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

Hi News Editor, now you have updated your space you are entitled to the full treatment. I know you are trying to set up an alternate Post, as I am also in that thread.You may or may not succeed in that, but it's too early to say. Before I rant on, let me introduce myself. I call myself Marjin, and I am an Ace, an Assistant Community Editor. We are a group of volunteers wo like to help people around in h2g2, and especially the new ones, as it can be very strange and maybe even frightening in the beginning. First of all, feel free to look around everywhere, just by following links. Most peoples personal spaces are very interesting, as they take a lot of effort to create something special, and it can be a good start to see what discussions may be interesting. If you have a question, just push the little 'reply' button, fill in the question and post it. It will appear on my space and I will be back soon. A few good links to start with are: The Post, our weekly magazine: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/thepost The smileys you see on many pages: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/smileys Peer review for 'serious' discussions, just click the Peer-review bar at the top of the page. It is NOT an advertisement! I am also a Guardian Angle, another group of people who like to help, but maybe more focussed on the pure fun-side and role-playing part of h2g2. You can find more about them and other groups on my page. Just click on my name at the top of this entry and you will be transferred. And if you are tired from your looking around, have something at the bar or the cafe: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F70774?thread=144403&latest=1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F26140?thread=140977&latest=1 If you want to reply to someone, or add to a discussion, just push the little blue bar with (reply) or (add to this conversation) or something like that. Especially in the beginning, use the 'preview' button forst, it shows what will be posted, and gives you the opportunity to correct some errors. Have a very good time with us on the guide

Hi, I'm another ACE who's just read your thread. I just want to offer you some tips to fits into the site:

1. Don't annoy other people.
2. Pretend this is USENET.
3. Don't, having been here for 5 minutes, propose some grand dream: people do not like vapourware.
4. Re-read the above.
5. Re-read 4 and make sure you do it.

spelugx -- I am *actually* quite friendly

I think that's a little harsh S'pe;lug:x.
Researchers can use h2g2 for whatever they like, as long as they abide by the house rules. If a new user or anonymous new identity tries to reach for the it's not for anyone else to tell them not to.

pretend h2g2 is like usenet? Now there's a scary thought...

alt.mark.moxon.moderate.moderate.moderate

I dunno. I kinda like alt.lucinda.stuck.stuck.stuck.stuck.record...

Ugh. S'pe;lug, please point out the part of the House Rules or the Welcome page that I missed where it says, "Deposit all hopes and dreams in this receptacle before entering h2g2." Or maybe, "Your use of h2g2 indicates your agreement not to try anything startlingly new."????? Maybe it's in the T&Cs, I haven't read those lately.

There are lots of major and minor failures going on across the world and inside h2g2 every day. People think they're going to write awesome pages, form new religions better than Scientology, or just get an entry into the Edited Guide, and it doesn't quite happen. What's the harm if they fail? Whose heart is going to break if News Editor can't deliver and this idea turns into vapo(u)rware? Wouldn't it be better if we encourage people to dream big, try anything they want, and hope that some of them make it, than to discourage people from trying at all?

This is totally sad to read. The next time I watch scenes of villagers carrying torches and pitchforks to scare away the Frankenstein monster or some other supernatural menace, I'll watch the crowd more carefully for h2g2 researchers threatened by the horror of [*gasp!*] NEW IDEAS!

Ok, ok, I was too harsh, but I was try to tell 'News Editor' that h2g2 is as much about writing articles as it is about discussing things with other people.

One of the house rules is to be patient with people (a virtue I perhaps need practise in). I think its great to have newbies who jump straight in with so much enthousasim, but I also don't like people who jump into such deep water such that their enthousiasim is quickly drowned when they find that their brilliant idea flopped.

I think my main motive in my posting was to try and protect 'News Editor' from themself, as I was concerned that with all the negative comment about their proposal, they would be discouraged.

All in all, I just thought that I was trying to be helpful. Perhaps 'News Editor' would like to comment on whether I was or not?

(At least I'm not a deliberate troll)