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

I've watched this Lord Wolfden thing with some interest. This isn't a journal about that though. I don't care about LW and don't want to scream about the damage to the community...

Instead of pulling back, let's push forward. Instead of saying "Well, h2g2's going down the toilet" and jumping like rats in a flushing toilet (or some such) let's say "Let's fix it." So let's fix it.

For one thing, let's fix PR. Let's be kind and courteous, but mostly helpful and intelligent in our comments. Comment on entries on the front page and help newbies out. Write. Think.
Let's spend some time in the AWW <./>RF5</.>, which I consider the most underrated and underused part of h2g2. Submit entries there, comment, read. Become a miner (I'm the man to talk to about that). A1092494 Joining the UG was the best decision I ever made, UG-wise. Write a poem for !
Let's resolve to have fun, most of all. Some believe that the beauty of h2g2 is that you don't decide such things, but I certainly sensed that dozens of intelligent people decided to *stop* having fun. So start again, dammit.

Introspectiveness is not a bad thing. It's a good thing. But this is getting ridiculous. As Elvis said, A little less conversation, a little more action... That's what's going to solve this malaise, not banning people or people leaving. This is getting just silly.



As Vice President of h2g2, I order you all to.

- off to <./>RF5</.>.

Yes sir!

Thank you. Just what I needed to give me a positive ending to a bitter article I'm writing for .

Well, bitter or not, I did command you to contribute to

Let's bee positive about the site's future though, eh?

Trust me, I'm trying.

I don't believe h2g2 is going down the pan.

I think that more than ever over the last couple of months that the EG, UG side of h2g2 has been emphasised. This is the EG with additional things like the UG and The Post, with a community hanging off that.

If you spend all day in the communal conversation areas of h2g2 then you won't see anything but a chat site and pick up on the bad side of that.

h2g2 has been through some crap - but it has survived.
Ok, so the long timers are leaving, that is a shame. In the natural course of a persons life then priorities change and you will get people moving on. It is sad to see the 'oldies' go but there are a new generation of oldies still here. These members are not the soul of h2g2 - we are. We being everyone that gives a dam about the site - and there are plenty of us still around.

So I don't have a low U number - big deal. I have seen h2g2 through the Iraq crisis moderation, the Telewest bitterness/fiasco, the ACES are italic spys, AWOL etc.
I would also argue that I did more to support and help the site during that time than many of the 'oldies'.

I am still here and will continue to do my utmost, like Jodan, to keep this site as near to the best it can be as is possible - but that does mean allowing for change - without losing quality.

If we lead by example then others will follow.

Mort

Hear, hear!

Apologies for the ranting feel of the post.

Mort, you know I've always been very fond of you and your work
(which reminds me, when the hell're you going to come back and gloriously rejoin the UG? )

I think that leading by example is exactly what I was trying to say... didn't quite get there. I reckon that's the best way to help the site - strive to be the best for it, and make it the best.

I don't care about low U-numbers. EMR here has a relatively high one, but she's done a *lot* for h2g2 lately. And she's very pleasant, I would add. If you care about the site, the people on it, its future and want to help it, then you're okay by me. Well, even if you don't feel like helping, you're okay by me.

Awww, thanks.

Great minds think alike, Jodan - that bit about caring was exactly what I just wrote in my Post thing.

I wasn't even aware that there was a Wolfie problem until today, I must be very uncontroversial I still haven't really got the foggiest what's going on, and don't really want to.

I know we haven't always agreed with certain aspects of the site, Jodan, but I respect you intensely as someone who clearly cares deeply about the site and always strives to make it as good as it can be. As a community site, it's only as good as its users, notwithstanding the whole being greater than the sum of the parts and all. Your journal is the most sensible thing that's been written on the subject, and I'm with you all the way.

Might I also add that if you want better entries in the EG, write 'em and comment on what others have written. Become a Scout, become a Sub, become a Miner. Good volunteers in any way are crucial to the site. I'm preaching to the converted, I know, but....

That sounds more creepy than great minds thinking alike, EMR

Skanky, I don't remember exactly what we've disagreed on (PROD maybe? By the way, PROD was essentially an attempt to get people to lead by example. At least it was to me in many ways... but I digress) but the future's what's important, eh? Tomorrow may be the day we see the next Gnomon or the next Hypatia join up. I like to think that, anyways.

I'd add to Rich by saying that not only should you become a volunteer, become a leader. Help shape the site. The UG would never have come about but for a few people's leadership (none of those people were me, by the way), nor from what I gather. is looking for a new leader (apparently) as well.

Perhaps. We seem to be muddling along as a team, but (as I understand it) we no longer have anyone 'in charge'. Awix temporarily filled that role, but he appears to have disappeared indefinitely.

I just wish there were more hours in the day. There's not enough time to devote to h2g2 as it is, and I want to do so much more.

Yes, it was PROD, but that's water under the bridge

And I voted 2legs

I have a bit of spare time I could put towards the Post, you know. What needs doing, exactly?

F101948?thread=1351631&skip=60&show=20#p15666525
Perhaps.
I love . It's tragically under-read and under-contributed to these days. Anything I can do for the Post, except writing creatively, is always something I'll consider doing

Voted 2legs, yeah. That's exactly the sort of thing that will sour me on you for life

Thank you EMR

Skanky - exactly, if they don't like it then they should do something positive to make it better.

I sort of knew a there was some discontentment, but it was only when I got the ACEforum emails filling up my inbox (ruining my day) that I saw what a strong feeling there was about this particular situation.

I saw the best and worst of h2g2 last weekend. We had a Scottish Researchers meet (and Mina joined us!) which was great. Then all this crap happens.

I have been biting my tongue and trying not to get involved in it but it has been shoved on me, both as someone who gives a crap about the site and as a volunteer by recent comments regarding ACEs. The sad thing is that it is by people I like and spent a jolly fun night out with on Saturday.
I respect their opinion and feelings but not how they have expressed them onsite.

Jodan - you eloquently expressed the idea that leading by example is how to stop h2g2 falling apart - just as we always have done. Which is why I posted here.

I also resent Shazz's departure being directly brought into this 'conflict'. She has been ill, but also unhappy about things for a while so it came as no surprise to me that she has decided to leave. But I wouldn't want her departure to be classed as another victim of this campaign. She has bigger reasons for leaving I think although I am not aware of the details. (We play the same online game )

I think their point about Shazz is that it her departure is part of a pattern.
No matter what the circumstances are, though, it's a huge tragedy for the site

The Aceforum emails were dramatic. I think it's time we moved on though.

This is why we love EMR:

F101948?thread=1351631?thread=&show=20&skip=60#p15667330

Man, Reefgirl's journal is intense. I posted something there, though.

Rich, I think what we really need is a sort of 'face of the Post': someone who will keep everything organised and talk to all the contributors and commenters/criticisers and make sure to respond to everyone's queries and order the rest of the staff around. In other words, I suppose, someone to fill Shazz's shoes.

In fact, though, I don't know if that is really what we need. There are ... *counts* ... five people on the Post team right now. But because Shazz was so awesome at her job the rest of us are having difficulty filling her shoes. I think. We all have other responsibilities, so I think we can hardly be blamed for not devoting our lives to the Post in the way that Shazz did. But maybe now that there are more hoops to jump through (because there are more of us, and we're less organised and more publicly temperamental) both we and the Post's readers are wondering where those simple days went.

I'm not quite sure what the best answer is, so all I can say is that for anyone who wants to help out, the best thing to do would be to contribute articles, fiction or cartoons. We take pretty much anything: the submission address is [email protected].