwhile. I've posted a thread with areas I feel are contentious and my possible solutions. I offer these to the author as a possible aid. The thread is at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F70124?thread=124089