A Tale Of Two h2g2 Websites: The BBC's And Ours

Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of BBC Online lies a gem of a website.

In 2001, the BBC acquired h2g2, then a precocious two-year-old website. BBC execs actually acquired more than the innovated software with which they jump-started BBC Online. Along with the software package came an opinionated online community and its product, that is, online content. Fact, fiction, prose, poetry, debates, photos, recipes and travelogues; the BBC got it all.

Almost ten years later to the day, the BBC announced that, as part of a cunning plan to do "fewer things better", h2g2 would be "disposed of".

BBC executives must perceive some value in the diamond that is h2g2, because they want to find a buyer. Ultimately the BBC's h2g2 is a corporate product to be sold.

Our h2g2 is a sprawling universe, a well-stocked library, a literary magazine, a place to hone writing skills, a salon in which to discuss ideas and events, and a cozy pub. Cool, smart, articulate people live in our h2g2.

Since the BBC's January 24 announcement, our h2g2 has been a beehive of activity. Within two hours of the BBC's announcement, the h2g2 Community Consortium (h2g2c2) formed to ensure the survival of the site and its community. Less than a week later, h2g2c2 has over 200 members. Most are current or former contributing members, but some are h2g2 enthusiasts who have never logged on.

That's right, BBC execs. Your h2g2 is an asset with a price tag. Our h2g2 is a community of writers, readers, and fans.

What is h2g2 & Why It Matters

In the heady days of the dot.com boom, British author Douglas Adams's pioneering website h2g2 offered users a customizable home page before Myspace, journals before blogging became popular, and a friends list before Facebook. But h2g2 wasn't just an early social network.

h2g2 has a periodical called The Post and the UnderGuide, a growing collection of short stories, poetry, and other user-generated content. But h2g2 isn't just a newsgroup or a creative writing site.

At the heart of h2g2 lies an expanding and often quirky Edited Guide with more than 10,000 non-fiction entries. But h2g2 isn't and never was Wikipedia's competition.

It's hard to explain but easy to show the difference between the two sites. Take socks, for example. Wikipedia has this to say about the subject:

"A sock is an item of clothing worn on the feet. The foot is among the heaviest producers of sweat in the body, as it is able to produce over a pint of perspiration per day. Socks help to absorb this sweat and draw it to areas where air can evaporate the perspiration. In cold environments, socks decrease the risk of frostbite."

There's more, but you get the idea.

h2g2 also mentions socks. It unabashedly discusses The Joy of Socks, finds Alternative Uses for Socks, struggles with Holy Sock - an Ontological Dichotomy, and ponders How To Take Socks Off - And Live. Not only can you learn How To Knit A Pair of Socks, you can also discuss your knitting project at The h2g2 Craft Guild.

Wikipedia tells you what you may need to know; h2g2 tells you what you might want to learn.