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r/AskHistorians rules: what actually gets removed

Each rule below is paired with the way it is most likely enforced. Where the rules state a number, we quote it. Where they do not, we say so instead of guessing.

1. 1.Users shall behave with courtesy and politeness

   Enforcement varies

   [All users are expected to behave with courtesy and politeness at all times.](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/rules#wiki_civility) We will not tolerate racism, sexism, or any other forms of bigotry. This includes Holocaust denialism. Nor will we accept personal insults of any kind, and do not allow minor nitpicking of grammar or spelling.

2. 2.Questions should be clear and specific, be asked in good faith, and seek an in-depth answer

   Enforcement varies

   People asking questions should make every effort to ensure that their questions are clear, specific, and novel. We give broad latitude, but do remove questions for a small number of technical matters: * Homework Questions * No "Poll"-Type Questions * Questions With Privacy Issues * No Loaded Questions * No "What If" See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/rules#wiki_questions) for further expansion on these restrictions and how they are enforced.

3. 3.Questions should be historical in nature, and ask for more than basic facts

   Enforcement varies

   Questions should be historical in nature, and not ask about hypothetical 'What-If' scenarios. Questions which are looking for basic, factual information from reference works are allowed only in the 'Short Answers to Simple Questions' Thread. We do not provide valuation services, or allow questions which relate to artifacts which may have been obtained illegally.

4. 4.Users should be able to provide sources on request

   Enforcement varies

   Sources are highly encouraged in all answers given in r/AskHistorians. A good answer will be supported by relevant and reliable sources. Primary sources are good. Secondary sources are also acceptable. Even though sources are not mandatory, if someone asks you to provide sources in good faith, please provide them willingly and happily. Being unable to may result in the removal of the answer. For further information, see [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/rules#wiki_sources).

5. 5.Answers must be in-depth and comprehensive

   Enforcement varies

   Answers are held to a higher standard than is generally found on reddit. Answers should be in-depth, comprehensive, accurate, and based off of good quality sources. In evaluating answers against the rules, the moderator team is looking for responses which are in line with the existing Historiography on the topic, and written in a manner respecting the Historical Method. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/rules#wiki_answers) for further information.

6. 6.Answers should reflect knowledge and familiarity with the topic at hand

   Enforcement varies

   Answers in this subreddit are expected to be of a level that historians would provide: comprehensive and informative, and of course, *correct*. Answers which reflect factually incorrect information will be removed, as will answers where it is clear that the writer is unfamiliar with standard literature or unable to engage with basic follow-up questions. If you see this, please let the Mods know! See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/rules#wiki_answers) for further information.

7. 7.Answers should not be speculative or anecdotal

   Enforcement varies

   Personal anecdotes are not acceptable answers in this subreddit. They are unreliable, unverifiable and of very little real interest for our purposes. Additionally, suppositions and personal opinions are not a suitable basis for an answer in r/AskHistorians. Answers which rely on personal anecdotes or speculation will be removed. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/rules#wiki_no_personal_anecdotes) for further information.

8. 8.No questions that are soapboxing, or about events and politics <20 years

   Enforcement varies

   This subreddit is called AskHistorians, not LectureHistorians or DebateHistorians. All questions must allow a back-and-forth dialogue based on the desire to gain further information, and not be predicated on a false and loaded premise in order to push an agenda. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/rules#wiki_no_political_agendas_or_moralising) for more info.

9. 9.No political agendas or moralising in answers

   Enforcement varies

   Answers should not be written in the interests of advancing a personal agenda, but should represent a sincere effort to make an argument from the historical record. They should be constructed in keeping with the principles of the historical method, and your argument should instead demonstrably flow from your critical engagement with an appropriate range of evidence. We would expect the answerer to approach the issue earnestly and in good faith, and with fidelity to the historical method.

10. 10.Answers should not be only links or quotations

    Enforcement varies

    Do not just post links to other sites as an answer. This is not helpful. Please take some time to put the links in context for the person asking the question. Avoid only recommending a source – whether that's another site, a book, or large slabs of copy-pasted text. If you want to recommend a source, please provide at least a small summary of what the source says. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/rules#wiki_do_not_just_post_links_or_quotations) for further information.

11. 11.Answers must be original work, and cite all quotes

    Enforcement varies

    We have a zero-tolerance policy on blatant plagiarism, such as directly copying and pasting another person's words and trying to pass them off as your own. This will result in an instant ban. If you are borrowing verbatim text from a source, *always* be sure that you are clear on where you got it from.

12. 12.Comments should not consist solely of jokes

    Enforcement varies

    A post should not consist only of a joke, a humorous remark, or a flippant comment. You can certainly include humour as part of a full and comprehensive post, but your post should not be made solely for the purpose of being funny.

13. 13.Racist or bigoted comments are not tolerated here

    Enforcement varies

    We have no tolerance for bigoted or racist remarks in this subreddit. This includes, but is by means limited to, the use of racial slurs, misogynism, and homophobia, as well as advocacy for positions such as Holocaust Denial. These are cause for immediate banning.

14. 14.Top level comments should be answers only, and ALL comments should be on-topic, and constructive

    Enforcement varies

    Please do not comment for the sake of commenting. All top-level comments should be answers which meet the subreddit guidelines. All lower level responses should be comments that engage with the answer they are replying to and meaningfully add to any discussion. Comments which significantly digress from the topic will be removed, as will be any comments which don't make a meaningful contribution that advances the discussion on the topic or are otherwise cluttersome.

r/AskHistorians does not publish karma or account-age minimums in its rules. Subreddits often enforce unpublished filters on top of what they write down, which is why posts from new accounts can vanish without a message here.