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

Hi there sinnerman, 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.

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.

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.

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. Before you know it you’ll have made your first post. 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 .

Evening Fizzy

Quick question; I intend to post all my work in the AWW. Am I in the right place?

SP

Yes sinnerman the AWW is what you're looking for - if you post your work there (and they're very good by the way), other researchers will drop by and offer their opinions. They may even attract the attention of a Miner - a researcher who looks for works to be published in .

So and I'm sure we'll be seeing you in before too long.

Thanks for the advice and help Fizzy

Sounds like I've found my home

SP

Oh this is a great place when you get to know your way around. It's full of friendly people - and there's a little corner for everyone.

I hope you enjoy yourself finding like minded people - I know I have enjoyed my 2 years here..... my second hootooversary is on 20th of this month, and despite all the weirdness that happens around here it has certainly became my virtual home.

Again, thanks fizzy for your friendly help and support for a novice. suspect I'll bumble around for awhile so please be gentle with me!


Taking your advice, I shall attempt to write all future work while adopting zazen

SP

(P.S. Just a thought, but "spellcheck" would be a great addition ehre!)

Oh bumbling around here is what we all do best.

There are several free spell checkers for internet explorer (I'm assuming that's what you're using) - I found mine here www.iespell.com - well in honesty someone else told me about it. But I can assure you there is no better spell checker available than the other researchers in Peer Review or the AWW, they'll not be long in pointing out typos or americanisms.

Evening Fizzy

Thanks for the suggestions for help with spelling.

So far, I've successfully replied to a coversation I didn't intend to and posted to the wrong review forum!

Do you have grades of bumbling? (If so, I could soon be up for a promotion!!)

Best wishes

Sinnerman

Not bad Sinnerman, but I'm afraid you've failed your bumbling test - you omitted the obvious - the post 21 ...... you post a reply to a post at the bottom of a page not realising that there have been umpteen posts since then ..... sometimes pages of posts.

You seem to be doing fine - bumbling summer school for you to help you pull up the slack.

Evening Fizzy

School? No, please, anything but that!! (the very mention of the word brings back such terrible memories)

Could I do community service, instead?

S.P.

Community service is not available for *all* crimes ..... so we'll have to watch and see if your bumbling improves, and take of that tweed jacket - you're starting to bumble like a history teacher.

Evening Fizzy

Tweed jacket? Nah, you have me all wrong; I'm more your corduroy jacket-wearing type (complete with leather elbow patches, of course) stylishly accessorised with open-toed sandles (dark socks) and a pipe for that added street-chic credibility!

Sinnerman

Are you my old Geography teacher.

Sorry, wasn't me.

(I do teach a fusion course of free dance and pottery at the local leisure centre, however)

Sinnerman

(she sounds like a real trend-setter!)