DID:Editing policy

__NOINDEX__ ''' This is a working document representing the current editing policy, it will be updated as needed. As soon as we all agree on this text. No changes to this text (other than minor textual changes that do not change the meaning of the text) without consensus by all of us more involved in the project.'''

Definition of Consensus on this Wiki:


 * The aim of the wiki is to represent expert consensus. All major changes are only done after discussion with the people highly involved in the wiki project as a whole. Currently this includes Transitory, Q, and Dorothy. Consensus has to be found before the change is applied.

Other rules:
 * This is not Wikipedia, and although some guidelines are identical, others are not.
 * Links to certain pages/websites are disallowed:
 * Personal blogs or forums (including links to blogs by experts on Dissociative Disorders or Trauma Disorders).
 * Online questionnaires.
 * No links solely for the purpose of buying something. This is considered spam.
 * All information has to be referenced by authoritative sources.
 * Primary sources form the foundation of the wiki, secondary sources are only appropriate for the less technical sections, e.g. giving an example of an individual's experience.

Authoritative Sources
This wiki will only contain validated information, and will maintain a professional level. Use only the sources listed here for references.


 * Journal articles in peer reviewed academic journals, especially those focused on dissociation, like the Journal of Trauma & Dissociation and the Journal of Traumatic Stress].
 * Websites of leading mental health associations (the ISSTD, the [ISTSS], the APA etc.)
 * Specialist Trauma and Dissociation associations should be used in preference to general mental health associations.
 * Recently published books by experts on Dissociative Disorders and Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders.
 * Use the best reference that can be found.
 * When referencing use the best references available. For instance, when writing about ritual abuse then reference experts in ritual abuse. When writing about neurology and the way the brain functions and how DID works, then reference experts in this area.

These are not authoritative or professional sources and therefore cannot be used on this wiki as a reference:


 * Any wiki, including Wikipedia.
 * Popular or (auto)biographic books, intended 'for the public'. This includes books like Sybil, Switching Time or First Person Plural.
 * Blogs and forums, with the exception of experts in a certain area. Personal communication with experts is acceptable.
 * Websites not belonging to professional organizations promoting mental health, unless they fall into a category listed under authoritative sources.

Copyright when submitting edits
Information should be clearly sourced using references, and must be original - not copied from any other website, book, journal or resource. The exception to this is direct quotes, which must be formatted properly and attributed to the author, and images which are uploaded in line with their own copyright restrictions (for example, public domain, your own images, or images shared under Creative Commons Share-Alike licences). Image licences are chosen when the image is uploaded, and a link to the original source can be included in the description, so it does not need to be included in the page itself. If no copyright information exists then assume it is copyrighted and do not use it. Music, video, written information, images, and digital code are all protected by copyright.

"Fair use" refers to copying small amounts of copyrighted material, and attributing it to the author, this is allowed. For example, a limited amount of any book. "Public domain" is information which can be freely used and distributed, for example if the author died over 100 years ago. The time varies according to the country the work was produced in.

The wiki should not be used to reproduce large amounts of existing material, if something is valuable and important to share and can be reproduced then this can be added to the Trauma and Dissociation Google Community Site or Wordpress blog instead.

Copyright explained