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

Ever have one of those days when you think it's the end of the world and you feel completely helpless? Well, a few of my worlds are coming crashing down today.

Naturally, there are the normal armageddonesque events in world politics. Bush is planning to investigate himself. Someone on the web said 'This is like Mrs. O'Leary's cow promising to lead an investigation of the Chicago Fire.'
So there's that.



Additionally, Peer Review is really disappointing me right now. Some entries are excellent, as always. Some (maybe most? Definitely more than normal) are thinly-to-completely-un-veiled attempts to see their Edited Entry lists become bigger.
I'm not saying I'm not guilty of this. Someone does write 92 entries without putting in a good deal of crap. But instead of expecting people to avoid this sort of filler material entry, I'm going to avail myself of this tiny platform to humbly ask them to put their souls, their noblest efforts and their best selves into their writings. There should be fierce competition to write the best entries on h2g2 - for the honor of having an entry selected for the EG. When I think about it, my having 92 entries when there are so few total EG entries and so many other potential writers is absurd. I sort of regret my past contribution.

To borrow a phrase, the Edited Guide can be a celebration of writing... a place of great humanity, interest and entertainment. A celebration I wouldn't want to end. Now, though, I'm afraid that we'll go out with a whimper.

I've been sort of wondering about this for a while. Could you posssibly write an EG article about your life outside of h2g2? With everything you write and your volunteer efforts in many areas you must be very manic or chained to your PC 18 or more hours a day or maybe you type very fast?

Signed

Curiosity seeker

Hey Jodan

I'm distressed about PR. I haven't been there for eight months or so, since I became computer-less. But your comment has made me even more determined to sort out that state of affairs, get online again and get writing Guide Entries.

It *is* an honour to get an Entry picked. And I love the variety of topics and approaches that Researchers take. It's what makes h2g2 great - the eclectic soup of writers.

By the way, it is quality, not quantity that's important. Who cares how many Entries they've written (except out of academic interest)?

That's my anyhow.

Six Fb

I think the state of PR is directly linked to the push for people to get a Gold Badge on their Personal Space. A good move by the Editors, and there is some great stuff going through. However, I think the whole idea of getting a badge for the number of Entries is a bit silly in itself for the philosophy behind h2g2. I have over 20 Edited Guide Entries. Oh! What an effort you say, well done, bravo! Of those 20 odd only about 5 or so have I actually soley written. All the others are either Updates, Flea Market Rescues or Collaborative Entries with other Researchers. And that's what I enjoy doing on hootoo, collaborating with other like-minded individuals. To be awarded a badge for over 25 Solo Entries may be a goal for some, but is it realistic? I think we need to focus on the community again. The h2g2 University was a good idea and it's a shame it faded away as it is a prime example of how the community needs to come together again.

Reading through some threads on PR concerning Entries, some by long term hootooers, comments such as 'This is ready now' and 'I'm done here' are rife. And it appears nothing was taken from the Peer Review process to improve the Entry. Which I thought was the whole idea of PR??? It is almost as if they think, "yes, I'll put this into PR but I know I won't have to do anything major to it because I think it's good enough and I'll talk to one of the Scouts I've known for a while and they'll pick it anyway." Perhaps I'm a little jaded about the Scouting process still, but it's interesting how the badge idea has provoked action from many 'older' researchers, but it seems a majority of newcomers to PR are being overlooked by what on the outside appears to be nefertism. The dedicated few are helping out the newcomers, but their is definitely more action surrounding the 'old faithfuls'. I guess I should be more motivated and offer my suggestions to 'newbies' in PR. But , it makes my blood boil sometimes. And that's my rant for the day over with. Phew.

MJ

I'm on my computer maybe 3 1/2 hours a day, Phred. And a lot of that time is spent on other sites.

Couldn't agree more fb
And MJ/Frood, I do this collaboration is the essence of hootoo. (I tend to write on such obscure topics it doesn't work out for me...) The idea of someone refusing to give a real credit to someone who supplied a paragraph or a quote for an entry... Sometimes, I don't know

True, what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine, but mine is mine. Speaking of which. Mining. Off I go

hullo Jodan -

wish I knew how you get those leaping sheep at the top of your page - I have just spent five minutes of my life trying to catch them, by clicking the mouse on them, but on they leap - except for that black sheep crossing -

talking of black sheep crossing - I'm just taking a walk through the site and I start reading your writing about the Peer Review and the Edited Guide - and the subsequent dialogue amongst all you folks - its all really interesting and I want to chip in my voice for what its worth -

I confess that when I joined h2g2 I found the front pages a bit nervous-making - and I must admit I still do - I am still not entirely sure what the Peer Review or Edited Guide even are - like kind of steep mountains for one such as I - as I have no sense of writing for any kind of competition or recognition - not in any way to dishonour these things, its just not my way - I am too thin skinned -

however, and this is my point, I have found a completely different route through h2g2 - I have found a place in the AWW where my voice has been accepted anyway, and I can write just for the sheer love of writing - and I love all the conversations and dialogues and things -

One time a month or two ago, some magic mysterious people called CAC did whisk away a poem of mine for the magazine called The Post, and that felt good, but from the inside, if you know what I mean, like I felt my voice had been recognised and not sent to the monkey-house like it sometimes is in the big wide world of writing - for which I have no map anyway -

I like your end phrase when you said "a celebration of writing" - I feel that this is a wonderful thing! This is in my heart.

and thanks hootoo for enabling one such as I to even have a niche of some sorts - not an easy thing -

yes - back to trying to catch those leaping sheep


Helen

The CAC may do some more whisking soon Helen

MJ aka Frood

Hey there, Jodan. Buck up, my friend:

When there is this kind of doubt and uncertainty, it's always best to go back to first principles to sort it out.

As hard as it was to get my mind around, DNA had this kind of general mish-mash of home-written entries in mind. He seemed not so concerned about finely-written pieces as he was useful and accurate information.

As an example, I recently commented on a recipe, suggesting a way to identify shops where hard-to-find ingredients might be found. The researcher was concerned that such information was to transitory and region specific.

At first, I agreed; then I got to thinking about DNA's mission. It seems to me that it was exactly that kind of local and immediate information that he wanted available; like, 'Where, at 10 pm on a Friday afternoon, can I find someone to sell me a tin of tamarind - preferably with a 10km radius?'

Don't let the dreck get you down. One researcher's dreck ...

I have been complimented on my recent submission on the Glass Sponge, not because it is amazingly well written - just because it brought a little more information to the reader about the amazingly weird world in which we live.

I dunno, Fords.
DNA didn't get the chance to see the internet adapt to where it is today. h2g2 has no chance of being the best place for factual, accurate information. We should at least be a charming, fun place.

Helen - the AWW really is quite wonderful isn't it? It's a good place for refuge from PR sometimes.

to MJ

yikes, better stay in my box then ...out of trouble

Helen

Jodan - yes, better stay there I think, in the AWW-enclosure, instead of getting involved in discussions about things I ain't even heard of ..

nice talking to you - what about the sheep - how do you make them leap?

Helen

Oh, right, forgot about the sheep.

It's a complex GuideML operation involving the marquee and 'forumthreadintro' tag. You can see it at <./>testuserpage201497</.> near the top.

Took me a while working on it. I can help you a bit if you'd like

PS - Hyp, if you're reading this, did I do this right? F47997?thread=969945&post=10698445#p10698445

I certainly agree with the fun aspect. Even in more more 'serious' works, I like to inject some humour. Sometimes it even gets past the editors!

Some have read my PR entry on the Glass Sponge and thought that the ending was inappropriate. Love to hear what you guys think!

I'll make a country folk out of you yet.

"I'll get you, my lovely. You and your little too!"

Hyp, I'll make an Ohioan out of you yet.


Fords, I'll see if I can find time. Today I'm a bit stretched, but I normally like your stuff
I've been known to push the fun thing over the edge. I once injected a little footnote joke that would be funny to those who know my Ohio obsession, but was a bit surprised to see it make it past the Subbie