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

Hi Matt - bit of a random ACE pick this, but hopefully you'll be able to help! I run a web site about Star Fleet, an old kid's show. As I understand it, there's an unedited entry for the show which is about 2 years old. I've posted about the entry, A299090 , but I was wondering how I might go about editing it myself when I'm not the original author, or how to otherwise resurrect it? I think I understand the Peer Review process, but I don't know how you go about messing around with an entry that isn't yours originally? So basically, I'd like to have a crack at updating it...

The page which deals with 'abandoned' guide entries here at h2g2 is called the Writing-FleaMarket. Here's what the page says about 'abandoned entries -

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If you spot an entry here that you'd like to take on and finish off yourself, then here's how to do it:

Post to the relevant Conversation below saying that you'd like to take that entry under your wing.

Visit the existing entry, and using the Test URL2 copy the GuideML for that entry to your computer.

Create a new entry and paste in the GuideML.

Make sure you add the original author as a Researcher on your copy, using the 'Researcher List' section of the Guide Entry Editor.

Also visit the Personal Space of the original author and post a polite message there saying that you found their entry in the Flea Market and would very much like to finish it off for them. Ask them to drop you a line should they return to h2g2.

Post a link to your copy of the entry in the relevant Flea Market Conversation below, and invite any comments.

When you think the entry is ready, you can put it into another Review Forum as you see fit.

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Hope that's ok. If you want to know more, don't be afraid to ask. To be honest, i'm so bored i wish people would ask me questions more

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You can do this by putting this link into your browser (don't include the 'A' at the start of the number) -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/testXXXXXX

So, to test the URL of the entry on Starfleet click this link -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/test299090

Thanks for that. So, what you're saying if I understand you correctly is that I'd make a new entry, with a new code but the same title, and then that would usurp the current entry under that name? I'll have to read up on the flea market, but thanks, that's a good start and GuideML looks pretty straightforward...

Correct. As the current entry is written in Plain text, rather than GuideML, you don't even need to bother with all that TestPage stuff. You can just cut-and-paste the text straight out of the entry, and into yours.

If you want to put your entry into GuideML, then the best place to learn it is the <./>GuideML-Clinic</.>. This isn't essential, but it will make your entry look nicer

Hello again, sorted out the article - kept it fairly short as my site covers it in so much detail. It's at <./>A769377</.> I was going to credit the original author, but I've written mine from scratch and when I tried to include him as a researcher it seemed to give the impression that he'd written it and I'd just edited it? Needless to say I'd value your view of it - would it be suitable for peer review/full review as it stands? How should I continue?

Although your site covers Starfleet in so much detail, I wouldn't assume that everyone reading your entry will visit it. If i were you, i'd include as much detail as i saw fit within the actual guide entry, rather than covering just the basics. This will make the entry more complete, and subsequently more useful.

If you feel that the original researcher has made a significant contribution to the entry, then you should include him. Although it does say that you're the one 'editing' the guide entry, it means that you've written/researched it also. The reason why your name appears on the 'edited by' list rather than the 'written and researched by' list is because you're the one who 'owns' the guide entry, and who is responsible for making any changes/additions to it. If your entry gets accepted into the edited guide, then your name will transfered onto the 'written and researched by' list, as you can no longer edit it.

The entry is certainly suitable for Peer Review as it stands, and you should definitely consider entering it. Even when it's in Peer Review, you can still add more to it/change things.

Right - I've taken the plunge! Trial by fire etc... I take your point in terms of depth of content, but to be honest, without the use of images I can't go a lot further. If, for example, I were to post my entire episode guide I think it'd get split across several entries. I think my basic aim, as indicated in the opening paragraph, is to trigger people's memories so that they can search further. That's why I've put in the Gerry Anderson mentions - they'll come up on a search in case people think it was a Gerry Anderson show. So other than the amount of content, is it OK? I tried to add in as many links as I could to existing Guide material...

Your entry certainly seems ok, but i don't know enough about Starfleet to comment . Now that it's in Peer Review, you'll be given constructive criticism on how you can improve your entry and make it even better. Good luck!

By the way, what you made you choose me to answer your question?

Urm, I think I was just casting around for someone to answer a question and you seemed like an experienced ACE! (Plus you had "rocket" in your name which seemed appropos!) As you may have seen Bassman also contacted me off his own bat to say hello, so perhaps I was being a bit proactive - how many new members turn up each week, do you think, and do they get allocated an ACE automatically?

About 500 researchers join each week. However, only a very small proportion of them actually bother to write something on their personal space. Despite there being 100,997 researchers, it's estimated that only between 400-600 of them are active. In the last 24 hours, 24 people have written an introduction their personal space and have been welcomed by an ACE.

The ACEs use the <./>NewUsers</.> tool to welcome people who are new to h2g2. New researchers aren't allocated to ACEs, but together we manage to welcome just about everyone.