Hope For H2G2

TDScott writes "Woohoo! After a bit of uncertainty, Douglas Adams' H2G2 community site is being integrated into BBC Online! Here's the BBC press release. Nice to know that it's going to survive." I like H2G2 - it reminds me a lot E2, which has a somewhat similar concept.

Comments

A community site deserves the BBC.

[Heidi Wall]

The BBC is a government organisation, funded through television liscenses. This action lies in the firm tradition and vision of the BBC conceptualised by Lord Reith, the founder and first controller of the BBC.

I am mightily relieved that the H2G2 site is not going to be controlled by a commercial organisation os corporation. The BBC is fundamentally a socialist organisation, and so we can be sure that H2G2 will not be exploited for money. In addition, the BBC and Adams have a long relationship - HGTTG was first thought of by Adams for BBC Radio 4, as a drama for that station. It was later turned into a television series. We owe the existence of the HHGTTG to the BBC, and the fact that they are willing to give unknowns a chance, regardless of commercial consequences.

H2G2 is going home to its rightful place. If Adam's is its father, the BBC is its kindly grandfather, and we can be assured that they will run it according to the fundamental ideals of the book and site, rather than to make a fast buck. God bless the BBC.
--
Clarity does not require the absence of impurities,

Re:A community site deserves the BBC.

[CaseyB]

Wow, a complete generalization of national attitudes based entirely on the portrayal of those nations in American media. We're all enlightened now.

as we have plenty of personality and have no concept of embarrassment or reserve or humility.

That's rich. Apart from a few counties with a largely fundamentalist religious population, the US may have the most repressive attitude towards sexuality in the entire world.

As a television licence payer...

[JimPooley]

I'd rather the BBC put its money into developing new and worthwhile television and radio programming, rather than bailing out some failed dot-com that was only ever somewhere else on the internet where people can talk bollocks. As if there weren't already enough of those! Bad move BBC, you don't need a financial black hole like h2g2! As a Hitch-Hiker fan, I'd like to see Douglas Adams WRITE A NOVEL!!! Maybe he's forgotten how or something, but for the last almost ten years all he's done is generate clouds of hot air. Oi! Adams! Nooo!!! Stop generating enormous piles of bullshit and do what made you famous enough to generate those piles in the first place!

Hacker: A criminal who breaks into computer systems

Re:As a television licence payer...

[SheldonYoung]

I've talked to the guy in person for a good half hour, and watched an interview take with him place shortly after that.

He has grandious plans for a HG2G movie that still haven't been realized after many, many years of trying. He does seem to have lots of ideas for new books, but I'm not sure he will be able to get his mind off the movie to be able to write one.

shades of AOL Time Warner...

[abde]

it's fantastic for the people working at H2G2 that they have financial stability, and now can actually be paid etc. I'm happy for them :)

but... and I'm probably being needlesly cynical, doesn't this remind anyone of AOL-Time-Warner?

at least this time it's the Old Media company acquiring the New Media one. I wouldn't be surprised to find the BBC trying to "integrate" other communities to try and build up a strong user base. I wonder if one reason a huge content/media company like the BBC (which resembles Time-Warner more than CNN) is interested in "online communities" is to create "captive audiences" for its content produced in-house.

The BBC may not be a traditional profit-oriented corp but it has had problems with censorship. For example, will they allow any articles on "BBC Sucks!" on H2G2 ? Will they demand that user comments be edited?

I'm just expressing the hope that the BBC will give H2G2 the creative, artistic, and administrative freedoms that they promised. A public pledge/statement by BBC Online reps would be more binding than a press release.

For the BBC, acquiring H2G2 is quite a coup. I hope they have the wisdom to see that it's value stems directly from its independence. I think there are reasons to be critical of the BBC (for example, 1, 2, 3)

Re:H2G2?

[eschatfische]

H itch h iker's G uide to the G alaxy = HHGG = H2G2

Strikes me as a bit strange, too. Such is life.

Eschatfische.

Sure it's saved...

[Microsift]

Until some intergalactic entity decides to build a highway through it!

To answer some questions...

[Mossfoot]

For those of you who are asking what H2G2 is, and don't have time to explore the site in detail, this is a basic breakdown:

H2G2 is meant to be a "real" Hitchhiker's Guide. While it can be used on your computer (as well as palmtops, naturally), it can be accessed with internet-friendly cell phones as well.

The ultimate goal is to not only have a large database with useful/humerous/unique information available, but to have each member of a community also be a contributor.

For example. You're in France, you want to go to the Louvre, but you're not sure where it is. H2G2 can tell you where to find it. Now you go in, start looking at some paintings, and are moved by one in particular. You can then send a review or recomendation to the site for that particular art work, which others can then access.

Now you leave the art museum and get a bite to eat. There is a cafe right next door, you pay twice as much for a simple sandwhich and coffee as you're supposed to, and the quality of each is poor. If you had checked on H2G2 before, you would have found this cafe already had several warnings from previous unfortunate tourists caught in the same trap, and could have avoided it.

Needless to say, there are "official" reports and a slush pile which is "believe at your own risk". Everyone's reports would go to the slush pile until confirmed (however that would be done), and made "official".

That's my understanding of H2G2, hope it helps.

Re:To answer some questions...

[marbike]

As a long time researcher for the Guide I can elaborate a bit. H2G2 is meant to be the real life Guide from the books, but based on the internet rather than Sub Etha. A lot of people are writing about what they know. I have written a few articles that are considered to be part of the "Official" guide as edited entries. I wrote about my home state (Utah) and life in Utah. This was then edited by paid and unpaid staff and considered for official status. You can however write about anything that you like, fiction or fact. It has a robust database behind it that lets many people be logged in at a given time and serves the content that you want to see. It has customisable skins and settings. There is a large community behind it as well with virtual realities and minor role playing. I hope for the best and await the re-opening with baited anticipation.

Marv the Grate Researcher U28338

Re:full disclosure.

[Hemos]

Uh...dude.../no/ one works on E2. E2 is a bandwidth bill. So, if you are trying to work a conspiracy of financial reimbursment, I'm afraid I'm going to have to pop your dreams.

Re:full disclosure.

[Hemos]

Yeah, I flog it. Just like I flog all the sites I link.

Adams as the Ghost of Christmas Future...

[tenzig_112]

Adams has, one must admit, lost his ability to write a cohesive tale. Lost. Found. Buried in soft peat.

For anyone who needs evidence for this, simply read anything written by Adams after the eary eighties. Conclusive evidence comes in the form of Adams' return to his bread-and-butter, H2G2.

This is his way of trying to stir up interest among a community he thinks he started. In interviews and speeches, he pretends as though he invented the idea of smarmy sci fi. He did not.

We've moved on. He, it seems, has not.

But I wonder if he is not just a shadow of things to come- for us. We all like to slap ourselves on our backs and talk about this wonderful information revolution we're helping to foster. But after we're all obsolete in ten years, will we all be talking that same way?

"Where's the gratitude?" we will whine. "Why don't kids understand my considerable contributions to the art?"

"Why, at some point in 2001, my karma was up to about forty!"

Re:full disclosure.

[tregoweth]

However, there are many slaves of E2. Damn its evil silicon heart!

-j