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Helium's rating system has become better, more flexible, more user friendly.

As of January, 2008, we can give feedback to writers and still rate another article better so it continues to move up in the ratings.

So when should we flag?

Helium has offered a place for writers to share information on a safe site "Where Knowledge Rules." People come from all over the world to help build this fact-based site.

There are no flames allowed, and no one can alter another's writings, but every writer is constantly being judged through the rating system.

Every writer becomes an editor/rater since the site is democratically ruled from within its ranks.

Hopefully, we all read Helium's writing standards (User Guide and "What's not allowed") BEFORE we start, but a few seem to jump in a bit too enthusiastically and begin writing, apparently, without reading the rules.

So, what's a rater to do? As Helium gathers hundreds of thousands of writers under its balloon, the sheer volume of material becomes cumbersome for rating purposes. Many overburdened raters click and pass articles through, literally, for better or worse.

But it is this democratic rating system that allows for articles to be peer-rated and move up the ranks to numbers 1 through 5, which appear for public perusal.

It's a big responsibility, and one which every member shares.

By the sheer number of ratings and the wonder of algorithms, the system, overall, works.

We are told to follow the "Golden Rule" which, paraphrased, becomes: "Rate unto others as you would like to be rated."

The Helium guidelines are fairly explicit about what a writer can NOT do on Helium.

The following are serious rule-breakers at Helium.

1) Plagiarism. This is a cardinal sin on Helium. If a rater can show that a topic is most likely copied from another source, he is duty-bound to notify Helium. The charge will be investigated, and a writer found guilty can be banned from the site.

2) Adult content, unlawful, harmful, defamatory material, hate content, and profanity. Helium is a family site. Most of us know not to use four-letter-words which are offensive to the sensibilities of many people. This site is open to ages 13 and up, and some readers who might be younger.

3) Writing done in ALL CAPS. This is considered plain rudeness on the Internet, but it also marks a non serious writer. It degrades Helium, and it is not allowed.

4) Self-promotion. You cannot use your name, address, email, phone number, or any other identifying information in your article that

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