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

I just wanted to come over and thank you for your hard work on the Help - I am new! page and all over h2g2.

I have a suggestion to make - as I said when we announced the new Welcome page on ACEforum this is a very different type of ACEing and it is important that that page becomes a repository of knowledge for newbies to use. So if some one posts on that page, we would prefer if you welcomed them on that page and answered their questions there rather then immediately asking them to activate their space and offering to show them around there. That way we will create a library of threads that newbies can read and find out how h2g2 works rather then a disparate range of conversations scattered all over the place.

Thanks

Abi

Hi Abi

If the newby has come to H2G2 with the Impression that they can get all things answered, but they have not noticed how to activate there page, then they might just ask there question, get the answer, and then leave,
I totally agree that we have to answer there questions and welcome them there, but as part of the welcome should we not suggest that they activate there page, as they are totally new and know nothing about H2G2

manda

Hi again - sorry for the delay. I had to pop out for lunch.

I agree with you that there is a high chance that the newbie will only visit once or twice and that we need to get them hooked. However, it is also fair to say that that is the nature of internet communities that you always get a lot of newbies who arrive and stay for a while and then leave. I have lost count of the number of net communities I have joined and then left almost immediately. While we can work to improve the rate of newbies who stay, I am not sure that we are ever going to get a 100% success rate. Still - they don't know what they are missing!

Any way back to your question - I am not saying that we shouldn't ask them to activate their page, but I think it is good to take it one step at a time. When I was a newbie myself (a long time ago) I was just desperate for someone to talk to - we want to get them talking on the New User page and then give them a step by step guide to updating their preferences and updating their page. There is a very good reason why we are doing this - very often people are too nervous to ask what they think is a silly question. If there is a step by step guide in a conversation they can read, they can learn things and gain confidence.

I think basically if people ask a question on that page, it is important that we do as much ACEing as possible in that thread.

Abi

Hi Abi
I know that we have to answer the queston that is asked, and to try and help them as much as we can it that thread, I think that my main concern was that the thread was "removed" and put somewere els, if the thread is removed before the ACEs can get to it, then we can not help the newby
I think the "I'm new here" page should be one where there is no wrong topic


manda

No need to worry too much. As you were originally subscribed to that thread, even when it was moved you would still have been subscribed to it. And I was in there too and would have been able to answer any questions if there wasn't anyone around.

We do as a rule move threads that newbies have started in odd places to other areas.

So if a thread is moved before I can see it, then I an still subscribed to that thread
I think that is what was worring me

thanks for your help

and sorry for being such a fool

manda

No need to apologise - it can be very confusing!

We are looking forward to seeing you are the party!

we will be there,

have had some bad experiences with hotels in London before, but once they have got your credit card number then you can't just go to another hotel
so this time we are goint to go to London, find the pub, and then get a B&B as close as we can

looking forward to seeing you in the flesh ( if you pardon the expretion )

manda