title: Sanitizing PHP/SQL $_POST, $_GET, etc...?
body: <p>Ok, this subject is a hotbed I understand that.  I also understand that this situation is dependent on what you are using as code.  I have three situations that need to be resolved.</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>I have a form in where we need to allow people to make comments and statements that use commas, tildes, etc... but still remain safe from attacks. </p></li>
  <li><p>I have people entering in dates like this: 10/13/11  mm/dd/yy  in English, can this be sanitized?</p></li>
  <li><p>How do I understand how to use <code>htmlspecialchars()</code>, <code>htmlentities()</code> and <code>real_escape_string()</code> correctly? I've read the php.net site and some posts here but this seems to me to be a situation in where it all depends on the person reading the question what the right answer is. </p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>I really can't accept that... there has to be an answer wherein text formats similar to that which I am posting here can be sanitized. I'd like to know if and how it is possible. </p>
  
  <p>Thanks... because it seems to me that when asking this question in other places it tends to annoy... I am learning what I need to know but I think I have hit a plateau in what I can know without an example of what it is meant to do...</p>
  
  <p>Thanks in advance.  </p>