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

Hiya. Please excuse the impersonal nature of this cut'n'pasted message - I've got to get through about 150 of them tonight.

Sometime in the last decade or so you expressed an interest in volunteering for the Guru scheme. If you're still interested (or if you actually are a Guru ) could you please pop over to A86854413 and let me know. There's a fuller explanation over there.

Thanks,
Peet

So, by 150 of them, you mean you're spamming the site breaking house rules?

I'm not really interested in joining a volunteer scheme I used to run, sorry. Can't see me settling to that at all.

"So, by 150 of them, you mean you're spamming the site breaking house rules?"

Very much so.

It's OK, Mina. I, personally, am grateful for all that you did while you were running it. I have big shoes to fill. (Not ... )

Ha ha, no not really, I have no technical knowledge, I just added volunteers who seemed to fit the bill and posted up about testing for new features most of the time!

I find it hard to let go, so it's easier to stay out of it, for everyone's sake. You've been here longer than me anyway.

I'm focusing the "new" incarnation of the scheme more on communication skills than technical ones - it matters more that we make newbies feel supported rather than scare them away with tech talk. As long as folk are willing to be approached with problems, have the time to talk about them and know who to contact for a solution I'm willing to give them a badge.

Any problems I should be watching out for?

I think we used to tell them to subscribe to certain pages where questions get asked, technical feedback etc. Also keep an eye on h2g2 Support, er, U295 I think. Or something around that number, as that page is(was) subscribed to ALL the places where questions might be asked. It probably hasn't been updated or the account even migrated since I left in 2003.

And the Gurus were the quietest volunteer group on h2g2, sometimes we'd get one email to the email list a week. If we were lucky.

You are right, if they don't know an answer, they should know where to send the person asking, or where to find out the answer. That's exactly how I used to look at it. I don't remember there ever being any problems with the Gurus at all.

Well, I'm working on the principal that if they don't see these postings on their own PSs they won't see requests for help either, so they may lose their badges until they get back to me and reapply.

Three responses (apart from you) so far.

(principal - principle - bloody Google auto-correct...)

That's not many. If you can't find enough people I'll reapply, but please bear with me if I get bossy if you Do It All Wrong. ie differently from the way I was taught. I am trying to knock all that nonsense on the head!

We're up to four now. If there's still fewer than ten when I get control I'll get back to you...

"I'm focusing the "new" incarnation of the scheme more on communication skills than technical ones."

Crap. You didn't tell me that before I signed up. Evening all, by the way.

Where did you come from!?

Over there. *points*

What, there? *vaguely gesticulates*

No, slightly to the left.

Ah. The Shire. You must be a hobbit.