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

Hi there Barkclad, thank goodness you got here safely, we’ve all been wanting to meet you for ages.

Don’t be afraid, at least not yet.

My name is Fizzymouse, and I’m a researcher just like you, but I’ve been hanging around here for quite a while and sort of know the form. I joined a group called the <./>ACE</.>s who do the BBC a favour by welcoming all newcomers. My friends around here call me Fizzy – so why don’t you.

Now that you know who I am I’ll tell you why I’m *really* here.

Hootoo, as we affectionately call h2g2, is a really big place - but at the same time it’s quite an enclosed community, so it pays to take your time and get a feel for the place. For a while you will be referred to by some people as a newbie, that’s a term of endearment for newcomers – not an insult! Hootoo isn’t a chat room, but there are places where chat happens at <./>MiscChat</.>, or <./>Askh2g2</.>. You may want to lurk around for a while without posting, that’s okay, and how most of us start out.

As well as the Edited Guide to Life, the Universe and Everything, we have our own newspaper <./>ThePost</.>, and an <./>underguide</.>, so I’m sure you’ll find something you like somewhere around the place.

You may be here because you love the works of Douglas Adams, or you may have stumbled upon us through an internet search, but why ever you are here – welcome, and if you’re interested in adding to our living, growing guide please read the <./>Writing-guidelines </.> and we’ll see you in PeerReview.

Oh, before I forget, there are some really important <./>HouseRules</.>, which you should take a read through, as well as some netiquette A3766070, just to keep you right.

Before I go you might want to find out how to make the smileys - they’re all here A155909, and if you want to dress up your Personal Space you’ll find some help with guideml here A187229.

If you want to reply to me all you have to do is click the reply button which will be somewhere around the bottom left of this message. Oops, I see you've managed to post without my help, even so, that shouldn't stop you from replying to this.

Oh, one last thing I should share with you - once you post something you can’t edit or change it, so do use the preview button – just to save any .

Hi Fizzy

Thanks for the friendly info

Take care

Barkclad

You're welcome Barkclad, not many people bother to answer me

Hope you found some of the links helpful because this site is really big.

If you need me to point you in any particular direction - just give me a shout ..... not that I claim to *know* all the available directions, but I'll probably know someone who does.


It might be an idea to add something about yourself in your personal space - even an under construction sign ..... that usually encourages some interest.

Hi Fizzy

Thanks for the advice; I'll write something in my personal space today. Also, I was wondering how I change me DOB in my details? I ask this because it's actually showing me as 16 years younger than I am! I must have made a mistake in the registration process

Thanks again

Barkclad

Good afternoon Barkclad - I see you've made a start on your PS. To make changes to your details you need to look at the top of the page - I think it depends what skin you're in, but along there somewhere there is a heading underlined called *Retrieve my details* .... if you go in there you can change all sorts of things. Here's a thread you may be interested in http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/F43348?thread=4355077 there's a link in there for a little science project that's going on at the moment - the classification of one million galaxies. You gave me the impression this may be something to your fancy. I think I'll go and investigate how I can become 16 yrs younger.

Hi Fizzy

Thanks for the advice It's strange becasue I can get into the 'retrieve my details' fine, and it lets me change everything accept my DOB. .... Oh well, no problem, I'll just drink a few of youth potions

for the link, it's certainly something I'm interested in - will check it out!

Take care

Barkclad

In that case your only other alternative is to email the tower and let them know of the error - they should be able to go in and change it - having said that why bother. The only person that can see it is you and the tower (BBC Staff) - I should have told you about them, you will see them around the site - we call them italics because that's how their names appear ..... just so you'll know if any should speak to you.

Thanks again for the advice Fizzy, I'll leave my DOB as it is Also, I'll keep my eyes peeled for any italics...

Take care

Barkclad