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Helium Dos & Don'ts

To flag or not to flag at Helium: Guidelines on using the flagging tool

Not sure if you should flag the article you have been asked to rate? Here are some flagging tips:

DO flag if...

*... the article contains "adult content".

Realize, however, that there are some titles that are going to cause writers to refer to sexuality. You aren't supposed to simply flag any and all articles that mention sex. Instead, flag the ones that read more like pornography, and less like an informational tool, or advice column.

*... the article contains the writer's name, or tells what their personal or company website is.

It is intended that we all rate articles without knowing who the writer is. If you can figure out who the writer is, it makes it possible for you to rate that person's article higher or lower, simply because you like or dislike that particular person. The rating system is not designed to be a popularity contest, it is designed to raise the best quality articles to the top of the ranking. Writer's who include their name or their website simply aren't playing by the rules.

*... you are certain the article is plagiarized.

In this case, you will need to provide Helium staff with both the URL from the Helium site where the plagiarized article is, and the URL from the website you believe the article was plagiarized from. In other words, you need to provide proof of this accusation.

*... the website is SPAM.

If you are asked to rate an article that contains only an address to another website, flag it. This is simply someone's attempt to use Helium as a form of free advertisement for their own company, and not an attempt to create a genuine response to a particular title. This is not what Helium was designed to contain. Help Helium get rid of it, and flag it.

*... the article is basically a written form of a hate crime.

Use your best judgment on this one. If you see an article that uses ethnic slurs, racial stereotypes, is specifically targeting a particular group in an extremely negative way, is suggesting violence towards a particular group, and/or does not attempt to address the title of the article, flag it. In short, if it would not be appropriate to say those things at the workplace, it's not acceptable to say them at Helium either.

*... the article is directly responding to another article or writer.

When you write for Helium, you are supposed to choose a title, and then write an article in response to, or answering that title. It is not appropriate to use that space to degrade,


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

To flag or not to flag at Helium: Guidelines on using the flagging tool

  • 1 of 14

    by Karon Brandt

    Helium's rating system has become better, more flexible, more user friendly. As of January, 2008, we can give fee... read more

  • 2 of 14

    by Pat Lunsford

    Guidelines on using the flagging tool are really quite simple. The user agreement states the violations and articles ... read more

  • 3 of 14

    by Bob Younce

    The flagging tool is an important part of the rating process at Helium. The flagging tool allows you to do a number ... read more

  • 4 of 14

    by Randa Morris

    Having been an active member of Helium for the past 2 years, I would like to share some insight and experience, with ... read more

  • 5 of 14

    by Shawna Blake

    It appears that flagging is quite a controversial issue among the Heliumites. While reading an article, we all tend t... read more

View All Articles on:
To flag or not to flag at Helium: Guidelines on using the flagging tool

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