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

nope, just going back to basics. i always was and have been spook. i only had Spookacious O for a while because of the Tenacious D parody i made up on my personal space!

spook

>>If anyone of the UG comes around here after I've pulled out of being in the editorial vote for the UG if i decide to, the reason is that I am getting the distinct impression that the UG editor votes will be a lot like the Eurovision votes: Political! (And your other mentions)

I believe it's called the character of the candidate.

It's not a popularity race. The people that are dedicated to the UG and won't 'pull out of the editorial vote' for a petty reason are probably the best people for the job. It looks like a popularity contest because some of those nominated have gotten to know their fellow miners through the UnderGuide. Spook, I don't want to intrude on your journal, but I couldn't stand to see this left untouched.

no-one can intrude on my journal, because posting to it again and again and again can only benefit it in getting to the target of bussiest conversation, of which the closest this journal has ever got is second bussiest, behind Ask h2g2!

all votes are based on popularity Jodan. take this as an example:

You are a close friend to Tony Blair, but disagree with some of his policies.
You don't like Ian Duncan-Smith but you agree with all his policies.
Who would you vote for?

I would say, at a guess, most people in that situation would go for Tony Blair, since they like who he is more. Popularity.

In the same way the UG vote will most definitely be popularity. Already before the vote even starts i won't have a chance. GTB, FWT and you are the only ones in the running, as you three are more popular with the other UG miners then me.

spook

This is an invasion by a tester. Please ignore me and look the other way. You did not see me. I am not here. Do you understand?

Tango //testing

Hmm, I take your point but I don't know the other ones in the running very well. I've never seen their face, never spoken to them (with my voice) and never met them. I have no bias with those particular people. If it were some others running, sure I would be biased, and I'm sure people that know fwt and GTB better than I do, and would be biased.

Popularity is based on a number of things. Not only whether you like them, which reflects their skills as a diplomatic person, but also popularity is based on a how much they have seen of the person, and consequently, the amount of their commitment. Popularity, in this case serves a purpose, of course unless you are a friend of a candidate.

My

there is always bias Jodan. when you come to vote, as i'm sure everyone will, they will look at:

- how well they know the person
- how much work they have put into the UG so far
- the skills they know they have
- how trustworthy the person is based on previous interactions

by following that criteria, they will come to a decision. 2 of those criter (1 and 4) are popularity criteria, based on friendships and experiences. 1 of them (3) is not very accurate as you do not know everyone's skills, and they may shine doing something they are unexperienced in. the last 1 (2) is the only real fair criteria to bse a vote, and that does not consider things such as circumstances preventing work being done by a person at certain times. therefore, no criteria of judgement in a vote such as this is truly unbiased, and popularity ie friendship status' with the voters will almost definitely be the deciding factor in any vote.

spook

So you think that the power grab method was better??

I know you were an opponent to voting.

yes, i thought the power grab was great ... until everyone who grabbed for power decided they didn't want it, which sort of defeated the idea.

spook

What made the power grab good?

it was immediate:

"hey, we were first, we're editors, now let's get on with making the underguide great."

however, at the moment, it's:

ok, let's spend a few weeks deciding what the editors do and how many editors we should have, a few more weeks deciding who would like to be an admit, a couple more weeks voting on it by 'e-mail' in a 'secret' way (emphasis on what i don't like), and then once we have the editors we have to have a few more weeks discussion on everything else.

when i made the spaced out guide i just made it, said 'this is what it is', a bunch of people suggested improvements to name etc, and in about 1 week to 2 the spaced out guide found the name etc it has now, and has about 50 entries in it. and it has come just like that while the UG is still being discussed. i think the UG should have made decisions quick, started it working unofficially, then there being a scheme etc in place with it working unofficially before the h2g2 editors were involved.

spook

The UG Editors will make discussions more quickly. With the SOG, you are the sole editor, so you don't need to be democratic and can be decisive. We have to prepare.

And the SOG and UG are very different

maybe so, but IMO the UG should have been up an running right now and should already contain about 20 entries. which means it's going slow. vey slow. an democracy is not always the answer, cause not everyone agrees with the majority. for a group such as the UG there must be dictatorship on certain issues, and over-discussing issues beforehand isn't always the best answer. also, all discussions about the UG should be on h2g2, and not by e-mail. e-mail does not allow other people from the community to comment, nor does it keep a permanent record that can be looked at again sometime in the future.

spook

maybe so, but IMO the UG should have been up an running right now and should already contain about 20 entries. which means it's going slow. vey slow. an democracy is not always the answer, cause not everyone agrees with the majority. for a group such as the UG there must be dictatorship on certain issues, and over-discussing issues beforehand isn't always the best answer. also, all discussions about the UG should be on h2g2, and not by e-mail. e-mail does not allow other people from the community to comment, nor does it keep a permanent record that can be looked at again sometime in the future.

spook

maybe so, but IMO the UG should have been up an running right now and should already contain about 20 entries. which means it's going slow. vey slow. an democracy is not always the answer, cause not everyone agrees with the majority. for a group such as the UG there must be dictatorship on certain issues, and over-discussing issues beforehand isn't always the best answer. also, all discussions about the UG should be on h2g2, and not by e-mail. e-mail does not allow other people from the community to comment, nor does it keep a permanent record that can be looked at again sometime in the future.

spook

Should it? I think email is more secure. If people on the community have an opinion, they can bring it up onsite, or become a miner. It's that simple. There will always be many onsite discussions. There are more onsite than off