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

'BBC policy is that all links on all sites are checked on a regular basis, to ensure that the BBC never links to sites which might offend its users.'

Can this be reworded to say what is actually intended? The idea of 'ensuring that the BBC NEVER links to sites which MIGHT offend its users' is beyond absurd, isn't it? I expect that there is something actually being said behind this statement, but I'd like to see what the content actually is; let's tear away that veil - it's not a pretty one.

What exactly does the BBC consider a site that MIGHT offend its users? BBC's homepage MIGHT offend me! The only sane interpretation of this I can think of is that BBC dutifully removes links about which it receives actual complaints, but that's re-active, which is different from the current situation, no?

GTB

You'll find a fuller explanation of this if you read the house rules on

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/HouseRules

This is what the house rules have to say about links:

Any links from Guide Entries to websites we consider unsuitable will be removed - if you are considering adding a URL to an entry, please make sure that it adds value and interest to the subject of your entry, and isn't, for example, purely commercial. Unsuitable sites would include those with racist material, pornographic or sexually explicit material, anything which encourages illegal activities, material which infringes copyright, or sites which purely plug or promote commercial products or services without containing material which enhances the subject matter.

Peta

Thank you for your reply, Peta. I have read the New House Rules, repeatedly - in fact, the sentence about which I asked comes directly from them. Regarding the paragraph you quoted - fine! That is written in clear, understandable English. The phrase 'the BBC never links to sites which might offend its users,' however, is purest gibberish. It indicates something about the cognitive dissonance of the BBC, no doubt, but as a summary of the Beeb's policy regarding URLs, it just doesn't work. As an Editor, I would delete it.

All of it's not such a big deal; I'm in a different mood than I was in when I first posted. I would recommend that the offending sentence be changed, but right now I'm off to see what this http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A527708 is that you are a supporter of.

Thanks again for your reply!

GTB