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

Hey, Ting-A-Ling! I'm SmartGamer, an ACE. I'm not a robot, something you'll find out if you bother to REPLY to this message...

Anyway, as I said, I'm an ACE. That's Assistant Community Editor- but to most people, I'm just part of the welcome squad, and they're right. I'm here to say HI and get ready to be part of h2g2!

First:

"Hi."

Ok, now that that's out of the way...

Welcome to h2g2! Please fasten your safety belts; there is a small amount of turbulence on our planned route. Parachutes are provided.

There's a lot to see and do here. For starters, take a look around! Click that "READ" button at the top of the screen (if you chose to use Alabaster in the sign-up screen) or the side (in GOO) to check out some great things to see- or you can click my name at the top of the page, and see what I've written. But then, I've always liked to show off.

Yeah, .

How about this:

Click on any of those "smilies" (yes, even is called a smiley) to learn how to make them. There are quite a few- you could even sign your name with them, I think

~Ting-A-Ling!

would look good, don't you?

Soon enough, you'll want to add to the Guide. This is a good thing. You will become a published author, your username will become a household name, and you'll get fame and riches.

Or not.

Anyway, just click that CONTRIBUTE button if you want to add an Entry. In there, you'll find all the help you need!

Sadly, not everyone is all that civilized and refined. I guarentee that you will be mocked for your username. Don't change it! It's quite you-nique. People can be quite childish, but we have a way to handle it. See that button that looks like this: at the right side? Don't click it, and I hope you never need to, but the Yikes button is there for you. If someone posts something offensive, insulting, illegal, or just plain rude, click and call the Moderators.

Don't Panic! Help is just a click away. That "Help!" button at the top of the screen will take you to the Don't Panic Help Centre, where all your questions will be answered by untrained h2g2 gurus who know what they're talking about- or you might get the random ACE or two. We're all here to help.

I suppose I need to set you off on your jouney, Ting-A-Ling. h2g2 is a big place, and it's easy to get lost- but that "My Space" button will take you right back to that page you made- with a list of where you've been recently.

Anyway, I'm here if you need me. Click that REPLY button if you want someone yapping back to ya!
--SmartGamer (ACE)

dammit, i wanted to be first!


g'day SG

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I can't imagine anyone is going to say anything rude enough to require me yikesing them. I'm not easily offended.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. If you ever need any advice on the real world, I'd be happy to return the favour.

Ting-a-ling!

that sound like a challenge to me!

Two quick questions, maybe you or anyone else can help:

1. What is feadah?
2. I wrote an entry entitled "Cure for Colds". This is my first. Seemed topical. But... when I did a search for precisely that string - Cure for Colds - it wasn't in the results list. Eh?

(There were closely related entries in the guide. I wanted to somehow cross refer them to mine. Any tips?)

Ta.
Ting-a-ling!

happy to try and answer your questions:

1) feadah is me - it's just a name i gave myself here; it doesn't actually mean anything
2)i see what you mean about the search thing . i'm not sure why though. these guys (the GURUs) should be able to help - they are supposed to be clever!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/Gurus
or just ask anyone who has put GURU after their nickname

if you want to cross-reference your entry with others, you will have to edit it it GuideML. GuideML is the HTML type language used in H2G2. to use GuideML when you edit the entry, just select GuideML and hit the Change Style Button under the window you type in. then you can do all sorts of fun stuff.

(check out the GuideML clinic here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/GuideML-Clinic)

to link to other entries, use the tag
( http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A184763 )

to link to another article you would use, for example:

there is another great article here

where A123456 is the A# of the article you want to link to (your article is A663419 for example).

hope this helps!!

very topical article, by the way; does it really work?