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

Where can I find this list of questions?

I believe TR is referring to the 'other conversations' list that appears on every 'Ask h2g2' conversation. Just exactly where it appears on the page depends on your personal settings (Goo/Alabaster/Frames/Pages) but I'm sure you know where-of I speak.

That forum is both the lowest common denominator for h2g2 conversation and the best place to find 'interesting' people, especially exploring 'newbies' and others who might not have the 'savvy' or patience to engage in more formal threads.

In the past TR has gleefully dredged up some of my earlier 'efforts' at engaging h2g2 in meaningful discussion there. I like to think of 'Ask h2g2' as the 'Common Room'. It attracts all ages, all sexes, all intellects, all manner of people, ..eventually, everyone.

I am about to advise Shazz at the Post that #16 is ready for her and suggest she use your 'good ship Agg/Gag' line (above) as the promo blurb line on the front page of this week's issue.

~j~

Thanks for elaborating jwf but (call me stupid) but is it the front page or any page where one can link into "ask H2G2" conversations? I've still much to learn about navigating this site. Noticed you've transferred "euphemisms on madness" to my homepage . Have you had any other contact re. use of this for future AGG/GAG edition? I've now set up links to fleamarket, etc. on my homepage. Looking at Waitresses there seems to be many offerings for consideration.
C Ya
Zaphod OED

Click on A148907 to get to the Ask H2G2 Entry/Forum/homepage/main page/whatever... There have been hundreds of conversations there.

The most currently active will be visible at the bottom of that page or under 'other conversations'. A list of the 20 most current will be on any conversation thread page of that forum. And you can "Click to see more Conversations" to see 20 more listed and again for 20 more, etc etc...
and 'Click to be notifed of New Conversations' will automatically post a link on your homepage to each new 'ask h2g2' questions asked until such time as you might 'Click to stop being notified...'

I did not actually 'transfer' it, I added your user number to the 'set researchers' function found just below the dialog box on the 'edit page'. The entry still has the same A-number but it now identifies you as the writer and me as the editor and appears on both our pages.

I only recently learned how this sort of thing happens - after months of asking why Edited Guide Entries kept appearing on my homepage - since I had written none. No one ever gave me a straight answer until I recently badgered Lucinda into revealing the 'secret' of the 'Set Researchers' box. (It has the potential for mass spamming.)

It seems that by having contributed some conversation to research-gathering threads (mostly in 'Ask h2g2') my name (U-number) and that of everyone who had anything to say in the discussion was added by the writers/researchers of those entries. The entry then appears automatically on all their pages.

Your acknowledgement of Contributors to your 'euphemisms' research was a labour of love and a mark of your nobility. I know how long it must have taken to set up all those links. You coulda just typed all their u-numbers in the 'set researchers' box, they'd all get credit on the Entry's right hand column of 'referenced researchers' and a copy would appear on their page.

And no, so far no one else has commented. This is not surprising. First it is assumed that if two of us (a quorum) have been talking positively about it with you, that no one else will object. This is a fine balance between, the tyranny of democracy, mutual trust, confidence in me, and the abscence of several members lately.

What is the current status of your full 'Edited Entry'? I'd like to get our bit of it in next week. The Intro should try to reflect the true status - was/is/will be - etc

pewace
jwf

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/Askh2g2

Try that.

If you go to the little red buttons above (in lablaster) there is one marked "Talk". The talk page has the options for discussion. In the middle of the page is 'Ask H2G2'. But now that you have the link, you can put it in your link list.

Simulpost!

I would never have found the Ask H2G2 without you - though I did chance on it months ago but looked moribund. I did, in fact, place the contributors user numbers in the "set researchers" box during editing of Madness entry BUT found out they would get editing credit for the "entire" piece. Certainly, credit where it's due but since contributions were made to the last bit only I was unsure if all researchers wanted to be associated with it. Also it looked as if they were all joint editors, which was evidently not the case. By separating out "euphemisms" it has helped resolve the problem. And, a resounding NO! - it's still not showing as pending. Keep you posted on this one. Just checked again. Looks as though it's been edited by GT Bacchus but the recommended version is different to the one I've been editing whilst waiting to be subbed. Must sort it out pronto. I'll get back.
Zaphod

> found out they would get editing credit for the "entire" piece. Certainly, credit where it's due but <

Aha! Another flaw in the ointment! You begin to see just how 'technically clever' this site is. It's like a VCR or any other 'smart' technology. By diverting your attention to the specifics of 'operating instructions' the designers distract you from fundamental questions like 'how fast is fast forward' and 'why can't I watch one show while recording another?'

> it's been edited by GT Bacchus but the recommended version is different to the one I've been editing whilst waiting <

Yes, that sounds more than vaguely familiar. In fact I have seen
folks leave h2g2 after arguing in vain with editors and sub-editors about near fatal changes to their entries. Here, the traditional rules of engagement create an internal, and in many cases, unresolved conflict.
At one level you're dealing with a bureaucracy. Any smart person knows y'might as well resign yourself to the same status as the homeless. They got the power. Y'can't fight City Hall.
Meanwhile, on another level you find yourself engaged in an increasingly 'personal' battle with specific 'editors' and sub-editors, who probably know nothing about your subject matter and are only interested in making it 'readable' to their level of comprhension, while happily flaunting their authourity to give your ego a good bashing. A pack of loyal researchers will flock like white blood cells to the fight and side with the system and its agents whether they be salaried or volunteer.
It's the same sort of pecking order one often seees manifest in films about life in British public schools or American military academies. Totally unreasonable, dangerous and unkind behavior is inflicted on freshmen and juniors in the name or 'order', the 'establishment' and 'discipline'. To argue with the system is unpatriotic, treasoness, not on, suicidal, not going to earn you any brownie points, etc...
My advise is, at the first sign of any resistance to your enquiries and requests, give it up, lay back and think of England. Or you'll go mad and probably go away mad. City Hall and the friends of the Mayor always win.

peace
jwf

Jwf, the morale-builder and closest thing to Pollyanna that I know of....
I was creeping up to finishing up an entry for PR, but, now...you've put me off it again.
Instead, I've begun another story. A detective story. I've always wanted to do one of those.
Maybe I'll find a way to schlep H2G2 into it.

This Ralph Towner album I'm listening to has no resolution...the arpeggios just keep coming, folks...but outside of his exercising his fingers...I'm not sure what is going on.

jwf
It sounds as though you've had your fair share of head-banging, table thumping with those pen pushers/paper shufflers down at City Hall. I would not have taken it lying down, sitting down, standing up or whatever my body language was communicating last night. Deep breaths help, though frustrating to know that you have to wait. I'm the instant gratification sort (especially when I want instant gratification).
I'm happy to say it was resolved without any fuss 'n' nonsense and GTBacchus was a real "no quibble" kinda guy (though whether I'd want to introduce him to my mother is another matter - wonder how she is by the way? haven't seen her in years.) It was just a reaction of horror knowing that I've been busily modifying a document, a copy of which was being edited elsewhere. It would have been helpful to have had the recommended copy on my homepage or something to indicate what had happened - but this won't happen until the subbing has ended, I believe. Though come to think of it, it has happened with other entries. I'm also hung up about "consistency". (Is my psychopathology leaking out?).
Anyhow, the pressures on in the entry clearance factory whereas with Aggers and Gaggers it's not daggers but soft woolly truncheons, furry mice and toffee apples.
A shot in the dark but R U a boarding school survivor?
Think I'll do a bit more work on my Crop Circles. Now there's a mystery. So, to sum up . . my Madness is currently being subbed.
Si thi
Zaphod OED