User:Joe Quick/Sandbox

Article style

All entries at Citizendium should engage their subjects comprehensively, neutrally and objectively to the greatest degree possible. Writing comprehensively entails providing full explanations of all facets of an article's subject that experts judge significant. Furthermore, each topic should be represented as a complex whole rather than a simple conglomeration of its parts: a good Citizendium article will explain how different aspects of a topic fit together as well as applications and connections to other topics. It will also be neutral, which means the article will not align with any one position if there is controversy amongst experts concerning some aspect of the article's topic. Instead, it will remain objective, describing each relevant position without skewing the narrative toward the personal beliefs or positions of the author(s). In short, articles should present the big picture, including all relevant perspectives, and should be written carefully and without bias. Citizendium is not a place for advocacy or for advertisement.

The Citizendium community recognizes the special role that subject matter experts play in assuring that the site’s contents meet these standards. We recognize two important types of expertise: broad knowledge and deep knowledge. Experts with broad knowledge of one or more domains of knowledge help us ensure that the topics of our articles are presented in the scientific, philosophical, cultural and methodological contexts in which professionals discuss them. Experts with deep knowledge of specific topics help us make sure that we have all of the relevant facts and that we present them correctly. Many people have both types of knowledge. Official recognition of expertise shall be based on guidelines established by the Editorial Council.

Though expertise is valued, unnecessarily complicated writing is not. Citizendium material is intended to be accessible to the general public and should be composed so as to maximize accessibility. The basic content provided at the Citizendium is intended for an audience with completed secondary education. More specialized content is welcome but it should be written without unnecessary jargon or unnecessarily recondite language and it must be placed in context.

Contributors must act responsibly and professionally. Derogatory or offensive commentary is impermissible. Inappropriate material shall be removed at the discretion of the constabulary.

As far as possible, special needs of visually or otherwise impaired users and of machines will be taken into account.

Article development

Citizendium is a collaborative project, open to constructive contributions by any Citizen to any of its content at any time. We trust members of the Citizendium community to act in good faith and we encourage them to be bold in contributing to the project but we also require professional behavior. This entails acceptance of guidance from experts and from the wider Citizendium community as well as the obligation to remain civil and constructive even in cases of dispute.

The collaborative environment in which we write our articles is an important part of the Citizendium community. Just like other user-generated websites, we rely on the contributions of many different people spread out around the world, working at different times and in different ways. Some of these contributions are very small while others are quite extensive. Some reflect many years of professional experience while others are made by people who are just beginning to learn about a topic. All are important for the project. Cooperation and sensitivity to others are therefore very important and disruptive behavior is not tolerated.

Citizendium encourages all members to submit constructive criticism on all of its material. Where appropriate, we encourage members to simply fix any mistakes they find as they browse the site but we require that potentially controversial changes (such as the deletion of large blocks of text or the reorientation of the discussion of contentious topics) be discussed ahead of time with any other contributors who are actively at work on the article and, if possible, with an appropriate editor. If a dispute arises, we defer to expertise.

Experts guide the development of Citizendium articles but do not dictate the actions of other contributors or the ultimate shape of an article. Authors are encouraged to seek out the guidance of subject matter experts and experts are encouraged to offer advice whenever they are comfortable doing so. Experts and non-experts should work together as partners in the development of balanced articles; overbearing behavior by either party is unconstructive and unacceptable.

Integration of the Citizendium with teaching and research is encouraged, as long as these activities do not disrupt the end-user experience or the experience of other contributors.

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