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

Hi and welcome to h2g2.
My name is Seven of Nine and I am an Assistant Community Editor (ACE)
Just one of a group of researchers to like to meet, greet and hopefully befriend newcomers to the guide.
If I can be of any assistance to you at all, or you'd just like to chat, just click the reply button and I will return
Have some
Hope to see you around!
Happy Hitchhiking

~Seven~

Hi Seven
Thanks for your greeting - how do you get those cool smileys in?

I would like to ask some things about what sort of topics should / should not get entries and what the style of the entries should be.

I went to one of the writing forums to get a sense of the format entries should be submitted in, and found an discussion on someone's first ever entry on "What would happen to you were you to be travelling at the speed of light". I thought it was quite a light-hearted piece, threw up a few interesting questions, but left them mostly unanswered.
I think it then went forward to peer review (perhaps prematurely), and although the idea for the entry was praised, a whole bunch of theoretical physicists seized on it, ripped the thing apart on a variety of scientific principles and bumped it down to one of the lesser discussion forums (?fora) before noting that the original author seemed not to be contributing much to the discussion, and had - indeed - completely disappeared (probably in tears, never to make a submission again, I shouldn't wonder!)

I suppose it made me think what should be here, and what style it should be. On reflection, some of the entries from the original Hitchhikers Guide wouldn't get very far; "Space is big, REALLY big..." probably wouldn't cut much ice with some of the astrophysics freaks out there!

Is it just the science topics that demand such precision, or should everything be as thorougly researched and theorised as possible? I have no problem with reading or performing research, but surely the individual viewpoint & sense of humour is one of the strengths (& weaknesses?) of this site over - say - a scientific journal.

I'd still like to contribute things to the site - I like the interconnectiveness of these things - but it'd be nice to think that what I'd written was going to be constructively or at least positively criticised in the style it was written, rather than just panned!

Thanks
CKL

Oh, sorry, one more thing!

What's the difference between muses, keepers and guardian angels, and what qualifications do you need to be one?

Thanks
CKL

Hello again CKL.
Sorry I did not reply sooner.
If you mean you would like to write a guide entry, please read the http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/writing-guidelines..
This will explain exactly what is needed for the guide and also explains the format.
Peer Review is very strict, and should only be used for finished entries, to be improved upon.
I am sorry about that entry.
I can imagine that it was taken to the writing workshop, which is where all the entries get moved if they are deemed not ready for the guide.
Peer Review is supposed to be about constructive critisism.
To make the smileys, just click on one, and you will be transported to the smiley page as if by
I made a page of links for newcomers here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A464005
I hope you will find it useful reading.

You also asked about the titles of the other researchers.
There are various societies around h2g2 where people have gathered, started clubs, etc.
The only 'official' greeters are the ACEs but the Guardian Angels also greet newcomers. They also like to party a lot, and like to help out if anyone requests help.
The Keepers are here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A441596
I am the Keeper of Seahorses.
If you wish to keep something, first check the list of Keepers {there are over 300 now} then click on "new conversation" and the Archangel will give you your title.
If you wish to become a Muse of something, {I am the Muse of Perfection} visit the Musehome, here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A420661

If I have missed anything please ask me again.
It is very early in the morning here and I am not quite awake yet(that is made by typing < sleepy > without the spaces)

Hope this information helps!

~Seven~