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Revision as of 01:35, 9 July 2007 editCarcharoth (talk | contribs)Administrators73,576 edits →The "Jenna Bush" test: made section anchor independent of title← Previous edit Latest revision as of 06:14, 6 August 2024 edit undoBorn2cycle (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers31,496 edits Undid revision 1237980313 by Aaron Liu (talk) pseudo biographies are distinct separate articles. To conflate them with bios within other articles makes no sense.Tag: Undo 
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{{redirect|WP:HARM|a page on dealing with threats of physical harm|Misplaced Pages:Responding to threats of harm|a page on a controversial argument in ] discussions|Misplaced Pages:Arguments to avoid in deletion discussions#It's harmful/harmless}}
{{essay}}
{{shortcut|]}} {{notability essay|WP:HARM}}
{{nutshell|align=center|When deciding whether it is appropriate to include information in a ], apply the "] test" (]). Where a person is notable only in connection with one event, they may not merit a biography at all. If another user removes or deletes such material, discuss it with them, but don't revert them until consensus has been reached.}} {{nutshell|align=center|When deciding whether it is appropriate to include information in a ], apply the "inclusion test" (]). Where a person is notable only in connection with one event, they may not merit a biography at all. If another user removes or deletes such material, discuss it with them, but don't revert them until consensus has been reached.}}


Misplaced Pages's ] policy states, ''An important rule of thumb when writing biographical material about living persons is '''"do no harm."''''' There are a number of conflicting interpretations of this policy, and in marginal cases it is often problematic to determine how this rule should be applied to information on living (and, in some cases, recently deceased) persons. During the development of Misplaced Pages's ] policy, one of the principles considered was, "''An important rule of thumb when writing biographical material about living persons is 'do no harm.'''"

This principle was ultimately rejected: while '''avoiding harm''' remains an important consideration within our living persons policy, doing ''no'' harm has been found to be incompatible with our obligation to maintain a ] when writing about all subjects, including living people.

The essay that follows contains a number of other ideas that were considered during the formation of the ''biographies of living persons'' policy. Many of them continue to resonate strongly with our current policy.


==Public and nonpublic information== ==Public and nonpublic information==
{{shortcut|WP:NOTATABLOID}}
Information about a ] living individual can be divided broadly into two categories: public and nonpublic information. Generally speaking, ''nonpublic'' information consists of private details about an individual that have not been published in the mainstream media and are not widely known. In most cases, Misplaced Pages articles should not include such information; Misplaced Pages is not a tabloid, and we are not in the business of "outing" people or publishing revelations about their private lives, whether such information is ] or not. As Misplaced Pages has a wider international readership than most individual newspapers, and Misplaced Pages articles tend to be permanent, it is important to use sensitivity and good judgment in determining whether a piece of information should be recorded for posterity. Information about a ] living individual can be divided broadly into two categories: public and nonpublic information. Generally speaking, ''nonpublic'' information consists of private details about an individual that have not been published in the mainstream media and are not widely known. In most cases, Misplaced Pages articles should not include such information; '''Misplaced Pages is not a tabloid''', and we are not in the business of "]" people or ], whether such information is ] or not. As Misplaced Pages has a wider international readership than most individual newspapers, and since Misplaced Pages articles tend to be permanent, it is important to use sensitivity and good judgment in determining whether a piece of information should be recorded for posterity.


In some cases, there is some question as to whether a particular piece of information is public or nonpublic, e.g. where it has been published in ], but it is doubtful whether it belongs in an article. In such cases, the potential harm to the subject should be taken into account; the "Jenna Bush" test can be applied in these instances. In some cases, there is some question as to whether a particular piece of information is public or nonpublic, e.g. where it has been published in ], but it is doubtful whether it belongs in an article. In such cases, the ] should be taken into account; an inclusion test can be applied in these instances.


===<span id="TEST" />The "Jenna Bush" test=== ===<span id="TEST"></span>An inclusion test===
{{shortcut|WP:HARM#TEST}} {{shortcut|WP:HARM#TEST}}
], daughter of US President ], was on one occasion arrested for underage drinking. As Ms. Bush is ] primarily because of her relationship to a head of state, it would normally be inappropriate to include information of this nature about her (whereas it would be entirely appropriate, for instance, if the information concerned a serving politician). However, the Jenna Bush article is an example of a case where such information ''is'' appropriate for inclusion; as such, the "Jenna Bush test" can be applied to other parallel situations. The factors to take into account are: An example of an inclusion test is the article on ], daughter of US President ], as of c. 2008. Jenna Bush was on one occasion arrested for underage drinking. As Ms. Bush is ] primarily because of her relationship to a head of state, it would normally be inappropriate to include information of this nature about her (whereas it would be entirely appropriate, for instance, if the information concerned a sitting politician). However, the Jenna Bush article is an example of a case where such information ''is'' appropriate for inclusion; as such, this inclusion test can be applied to other parallel situations. The factors to take into account are:
#'''Is the information already widely known?''' If it has appeared in numerous mainstream ] over a period of months, then it is probably suitable to be included in the article. If the information has only appeared in a few tabloid sources, local newspapers, or websites of dubious quality, or has only been the subject of fleeting and temporary coverage, then it is not appropriate to include it. # '''Is the information already widely known?''' If it has appeared in mainstream ] over an extended period of time, then it is probably suitable to be included in the article. If the information has only appeared in a few tabloid sources, local newspapers, or websites of dubious quality, or has only been the subject of fleeting and temporary coverage, then it is not appropriate to include it.
#'''Is the information definitive and factual?''' Misplaced Pages is not in the business of speculation, or publishing dubious allegations, unless such allegations are notable in themselves. In particular, possibly false allegations that would significantly harm an individual's life should be avoided. Unconfirmed allegations may ''only'' be included in Misplaced Pages where they have already been widely publicised by the mainstream news media; in these cases, the allegations should not be given ]. In circumstances where a person has been charged with a crime, it is acceptable for Misplaced Pages to give details of the ongoing investigation and/or trial, but speculation ''must'' be avoided. # '''Is the information definitive and factual?''' Misplaced Pages is not in the business of speculation, or publishing dubious allegations, unless such allegations are notable in themselves. In particular, possibly false allegations that would significantly harm an individual's life should be avoided. Unconfirmed allegations may ''only'' be included in Misplaced Pages where they have already been widely publicised by the mainstream news media; in these cases, the allegations should not be given ]. In circumstances where a person has been charged with a crime, it is acceptable for Misplaced Pages to give details of the ongoing investigation and/or trial, but speculation ''must'' be avoided.
#'''Is the information given ] in relation to the subject's notability?''' Biographies should not be dominated by a single event in the subject's life. In Ms. Bush's case, she is notable as the daughter of a serving head of state, and has received extensive media coverage not related to the underage drinking incident; as such, this incident should not dominate the article, and other events in her life should be appropriately covered. In cases where a person is only notable for their participation in a single event or phenomenon (such as the ]), it may be inappropriate to write a biography on them at all, as this may develop into a ] or ]. Instead, such content may be merged into a main article on the event. # '''Is the information given ] in relation to the subject's notability?''' Biographies should not be dominated by a single event in the subject's life. In Ms. Bush's case, she is notable as the daughter of a serving head of state, and has received extensive media coverage not related to the underage drinking incident; as such, this incident should not dominate the article, and other events in her life should be appropriately covered. In cases where a person is only notable for their participation in a single event or phenomenon (such as the ]), it may be inappropriate to write a biography on them at all, as this may develop into a ] or ]. Instead, such content may be merged into a main article on the event.
If all of these apply, then it is reasonable for the information to be included. If none of them apply, then it should be removed. If all of these apply, then it is reasonable for the information to be included. If none of them apply, then it should be removed.


==Inclusion of names and biographical details== ==Inclusion of names and biographical details==
In some cases, a person is notable primarily for a single event in their life. This may be the case with the subjects of ] or unusual medical conditions, the children of notable individuals, or the victims of notable crimes. In many of these cases, the person in question is a child, or was a child at the time of the notable event. In such cases, some sensitivity needs to be shown in deciding whether or not to include their names, and/or any other biographical details about them which are not relevant to the case. In some cases, a person is notable primarily for a single event in their life. This may be the case with the subjects of ] or unusual medical conditions, the children of notable individuals, or the victims of notable crimes. In many of these cases, the person in question is a child, or was a child at the time of the notable event. In such cases, some sensitivity needs to be shown in deciding whether or not to include their names, and/or any other biographical details about them which are not relevant to the case.


It is not possible to develop a definite rule for such cases. In general, if such an individual - the victim of a crime, for instance - has received substantial independent coverage in the media, and their name is well-known, then it is appropriate to include an article on them. Examples of this are ] and ]. Likewise, if the victim of an Internet phenomenon has received detailed and significant coverage in the news media, it may be appropriate to include their name; an example of this is the ]. It is not possible to develop a definite rule for such cases. In general, if such an individual – the victim of a crime, for instance – has received substantial independent coverage in the media, and their name is well-known, then it is appropriate to include an article on them. Examples of this are ] and ]. Likewise, if the subject of an Internet phenomenon has received detailed and significant coverage in the news media, it may be appropriate to include their name; such as ] and ].


In contrast, there are cases where it is unnecessary to include a full biography of a person, or even their name. For instance, a child born with an unusual medical condition, who has received some coverage in the news media, may be mentioned in the article on their medical condition; in such cases, it may be appropriate to mention their name in the article, but it is unlikely that they merit a full biography. In contrast, there are cases where it is unnecessary to include a full biography of a person, or even their name. For instance, a child born with an unusual medical condition, who has received some coverage in the news media, may be mentioned in the article on their medical condition; in such cases, it may be appropriate to mention their name in the article, but it is unlikely that they merit a full biography.


In cases where names are removed from an article to protect the privacy of a semi-notable individual, this should be discussed on the article's ]. There is a presumption in favour of privacy, and as such, in most cases, the names should not be restored unless there is a definite consensus to do so. In some such cases, editors should avoid quoting the names themselves (or other contested biographical information) on talk pages during the discussion; it should be remembered that talk pages are public space, and that information discussed there is available to readers. In cases where names are removed from an article to protect the privacy of a semi-notable individual, this should be discussed on the article's ]. There is a presumption in favour of privacy, and as such, in most cases, the names should not be restored unless there is a definite consensus to do so. In some such cases, editors should avoid quoting the names themselves (or other contested biographical information) on talk pages during the discussion; it should be remembered that talk pages are public space, and that information discussed there is available to readers.


In exceptional cases, when names or sensitive information have been redacted, it may be necessary to discuss the removal by e-mail or other off-wiki methods, rather than on the talk page. This should, however, be avoided where possible, as it reduces transparency. Editors should exercise sensitivity and judgment in approaching such situations. In exceptional cases, when names or sensitive information have been redacted, it may be necessary to discuss the removal by e-mail or other off-wiki methods, rather than on the talk page. This should, however, be avoided where possible, as it reduces transparency. Editors should exercise sensitivity and judgment in approaching such situations.


===Pseudo-biographies=== ===Pseudo-biographies===
{{shortcut|WP:PSEUDO}} {{shortcut|WP:PSEUDO}}
{{about||the policy on pseudoscience|Misplaced Pages:Neutral point of view#Pseudoscience and related fringe theories|pseudo-namespace shortcut prefixes|Misplaced Pages:Pseudo-namespaces|the Manual of Style on pseudocode|Misplaced Pages:Pseudocode|the guideline about archived copies of articles in userspace|Misplaced Pages:FAKEARTICLE}}
⚫ An article under the title of a person's name should substantially be a '''full and balanced''' biography of that person's life. If the person is notable only in connection with a single event or position and little or no other information is available to use in the writing of a balanced biography, that person should be covered in an article regarding the event, with the person's name as a redirect to the event article placing the information in context. If the event itself is not notable enough for an article, and the person was only noted in connection with it, it's very likely that there is no reason to cover that person at all. Events which are only of passing notability, or whose status as an event of enduring and historic significance is not yet known, should be covered on ], not Misplaced Pages, until it is clear that the event is of lasting and historic significance.


⚫ An article under the title of a person's name should substantially be a '''full and balanced''' biography of that person's public life. If the person is notable only in connection with a single event, and little or no other information is available to use in the writing of a balanced biography, that person should be covered in an article regarding the event, with the person's name as a redirect to the event article placing the information in context. If the event itself is not notable enough for an article, and the person was noted only in connection with it, it's very likely that there is no reason to cover that person at all.
⚫ In general, creating a pseudo-biography (on an individual who is only notable because of their participation in a single event) will require the inclusion of other biographical material, e.g. their date of birth and family background. Such information, in many cases, will fail the ], as it is unlikely to have been widely publicised in the media. When in doubt, concentrate on the ''notable event'', rather than invading privacy for the sake of "padding out" an unnecessary biography.

⚫ In general, creating a pseudo-biography (on an individual who is only notable because of their participation in a single event) will mean that an editor creating the article will try to "pad out" the piece by including extraneous biographical material, e.g. their date and place of birth, family background, hobbies and employment, etc. Such information, in many cases, will fail the ], as it is unlikely to have been widely publicised in the media. When in doubt, concentrate on the ''notable event'', rather than invading privacy for the sake of padding out an unnecessary biography.


The general test that should be applied in such cases is as follows: The general test that should be applied in such cases is as follows:
*Do any reliable sources cover the '''individual themselves''' as a main or sole focus of coverage, or is the person mentioned only in connection with an event or organization? In the second case, it is likely that the ''event or organization'' is notable, but that the ''individual'' is not. In this case, the person may merit a mention in articles associated with the event or organization, but should not have a standalone "biography" article; an example of this may be the ]. On the other hand, if the person themselves received substantial coverage under their own name, such as ] or ], then they may merit a biography. * Do any reliable sources cover the '''individual themselves''' as a main or sole focus of coverage, or is the person mentioned only in connection with an event or organization? In the second case, it is likely that the ''event or organization'' is notable, but that the ''individual'' is not. In this case, the person may merit a mention in articles associated with the event or organization, but should not have a standalone "biography" article; an example of this may be the ]. On the other hand, if the person themselves received substantial coverage under their own name, such as ] or ], then they may merit a biography.
*Was the person the '''main focus''' of relevant coverage? For instance, it is not necessary to include biographies on every person who was present at the ]. The ''event'' is notable; individual people are not. * Was the person the '''main focus''' of relevant coverage? For instance, it is not necessary to include biographies on every person who was present at the ]. The ''event'' is notable; individual people (other than the shooter, in this case) are not.
*Is the person notable for '''any other events''' in their life? In most cases, as noted above, a person who is only notable for one event does not merit a full biography under their name. * Is the person notable for '''any other events''' in their life? In most cases, as noted above, a person who is notable only for one event does not merit a full biography under their name.

==Neutral point of view==
The "do no harm" principle does not justify the removal of ] negative information about a living person. ] and articles must be written from a ]. Thus, they must represent fairly and without bias all significant views and information (that have been published by ]).


==Ethics and consensus== ==Ethics and consensus==
In applying the principle of "do no harm", it is often tempting for an editor to take controversial actions under the principle of ]. In some cases, it is appropriate to take immediate action without prior discussion, such as where there is a flagrant breach of privacy. However, such actions should be discussed ''afterwards'', and reversed if there is a clear consensus to do so. In applying the principle of "do no harm", it is often tempting for an editor to take controversial actions under the principle of ]. In some cases, it is appropriate to take immediate action without prior discussion, such as where there is a flagrant breach of privacy. However, such actions should be discussed ''afterwards'', and reversed if there is a clear consensus to do so.


For instance, in a case such as the redaction of names from an article, the first step may be to remove the names from an article. However, this should then be discussed on the talk page. During the discussion, the names should be left out; revert-warring is ''not'' helpful in these circumstances, as the temporary absence of the names is unlikely to significantly damage Misplaced Pages's credibility. The names should be restored if there is a clear consensus to do so; a ] may be helpful in gauging consensus. For instance, in a case such as the redaction of names from an article, the first step may be to remove the names from an article. However, this should then be discussed on the talk page. During the discussion, the names should be left out; revert-warring is ''not'' helpful in these circumstances, as the temporary absence of the names is unlikely to significantly damage Misplaced Pages's credibility. The names should be restored if there is a clear consensus to do so; a ] may be helpful in gauging consensus.

===Administrators===
Unlike regular users, ] must be especially careful to discuss their actions in a case about which they feel strongly. In cases regarding a potentially controversial biography of a living individual, administrators may delete an article in order to prevent a potential invasion of privacy. However, they should immediately discuss this and seek consensus with other editors.

===The "two-admin rule"===
In cases where an administrative action taken under the ] policy is likely to be controversial, it is appropriate for the administrator in question to discuss it with at least one uninvolved administrator after carrying out the action. The material can remain deleted while the discussion takes place.

This may seem unfair to non-administrators, but the presumption in favour of privacy means that sensitivity should be observed in these cases, and controversial material should not be undeleted immediately.


==Suggested procedure== ==Suggested procedure==
The following are suggestions for the possible courses of action you can follow if you see a suspected violation of the ] policy in an article. These are not binding, but they are useful guidelines in almost all cases. The following are suggestions for the possible courses of action you can follow if you see a suspected violation of the ] policy in an article.


===For removal of sourced content=== ===For removal of sourced content===
If you see material in a biography that is ''sourced'' and ''accurate'', but may fail the "Jenna Bush test" (see above), then you can follow these steps. This might apply to content such as the names of crime victims, for instance, or the details of those associated with an ]. If you see material in a biography that is ''sourced'' and ''accurate'', but may fail the inclusion test ], then you can follow these steps. This might apply to content such as the names of crime victims, for instance, or the details of those associated with an ].
#Be ] and remove the content. Use a non-aggressive ], such as ''(temporary removal per ], will discuss on talk page)''. # Be ] and remove the content. Use a non-aggressive ], such as ''(temporary removal per ], will discuss on talk page)''.
#Discuss it on the talk page, apply the "Jenna Bush test", and try to determine consensus. A ] may be helpful at this stage, as may a ]. # Discuss it on the talk page, apply the inclusion test (]), and try to determine consensus. A ] may be helpful at this stage, as may a ].
#Only restore the content if there is a clear and unequivocal consensus to do so. # Only restore the content if there is a clear and unequivocal consensus to do so.


If you see a removal of such content, and you disagree with the removal, '''do not''' edit-war to restore the information. Instead, participate in the discussion on the talk page. If you see a removal of such content, and you disagree with the removal, '''do not''' edit-war to restore the information. Instead, participate in the discussion on the talk page. Alternatively, you can post a notice on the ].


===For removal of unsourced or dubious content=== ===For removal of unsourced or dubious content===
Unsourced or dubious content, especially if potentially libellous, should simply be removed on sight from biographies of living persons. This includes content that comes from unreliable sources, such as blogs or attack sites. See ] for details of this issue. Editors who repeatedly reinsert unsourced or poorly sourced material about a living person are subject to a ] from editing, and edits which remove such content are exempt from the ]. Unsourced, poorly sourced, or dubious content, especially if potentially libelous, should simply be removed on sight from biographies of living persons. Editors who repeatedly reinsert unsourced or poorly sourced material about a living person are subject to a ] from editing, and edits which remove such content are exempt from the ].


===For deletion of an article=== ===For deletion of an article===
⚫ If you are an administrator, and you see an article on a living individual where most or all of the content fails the "]" (see above), then you may want to follow these steps.
] should, as noted above, exercise special care in using their administrative tools without prior consensus. In cases where an administrator finds it necessary to immediately delete content under the guidelines laid out under the ] policy and this essay, they should follow the ].


⚫ # First, try removing the offending content from the article, and see what is left.
⚫ If you are an administrator, and you see an article on a living individual where most or all of the content fails the "]" (see above), then you can follow these steps.
# If enough is left to sustain an article, do not delete the article, and start a discussion of the problematic content on the article's talk page.
⚫ # If there would not be enough to sustain the article, that is, the remaining content contains no evidence of ], then ''temporarily'' delete the entire article. If you are not sure, it is advisable to obtain a second opinion on the case before deleting, preferably from another administrator. If the article is deleted, use a non-aggressive edit summary, such as ''(deleting temporarily for ], will discuss)''.
⚫ # '''Discuss''' the deletion with other administrators. '''Keep the article deleted''' while the discussion is taking place; administrators can access the deleted material, so it does no harm to leave it deleted.
#: The method of discussion used should depend on the sensitivity of the material involved. In extreme cases, where you believe that there has been a gross violation of the subject's privacy, discuss the issue privately by e-mail with other administrators. If the issue is less sensitive, discuss it at the ].
⚫ # If there is consensus among administrators that the deletion was unjustified, restore the article.


If a deletion of this sort is being discussed at the administrators' noticeboard or on any other Misplaced Pages page, participants should '''avoid''' repeating material from the deleted article in the discussion. Bear in mind that discussion pages are publicly available to readers. In some cases, such discussions may be courtesy-blanked after the discussion is concluded, or names may be redacted.
⚫ #First, try removing the offending content from the article, and see what is left.
If deletions of this type are taken to ], they should not be undone while the discussion is taking place, and participants in the discussion should avoid repeating extensive material from the article. Again, if the deletion is endorsed, the discussion may subsequently be courtesy-blanked to protect the subject's privacy.
⚫ #If the remaining content contains no evidence of ], then ''temporarily'' delete the article. Use a non-aggressive edit summary, such as ''(deleting temporarily per ], will discuss)''.
⚫ #Discuss the deletion with '''at least one other administrator'''. (See the ] above.) Alternatively, discuss it at ]. '''Keep the article deleted''' while the discussion is taking place; administrators can access the deleted material, so it does no harm to leave it deleted.
⚫ #If there is consensus among administrators that the deletion was unjustified, restore the article.

If you are an administrator and you disagree with a deletion of this nature, '''do not''' reverse the deletion without discussion. Discuss it with the administrator who performed the deletion, and if disagreement still exists after attempting this, on the ].


==See also== ==See also==
'''Related policies'''
*] * ]
* ]

'''Essays'''
* ]
* ] - When to avoid harm as it relates to policies
* ] (a somewhat contrary point of view)


] ]
]

Latest revision as of 06:14, 6 August 2024

"WP:HARM" redirects here. For a page on dealing with threats of physical harm, see Misplaced Pages:Responding to threats of harm. For a page on a controversial argument in deletion discussions, see Misplaced Pages:Arguments to avoid in deletion discussions § It's harmful/harmless. Essay on editing Misplaced Pages
This is an essay on notability.
It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Misplaced Pages contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Misplaced Pages's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.		Shortcut
This page in a nutshell: When deciding whether it is appropriate to include information in a biography of a living person, apply the "inclusion test" (see below). Where a person is notable only in connection with one event, they may not merit a biography at all. If another user removes or deletes such material, discuss it with them, but don't revert them until consensus has been reached.

During the development of Misplaced Pages's biographies of living persons policy, one of the principles considered was, "An important rule of thumb when writing biographical material about living persons is 'do no harm.'"

This principle was ultimately rejected: while avoiding harm remains an important consideration within our living persons policy, doing no harm has been found to be incompatible with our obligation to maintain a neutral point of view when writing about all subjects, including living people.

The essay that follows contains a number of other ideas that were considered during the formation of the biographies of living persons policy. Many of them continue to resonate strongly with our current policy.

Public and nonpublic information

Shortcut

Information about a notable living individual can be divided broadly into two categories: public and nonpublic information. Generally speaking, nonpublic information consists of private details about an individual that have not been published in the mainstream media and are not widely known. In most cases, Misplaced Pages articles should not include such information; Misplaced Pages is not a tabloid, and we are not in the business of "outing" people or publishing revelations about their private lives, whether such information is verifiable or not. As Misplaced Pages has a wider international readership than most individual newspapers, and since Misplaced Pages articles tend to be permanent, it is important to use sensitivity and good judgment in determining whether a piece of information should be recorded for posterity.

In some cases, there is some question as to whether a particular piece of information is public or nonpublic, e.g. where it has been published in reliable sources, but it is doubtful whether it belongs in an article. In such cases, the potential harm to the subject should be taken into account; an inclusion test can be applied in these instances.

An inclusion test

Shortcut

An example of an inclusion test is the article on Jenna Bush, daughter of US President George W. Bush, as of c. 2008. Jenna Bush was on one occasion arrested for underage drinking. As Ms. Bush is notable primarily because of her relationship to a head of state, it would normally be inappropriate to include information of this nature about her (whereas it would be entirely appropriate, for instance, if the information concerned a sitting politician). However, the Jenna Bush article is an example of a case where such information is appropriate for inclusion; as such, this inclusion test can be applied to other parallel situations. The factors to take into account are:

  1. Is the information already widely known? If it has appeared in mainstream reliable sources over an extended period of time, then it is probably suitable to be included in the article. If the information has only appeared in a few tabloid sources, local newspapers, or websites of dubious quality, or has only been the subject of fleeting and temporary coverage, then it is not appropriate to include it.
  2. Is the information definitive and factual? Misplaced Pages is not in the business of speculation, or publishing dubious allegations, unless such allegations are notable in themselves. In particular, possibly false allegations that would significantly harm an individual's life should be avoided. Unconfirmed allegations may only be included in Misplaced Pages where they have already been widely publicised by the mainstream news media; in these cases, the allegations should not be given undue weight. In circumstances where a person has been charged with a crime, it is acceptable for Misplaced Pages to give details of the ongoing investigation and/or trial, but speculation must be avoided.
  3. Is the information given due weight in relation to the subject's notability? Biographies should not be dominated by a single event in the subject's life. In Ms. Bush's case, she is notable as the daughter of a serving head of state, and has received extensive media coverage not related to the underage drinking incident; as such, this incident should not dominate the article, and other events in her life should be appropriately covered. In cases where a person is only notable for their participation in a single event or phenomenon (such as the Bus uncle), it may be inappropriate to write a biography on them at all, as this may develop into a pseudo-biography or "coatrack" article. Instead, such content may be merged into a main article on the event.

If all of these apply, then it is reasonable for the information to be included. If none of them apply, then it should be removed.

Inclusion of names and biographical details

In some cases, a person is notable primarily for a single event in their life. This may be the case with the subjects of Internet phenomena or unusual medical conditions, the children of notable individuals, or the victims of notable crimes. In many of these cases, the person in question is a child, or was a child at the time of the notable event. In such cases, some sensitivity needs to be shown in deciding whether or not to include their names, and/or any other biographical details about them which are not relevant to the case.

It is not possible to develop a definite rule for such cases. In general, if such an individual – the victim of a crime, for instance – has received substantial independent coverage in the media, and their name is well-known, then it is appropriate to include an article on them. Examples of this are Damilola Taylor and Madeleine McCann. Likewise, if the subject of an Internet phenomenon has received detailed and significant coverage in the news media, it may be appropriate to include their name; such as The Bus Uncle and John Smeaton.

In contrast, there are cases where it is unnecessary to include a full biography of a person, or even their name. For instance, a child born with an unusual medical condition, who has received some coverage in the news media, may be mentioned in the article on their medical condition; in such cases, it may be appropriate to mention their name in the article, but it is unlikely that they merit a full biography.

In cases where names are removed from an article to protect the privacy of a semi-notable individual, this should be discussed on the article's talk page. There is a presumption in favour of privacy, and as such, in most cases, the names should not be restored unless there is a definite consensus to do so. In some such cases, editors should avoid quoting the names themselves (or other contested biographical information) on talk pages during the discussion; it should be remembered that talk pages are public space, and that information discussed there is available to readers.

In exceptional cases, when names or sensitive information have been redacted, it may be necessary to discuss the removal by e-mail or other off-wiki methods, rather than on the talk page. This should, however, be avoided where possible, as it reduces transparency. Editors should exercise sensitivity and judgment in approaching such situations.

Pseudo-biographies

Shortcut For the policy on pseudoscience, see Misplaced Pages:Neutral point of view § Pseudoscience and related fringe theories. For pseudo-namespace shortcut prefixes, see Misplaced Pages:Pseudo-namespaces. For the Manual of Style on pseudocode, see Misplaced Pages:Pseudocode. For the guideline about archived copies of articles in userspace, see Misplaced Pages:FAKEARTICLE.

An article under the title of a person's name should substantially be a full and balanced biography of that person's public life. If the person is notable only in connection with a single event, and little or no other information is available to use in the writing of a balanced biography, that person should be covered in an article regarding the event, with the person's name as a redirect to the event article placing the information in context. If the event itself is not notable enough for an article, and the person was noted only in connection with it, it's very likely that there is no reason to cover that person at all.

In general, creating a pseudo-biography (on an individual who is only notable because of their participation in a single event) will mean that an editor creating the article will try to "pad out" the piece by including extraneous biographical material, e.g. their date and place of birth, family background, hobbies and employment, etc. Such information, in many cases, will fail the inclusion test, as it is unlikely to have been widely publicised in the media. When in doubt, concentrate on the notable event, rather than invading privacy for the sake of padding out an unnecessary biography.

The general test that should be applied in such cases is as follows:

  • Do any reliable sources cover the individual themselves as a main or sole focus of coverage, or is the person mentioned only in connection with an event or organization? In the second case, it is likely that the event or organization is notable, but that the individual is not. In this case, the person may merit a mention in articles associated with the event or organization, but should not have a standalone "biography" article; an example of this may be the Bus uncle. On the other hand, if the person themselves received substantial coverage under their own name, such as Madeleine McCann or Damilola Taylor, then they may merit a biography.
  • Was the person the main focus of relevant coverage? For instance, it is not necessary to include biographies on every person who was present at the Virginia Tech massacre. The event is notable; individual people (other than the shooter, in this case) are not.
  • Is the person notable for any other events in their life? In most cases, as noted above, a person who is notable only for one event does not merit a full biography under their name.

Neutral point of view

The "do no harm" principle does not justify the removal of relevant negative information about a living person. Misplaced Pages is an encyclopedia and articles must be written from a neutral point of view. Thus, they must represent fairly and without bias all significant views and information (that have been published by reliable sources).

Ethics and consensus

In applying the principle of "do no harm", it is often tempting for an editor to take controversial actions under the principle of ignore all rules. In some cases, it is appropriate to take immediate action without prior discussion, such as where there is a flagrant breach of privacy. However, such actions should be discussed afterwards, and reversed if there is a clear consensus to do so.

For instance, in a case such as the redaction of names from an article, the first step may be to remove the names from an article. However, this should then be discussed on the talk page. During the discussion, the names should be left out; revert-warring is not helpful in these circumstances, as the temporary absence of the names is unlikely to significantly damage Misplaced Pages's credibility. The names should be restored if there is a clear consensus to do so; a straw poll may be helpful in gauging consensus.

Suggested procedure

The following are suggestions for the possible courses of action you can follow if you see a suspected violation of the biographies of living persons policy in an article.

For removal of sourced content

If you see material in a biography that is sourced and accurate, but may fail the inclusion test described above, then you can follow these steps. This might apply to content such as the names of crime victims, for instance, or the details of those associated with an Internet phenomenon.

  1. Be bold and remove the content. Use a non-aggressive edit summary, such as (temporary removal per WP:BLP, will discuss on talk page).
  2. Discuss it on the talk page, apply the inclusion test (as detailed above), and try to determine consensus. A straw poll may be helpful at this stage, as may a third opinion.
  3. Only restore the content if there is a clear and unequivocal consensus to do so.

If you see a removal of such content, and you disagree with the removal, do not edit-war to restore the information. Instead, participate in the discussion on the talk page. Alternatively, you can post a notice on the BLP Noticeboard.

For removal of unsourced or dubious content

Unsourced, poorly sourced, or dubious content, especially if potentially libelous, should simply be removed on sight from biographies of living persons. Editors who repeatedly reinsert unsourced or poorly sourced material about a living person are subject to a block from editing, and edits which remove such content are exempt from the three-revert rule.

For deletion of an article

If you are an administrator, and you see an article on a living individual where most or all of the content fails the "inclusion test" (see above), then you may want to follow these steps.

  1. First, try removing the offending content from the article, and see what is left.
  2. If enough is left to sustain an article, do not delete the article, and start a discussion of the problematic content on the article's talk page.
  3. If there would not be enough to sustain the article, that is, the remaining content contains no evidence of notability, then temporarily delete the entire article. If you are not sure, it is advisable to obtain a second opinion on the case before deleting, preferably from another administrator. If the article is deleted, use a non-aggressive edit summary, such as (deleting temporarily for WP:BLP, will discuss).
  4. Discuss the deletion with other administrators. Keep the article deleted while the discussion is taking place; administrators can access the deleted material, so it does no harm to leave it deleted.
    The method of discussion used should depend on the sensitivity of the material involved. In extreme cases, where you believe that there has been a gross violation of the subject's privacy, discuss the issue privately by e-mail with other administrators. If the issue is less sensitive, discuss it at the administrators' noticeboard.
  5. If there is consensus among administrators that the deletion was unjustified, restore the article.

If a deletion of this sort is being discussed at the administrators' noticeboard or on any other Misplaced Pages page, participants should avoid repeating material from the deleted article in the discussion. Bear in mind that discussion pages are publicly available to readers. In some cases, such discussions may be courtesy-blanked after the discussion is concluded, or names may be redacted. If deletions of this type are taken to deletion review, they should not be undone while the discussion is taking place, and participants in the discussion should avoid repeating extensive material from the article. Again, if the deletion is endorsed, the discussion may subsequently be courtesy-blanked to protect the subject's privacy.

See also

Related policies

Essays

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