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

I just saved my EG entries in a Word file, just in case. Having been a few years, I was happy to see some entries I had forgotten about entirely, and unhappy to see a few (early) entries that never should have been put in the guide in the first place.

I was astonished, upon finishing, to look at the page count. 827 pages in Word. For that, I can but apologize now. Even with something in the region of 140 entries that I consider to be my work, 827 pages is bordering on ridiculous. So, to you, the h2g2 community, I apologize for my long-windedness, and to the BBC, I appreciate your hosting all of that. I've loved writing for the Edited Guide on the BBC, and I hope to write for the new h2g2, wherever it may land.

Oh come on, don't apologise. I certainly haven't read all your entries, but I loved those I *did* read. Nobody forced me to do so, so I'd say they aren't too long at all.

Hey, you're not alone. I'm in the middle of exporting all my old film reviews from the Post preparatory to reposting them on my blog (a lengthy project in the offing). Taking me *ages*...

But I agree with the general thrust of what you say. I think the Beeb's taking a bit of unwarranted flak from some quarters at the moment.

Jordan, will you put yours in a blog? Some of us have already done so (I'm still in the process of uploading my Post Articles, there are a LOT more of them than edited guide entries), and we are putting links to the other blogs.

Arwix, can you give me your link?

Mine are:

http://myapprovedh2g2articles.blogspot.com/

and

http://my-post-articles.blogspot.com/ (a WIP)

Apology totally unneccessary, Jordan. If you had wasted all those words and not said much in them I might hold you responsible for wasting some of my time. But I've learned a lot from your entries, and I've always been entertained.

Actually, the state of Ohio probably owes you a debt for singing its praises to the BBC

I think congratulations are more appropriate I've always enjoyed your Guide Entries, Jordan.

I agree about finding some which should never have seen PR, let along the Guide... I found one or two in my list too

Fb

Oh, I'm not quite apologizing for my entries. (not all of them anyways) I just think most of them could have been about half the length without losing much important.

Without meaning to seem rude, Bel, why are you posting your entries to a blog? I might do that if h2g2 doesn't continue in another form. But I feel optimistic about our chances.

I definitely think we all owe the BBC a huge debt of gratitude for hosting h2g2 for all these years. So much good has come from it. I know that it has changed my life in a positive way. That wouldn't have been possible without the BBC. I'm especially grateful because, as an American, it was free of charge to me. Every day that the BBC has hosted h2g2 has been a wonderful gift.

My blog's at aw1x.wordpress.com.

This isn't something I've just started since the news about Hootoo, in case anyone's wondering, the blog's been on the go since late 2009, ever since the Post and I decided my stuff didn't really fit there any more.

Jordan, look here:

http://news.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1964918&cid=34990976

Better safe than sorry.

It would be a shame to lose all those mentions of Ohio.

Great news to hear you're planning to continue writing. Yay!!!!!

Jordan - we'll need you on h2g2 when the community stages its take over..

And I think I'd love to be a part of a reinvigorated, community-led h2g2. Right now, I'm extremely busy in RL, but I'm reading a book of short stories by one of my favorite contemporary writers, and I'm planning an entry after I finish this book and another. We'll see how long that takes... it will almost certainly be either my last entry on BBC h2g2 or my first on the new h2g2... I hope so .

Z, if there's anything in particular I can do for the transition let me know (and no, I don't tweet ).

What can you?

The biggest thing we need experienced writers to do is stay involved, and engaged. One of the things that is being discussed is the role of the Edited Guide/Underguide, how will they be separated.. etc.. We'd really like your input in that.. this thread is discussing it. F19585?thread=8029882

We're discussing ways of making money from the Guide an iPhone app being a good idea, and an printed guide, with the best entries, and also perhaps an annual. Just to fund the site, and we'd like your input on that.

If we do end up running the site we'll need all the volunteers we can get because we'll have to take on all of the roles of the editors. The other thing that's really really worth doing is discussing what we should do with the writing guidelines. There is a lot of talk about what we want the site to be.

And please do keep writing that's really really important, we need the site to look active!

Thanks Z. I've given my opinion in that thread. I'm really pleased from what I've seen of people willing to look at completely changing the way h2g2 operates. This sort of open-mindedness will be critical in carving out a niche for h2g2 on the internet.

I think, though, that a lot of people are going to try to cling on to as much of the existing model as they can simply for dogmatic reasons and because 'it's the way h2g2 works'.

I also think we both agree that would be a bad thing for h2g2's longterm prospects, and that we both want the site to thrive rather than just cling on. So there may be some fierce discussions on this subject in the weeks ahead.

Jordan, I think your voice will carry more weight in those discussions than mine, but let me know if and when they start and I'll do my best to back you up...

Well, I've spent some time tonight (power was out here for two hours by the way) putting together some thoughts on the future of h2g2, and how I would like to see it. A80720381 If you have some spare time, let me know what you think.

Can I 'lift' that for ?

Bel

Sooo Jordan -

Can I please elect you to the committee??

Bel -

Jordan and I were sort of thinking along parallel lines, and I came up with the following thoughts about the current situation - A80719112

If you think it would be appropriate for the Post then by all means use it...

Cheers, Awix.

The more, the merrier, after all, it *is* something that keeps the community on their toes at present.
Btw, I've left a message with the link to PG on Twitter. Hope he'll find it.