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

... and welcome to h2g2.

I'm one of the <./>ACEs</.> (Assistant Community Editors). We are a team of volunteers who try to help new researchers for the guide find their way around. You can click on the link I made with that acronym in order to find out more. To find out more about anyone, click on the link made by their nickname (eg at the top of any conversation postings) to go to their personal space. Lurking is quite acceptable on h2g2.

One thing h2g2 has a lot of, as well as researchers, is these <./>Smileys</.>. You can use them in your personal space and other articles, conversations and journal entries. You just type the shortcut text and they appear as if by magic on preview or posting. For example: < planet > without the spaces becomes . We even know where our towels are (< towel > without the spaces becomes ) though the lemon-scented napkins have yet to arrive.

You expressed a particular interest in Douglas Adams. If you look at the URL in your browser, you will see a small tribute to him in the naming of this area of the BBC's site as DNA. You probably won't be surprised to find his personal space at U42 (just click on the link made by that number) - though it has been updated since his death. However, he left a welcome message of his own on the site here: <./>Welcome-DNA</.>.

Here are a few more links you might like to try. A660340 is a list of "Clubs and Societies" on h2g2. A368093 is the h2g2 Space-Farer's Cantina. <./>Askh2g2</.> and <./>MiscChat</.> are good places to start or join a random conversation. You could try the infinite improbability drive on the "Front Page" if you don't know where you want to go or <./>search</.> if you do. See the guide entries too important to be merely a number at <./>NamedEntries</.>.

Above all, have fun and don't panic. If you do find yourself tempted to panic, click the "h2g2 Help" link on the left. It may help.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there are probably some other bits of shouting I've got to do, but I'll be back if you call for help (ie reply to this message or post on my space).

Thanks SEF! Hi to you too. Am making my way around steadily, haven't panicked yet! Got my towel and a thing my Aunt gave me that I don't know what it is...Saying that, I looked at h2g2 donkeys years ago (ie before it went onto the BBC) and was active for a short space of time so I guess I'm not a complete newbie. Those lemon-scented napkins are proving a bit of a nightmare, I've been waiting for mine for 15 years! At least I still get coffee & biscuits on occasion. Cheers matey, am going to check out some of the links you've kindly provided!
xHx

I gather from others that h2g2 (unsurprisingly) changed quite a bit as a result of the BBC taking over from TDV. So there's probably a lot of new stuff to explore.

You should probably hang on to that thing your Aunt gave you. It might be a totally useless novelty item which you can trade to some locals in the space bar for something you need. Or it might be a critical plot token, such as a sub-ether device, without which you'll be marooned the next time someone decides to destroy the planet.

Hi SEF. Yeah, h2g2 has changed quite a bit if I remember the original correctly. It was really a knowledge base I guess, it seems more of a discussion forum now. Not a bad thing though! I think DNA was trying to achieve a real hitchhikers guide to life, the universe and everything that would evolve with time. Seems to be working OK from what I've seen so far. Still loads of Hitchhiker fans too!