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

Hi, after reading your entry on the Prisoner's Dilemma, I have used the philosophy of that to analyse Alex Garland's The Beach. Is it okay to put this essay on H2G2 explaining the reference to your entry?

Thanks, Magrat.

Sounds okay to me, Magrat. I'm not exactly sure what you have planned, but it sounds pretty interesting - probably the best idea is to put it online and then I can take a look and give a more informed opinion.

Please bear in mind, by the way, that the Prisoner's Dilemma entry was a collaborative effort between myself and another researcher (Serendipity), so if you give any namecheck it should reflect that. As far as I remember, s/he wrote most of the stuff under the 'Superrationality' sub-heading - the rest of the article is my own work.

Just shout again if I can help in any way...

yeah, I noticed that, but Serendipity doesn't seem to be on H2G2 anymore, so I couldn't ask s/he aswell. I'll have it on-line so you can check it soon (still typing)

I have the essay up at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A618400 now, but as you can probably see, I know practically nothing about how to reference works. (I bought an MLA yesterday, perhaps I should read it! )

The paragraphs pertaining to your entry are paragraph 6: The assumptions and principles on which the social system is based; paragraph 7: Sal subverts the principles of the community to justify short-term benefits; paragraph 8: In trying to defend the beach, Sal and Richard destroy it.

Of course the intro and conclusion both pertain to your entry. If you want the paragraphs (or anything really) referenced in a certain way, please tell me

Thanks, Mags.

There's not much wrong that I can see. I suggest you remove Serendipity and myself from the 'Written and Reasearched by' column, as currently it gives the misleading impression that we actually helped you to write the article. That wouldn't be fair on you, as it's obviously your own work - interesting work too, if I might say so, although I can't comment any further as unfortunately I haven't read Garland's novel.

(I imagine St Emily, the other listed researcher, may feel likewise about being listed as a collaborator, but I don't know her so obviously I wouldn't want to seem to be pre-empting her views at all.)

Referencing us in the 'Works Consulted' section was a good idea, but personally I would be happy with just a link in the article itself. If I can make a suggestion, there is a passage at the beginning of paragraph 7 which would be ideal. The sentence "To work against the common good for short term benefits can cause one's own downfall" could easily be rewritten slightly to include a link to the Prisoner's Dilemma article. Something like the following, perhaps :-

"As has often been pointed out - for example, in the well-known Prisoner's Dilemma problem - to work against the common good for short term benefits can cause one's own downfall."

Something like that would probably make the reference clearer, because then people would be able to see the connection in the place where you're actually making it, rather than at the end of the article. Of course, you need to switch to GuideML first - I think you're just in plain Text mode at the moment. A couple of sub-headings might be a good idea too, while you're at it...

Anyway, good luck. See ya,

Lear