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

OK, I agreed "not to use the forum or to transmit material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred, or harm of any kind against any group or individual"

But:
What do I do if I want to write about ...let's say... Satan himself, or the Mafia (or some other, even more evil guy or group)?
Does that rule mean, that I have to write "Satan is a nice guy, who likes barbecue", because "Satan is an evil guy, who will fry your a** - AVOID CONTACT - DANGER" would be against the rule?

While I can't speak for the italics (the powers that be here at h2g2), the feeling I have gotten here is that it's a common sense respect kind of thing.

Basically, it's important that people of all types can enjoy the site and be comfortable without feeling that they are excluded or hated because of who or what they are. Yet at the same time, there needs to be the freedom to write frankly about a wide range of topics and often conflicting viewpoints. Since this balance requires judgement and interpretation, there's no real way to make the agreement more specific. While I've heard that the italics may not be actually perfect , I think they try to make that balance work.

The context is important as well. Appropriate posts in one community-type forum may not be appropriate in another. If you read the thread, you can get a feeling for who is there and the sense of the discussion.

Hope this helps.

By the way.... welcome! If you get a chance, add something (anything) to your home page description and it will be easier for people to visit you to say Hi. There's a friendly bunch at the Newcomer's Welcome Page at http://www.h2g2.com/A5752 and you can also visit the Assistant Community Editors (ACEs) at http://www.h2g2.com/A214796 These are good folks who can provide assistance. There's also a useful Quick Reference Guide at http://www.h2g2.com/A344756

Redbeard

Hi Sames

Good question. There are very few subjects which we would exclude from h2g2, in their own right. We encourage entries on most subjects. What we do ask is that the subject is well researched and not objectionably one sided. We have an entry on Satanism for instance, http://www.h2g2.com/A230211, which as you'll see, is informative, well reasoned and thus contributes to the Guide content.

In any case, you're probably ok for satan, cos he's unlikely to sue h2g2 any time soon...

[Mr T thinks: hmm, now if I just change my name to Satan...]

Ah! Is this thing still on?!

Big Mad Mr T: still exploiting the legal system.