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

Greetings and Salutations,

It was a very wise decision to become a member of the h2g2 community. You'll find out that the people around here are mostly harmless, friendly and polite. Maybe one of the Assistant Community Editors (ACEs) has been around to welcome you officially, if not, this is going to happen very soon.

I am a member of another group in the h2g2 world: I am a Guardian Angel. The Guardian Angels (GAs) are some pious souls who wish to help you with your first steps in the h2g2 world and to welcome you unofficially. If you need help, just press reply and we'll be around. You can also jump over to the GAs heaven at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A467606 and ask for your very personal GA.

If you wish to contribute to the Guide, you might want to learn GuideML, a very close relative to HTML. This markup language is much easier to learn than it looks at first glance. Have a look at the GuideML Clinic at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/guideml-clinic to find out more. If you are not sure what or how to write, look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/writing-guidelines .

If you are interested in clubs and communities, the overwhelmingly huge Guide to h2g2 clubs might be of some value. Just have a look at it at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A270325 .

You can contact any researcher by simply clicking on her/his name. This takes you to the respective Personal Space. You can leave a message there by just clicking the 'discuss this entry' button.

Please keep in mind that all pages and conversations on h2g2 are absolutely public. You can participate in any conversation you might be interested in, but I would recommend you to read as many posts as possible before you 'break in'. If you are in doubt whether a conversation, although technically public, is really meant for anyone's participation, just look out for one of the Guardian Angels who take part in almost all conversations. You'll recognize us by a 'St.'-something name or by the shortcut 'GA' (Guardian Angel) or 'PS' (Patron Saint) somewhere in the name. We might be able to tell you what's going on in the respective thread. But don't bother too much, you'll get the feeling very soon.

Don't let enyone (not even me) intimidate you. H2g2 means fun. You are here to have fun, and you'll find out that most of the people in h2g2 are here to have fun as well. Why not share some fun?

jfsjbb

Just by the way: Your user# is U171498: 1^71+49-8=42

Token ACE along to say hello.

Only kidding, well Jeremy has basically said all the main bits that researchers need to know when they start out.

This page by Galaxy Babe is quite handy as a central link for a few pages that may be useful.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A487857

Let me know if you want to chat or have any questions, and I hope you enjoy the site and contribute to it.

SallyM

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement... now I am out to contribute a little about my hometown.