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

So hello

*It is I Terran*

Hello... hello... hello... heeelllooo

Hi there... How are things

Terran

fine mate

I was just trying to find out some stuff, , about the sniping thats going on, and whos left bnut mores to the point i'm interested in sorting/starting some form of subversion try to bring h2 back to the center of the rim (if it was ever anywhere like that)



RJR

Well I'm not at the centre of h2g2 any more. I don't keep up to date as much as I used to... and most of those who were sniping when I was keeping up to date appear to have either given up h2g2 or are only on very rarely. H2G2 was probably at its peak when Douglas Adams was still alive... and I wasn't aware of this site then... but I wasn't really aware of much on the Internet at the time either to be fair.

But I think thats part of the problem. Douglas Adams was a huge figure (physically and personally) and he drew in a certain kind of crowd. This was backed up by the fact that when the site first started a lot of the general public didn't have the same level of access to the Internet. This added to the site being very well organised and INDEPENDANT (i.e. the owners of the site's prime motive was to make the site as good as possible) and having such a growing team of friendly individuals made h2g2 such a fantastic community.

I actually think the BBC buying the site actually had a positive effect on the site (when everyone came back that was) They had motivation, money, and the organisation to keep it going...

But thats where I fear the rot set in. I think they got complacent... and since the volunteer schemes have been going so long, I fear that a lot of people who get a kick out of having a badge to show to people and like to think it sets them apart and makes them better (which I'll admit can be tempting...) have got in to positions of "power" as volunteers - and since the h2g2 staff need them, they have become a little arrogant... or a at least thats what it appears from my perspective. There are a number who are quite genuine, and I don't want to get at them though.

And since the Internet has become more accessable to people (i.e. Digi box', Libraries, and generally more computers in the home) the Internet has become more freely available and as such there are more people who perhaps aren't as interested in the community.

And since its been a long time since h2g2 has been advertised, it has become another message board on the BBC, which is "quite happy where it is thank you very much" (thats not actually a quote by the way ). And so we're stuck. What we need is some new injection of life from somewhere... which is why I suggested possibly if some community members set up another site - it would certainly give the people in charge a shock, and might motivate them to action... or maybe they may become more determined not to do anything... I don't know...

Anyway, thats my perspective. What do you think?

Though I do suspect that some people are overreacting...

i have to agree with your overview and the thought of another sort of site thingy appels to me but i think we should try and repair this one but bearing in mind that change is good and should be on the whole positive and should be encouraged, so to move to another thingy might not be the best thing in the long run!

RJR