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

Ever wonder what the point of the EG, wonder if anyone reads it? Well I do? Yes you get a few comments on yoru page when it goes on the front page, but then nothing, and you move onto to the next project.

Every so often I get a reminder that people do read edited entries and they're not registered researchers. Many couple of years ago I got an e mail from a Sixth Former thanking me for writting A717527 - How To Get Into UK Medical School

And now I get an apprecative comment, F112585?thread=407361&latest=1 at the bottom of 'A Beginner's Guide to the Immune System' A948819.

You know what, despite the lack of italics, the problems with the site, we're actually doings this. We're building the online guide to Life, The Universe, and Everything. And people seem to be using it.

It's true

You get nice comments? I just get complaints with a smile at the top.

Always nice to have an ego boost, anyway.

I've only ever had a couple of lines put in contributed entries but hey

I do think that most people who like something won't nesscarilly post to say so, not if it involves creating an account etc..

But certain people who don't like something are more likely to say so.

And Jodan, surely you don't believe that your contributions to the guide go unapprecatied ?

to you all, you are doing a grand job! So there!

Terri.

"And Jodan, surely you don't believe that your contributions to the guide go unapprecatied ?"

No, but when I say such things, I get

Ahhhh now we have the answer, and..

here you go

just popped in to say hi Z
hope your doing ok
jinty

Some EG entries are more popular than others - I have stayed subscribed to all of mine over the years, and occasionally someone posts to them again. A few have been commented on after two years!

Hopefully when the Single Sign On system is all over the BBC site, more people will be encouraged to post to entries, as they are more likely to have an account already.

D'you remember a few years ago we used to have some lists on the front page, of the five most popular entries and the five most neglected?

It's really easy to forget that we actually get read!

You mean they're watching us now?

I didn't like the most neglected - I was always terrified to see mine there! I think I only saw one once, but the 5 most popular would be good to bring back, we'd get an idea of what people were reading.

Hummm I suppose the downside of 'five most popular' is that it only draws attention to the entries that are already getting attention. 5 most negleted was probably supposed to counteract that...

When I first got into the EG I was looking at it myself a lot so it wouldn't get into most negleted.

We'd never let you get neglected Z

excpet for right now as my laptop's about to run out of juice...

..

Here, take a peek at the movie news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3634295.stm