Paper short abstract:

Not all data can be shown in the Dutch Folktale Database; some information needs to be hidden and can only be accessed by scholars with a password. We are dealing with three categories here: 1. copyright, 2. privacy and (the most difficult category to determine) 3. offensive content.

Paper long abstract:

Before entering folktales and metadata into the Dutch Folktale Database, three questions need to be answered:

1. Do we have the rights? (think of stories in newspapers, photos or the ATU-catalog)

2. Is privacy at stake? (think of information about narrators, collectors or living people mentioned in legends)

3. Is the material extreme or offensive in any way?

Even though many people think folktales mainly consist of old fairy tales and legends, not all (modern) stories are equally sweet, friendly and nostalgic. Folk culture has its fringes, and the book of folktales also has black pages. Modern jokes and contemporary legends, in particular, can be extreme or offensive. This means that they can be racist, sexist, pornographic or (extremely) violent. In the past there was also a taboo on lese majesty, but this article has now disappeared from Dutch code and is therefore no longer punishable. Nevertheless, caution is still required here too.

Racist folktales include, for example, discriminating or hurtful stories about Jews, Muslims or immigrants. Sexist folktales are derogatory about women or discriminate against certain minority groups on their gender or sexuality. Pornographic folktales are explicit in the field of sexuality, and certain (internet)memes in particular can be visually very explicit. Finally, violent folktales can, for example, incite violence against certain population groups. It is not wise not to collect stories like this (because then the darker sides of storytelling would be ignored), but it is wise not to publish these stories online for everyone to see.