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

That was actually someone else replying there, not me. lol

I would edit and expand, but I've given up on this entry now anyway. I never was very happy with it.

OK, I would like to make the following points clear:

1. I did speak to an ACE about this and he agreed with everything I said.
2. I also agree with what BBS has said in his last two posts.
3. A sub-ed has been asked to look into this and should be posting here soon.

To what gain? What good will it do? I'm not editing this any further, if it doesn't get in, it doesn't get in. Boo hoo, I've got other articles I like better.

Just drop it okay? The article sucks. I asked you - Huw this is - for ways to improve it and you gave me nothing, other people did but you didn't, so just go away. If you don't like it, it's your problem. Either be constructive or stay quiet.

Calling in ACEs and Sub-Eds will do no good! I'm going to be a Sub-Ed myself soon anyway.

Umm - I made the suggestion about a "bits that are funny" section. I CAN spell integrated and incomprehensible. I didn't write that article

I'm another person. I suppose this was the wrong thread for what I was saying - but I wasn't sure anyone would find it if I put it elsewhere. And I was not campaigning for THIS article to go in a "bits that are funny" section. I personally think it's funny... but maybe not edited funny guide (please can we have one? PLEASE? ) material.

Clear that up?

Sorry.

OK, I have another four points to make clear:

1. I was being CONSTRUCTIVELY critical by telling you that it wouldn't have been picked for the Edited Guide.
2. I was being HELPFUL by telling you why this is so, until you I started getting abuse.
3. I would've made suggestions about what to put in it, but BBS already did that and I couldn't think of anything else he hadn't already suggested.
4. Calling in an ACE seemed appropriate at the time, and the ACE concerned agreed - to the point where HE called in a sub-ed, NOT me.

I've said if you don't like it, stop posting about it. You've made your opinion clear and I've made it clear that whatever so say it isn't going to make any difference, so give up already.

I'm taking this convo off my list becuase I can't be bothered to listen anymore. Anything you decide to add falls on deaf ears.

One of the original concepts for the Edited Guide was to provide information, not readily available, about places, events, goods, services etc.

For example, if you were intending to visit New Zealand, you could plan an interesting holiday after reading the informative, accurate, up-to-date stuff posted by real-life NZ researchers on h2g2.

Stuff recommended for inclusion in the Edited Guide has to inform the reader - ie: be factual, useable, add to the knowledge base.

The original books were about the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. We are working on the Earth edition. A totally different concept.

As for humour, back in the "good-old-days" Mark Moxon mentioned that there are plans to eventually add a humour section. There are (were?) also plans to include a fiction section.

Hope that helps.

Loony, Sub editer and Scout

A good example of humourous fiction masquerading as fact can be found here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A504217

Also lurking on Peer Review, it has actually been recommended for the Guide a couple of times. Alas, it was turned down by the paid staff.

Thanks, Loony for droping in and telling us what is what.
And apologies to all, for not getting a chance to post here earlier myself. Been one hectic week Originally I was going to post the links to the articles relating to writing guide entries, but I now see that isn't worth doing.

What I would say, however, is yes I read the article and threads, yes I found it humerous, and no I wouldn't have recommended it for the Edited Guide. Not being a sub-ed, it's difficult to know exactly what is wanted in the edited guide, but Loony is well versed in that area.

One final point I would make, to both Rogue Researcher if he is still reading this, and especially to Slartibartfast's Helper is that if you want to see a 'Funny' esction in the Edited Guide, either campaign for it, or put it to the editors directly. You may find that they are progressing this even as we speak.
You could start by posing the question to the community in the 'Ask the Community' forum here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A148907

Meanwhile you could also pose the question on the feedback forum, using the results from the 'Ask the community' forum as backup.
probably best to do that here at the Feature Suggestion forum:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A388352

Hope this helps.

h2g2 is *so* much more than *just* an encyclopedia! Tell me one place you can find out about things as diverse as religious beliefs, advice for camping, your local restaurant, in the same place? There isn't one - except for here! And it's not just the articles - if you want to learn more, you can *ask*. Not something you can do with your every day, run of the mill reference book. It's what you wan to make it really.

And there have been plans for a long time for making a recognised humour/funny/fiction section - it's all a matter of time and resources as to when it gets done. Understandably, it's not a very high priority. But I'm sure it will appear!

J

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review Sin Bin' to 'Computer Magazines'.

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