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{{short description|Guideline about degrading reliability of Misplaced Pages or exhausting patience of editors}}
{{cquote|'''Civility, Maturity, Responsibility'''|Xenocidic}}
<noinclude>{{pp-move-indef}}{{pp-semi|small=yes}}</noinclude>
{{redirect|WP:DIS|information about disambiguation pages on Misplaced Pages|WP:D}}
{{distinguish|Misplaced Pages:Vandalism|Misplaced Pages:Do not disrupt Misplaced Pages to illustrate a point}}
{{subcat guideline|behavioral guideline|Disruption|WP:DE|WP:DISRUPT|WP:DISRUPTION|WP:DISRUPTIVE|WP:DIS}}
{{Redirect|WP:DE}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|WP:DIS|Misplaced Pages:Disambiguation}}
{{for|the encyclopedic article about this|Disputes on Misplaced Pages}}
{{subcat guideline|behavioral guideline|Disruption|WP:DE|WP:DIS|WP:DISRUPT|WP:DISRUPTIVE}}
{{nutshell|Editors who persistently disrupt Misplaced Pages, knowingly or unknowingly, may be ] or ] indefinitely.}}
{{guideline list}}


'''Disruptive editing''' is a pattern of editing that disrupts progress toward improving an article or building the encyclopedia. This may extend over a long time on many articles. Disruptive editing ], though vandalism is always disruptive. Each case should be treated independently, taking into consideration whether or not the actions violate ] and ].
{{nutshell|Disruptive editors may be ] indefinitely by admins, or ] by ArbCom / a ].}}


Editors should take care to not ] as it drives away others and especially ].
{{cquotetxt|'''Show the door to trolls, vandals, and wiki-anarchists, who, if permitted, would waste your time and create a poisonous atmosphere here.'''|]|]}}

Disruptive editing is not always intentional. Editors may be accidentally disruptive because they don't understand how to correctly edit, or because they ].


==Summary== ==Summary==
Misplaced Pages's openness sometimes attracts people who seek to exploit the site as a platform for ], ], ], or ]. While ] are welcomed when ] through ], and constructive editors occasionally make mistakes, sometimes an editor creates long-term problems by ''persistently'' editing a page or set of pages with information which is not ] through ] or insisting on giving ] to a minority view.


Collectively, disruptive editors harm by degrading Misplaced Pages's reliability and/or by exhausting the patience of other editors, who may quit the project in frustration.
Misplaced Pages owes much of its success to its openness. However, that very openness sometimes attracts people who seek to exploit the site as a mouthpiece for viewpoints that constitute ]. While notable minority opinions are welcome when ] through ], and constructive editors occasionally make mistakes, sometimes a Misplaced Pages editor creates long-term problems by persistently editing a page with information which is not ] through ] or insisting on giving ] to a minority view.


An edit which, in isolation, is not disruptive may still be part of a ''pattern'' of editing that is. A group of disruptive edits may be close together in time, or spread out; they may all occur on a single page, or on many pages; they may be all very similar, or superficially quite different.
Disruptive editing already violates site policy, yet certain editors have succeeded in disrupting articles and evading disciplinary action for extended periods because their actions remain limited to a small number of pages and they do not commit gross violations of ]. Collectively, disruptive editors harm Misplaced Pages by degrading its reliability as a reference source and by exhausting the patience of productive editors who may quit the project in frustration when a disruptive editor continues with impunity.


Disruptive editors may seek to disguise their behavior as productive editing, yet distinctive traits separate them from productive editors. When discussion fails to resolve the problem and when an impartial consensus of editors from outside a disputed page agree (through ] or similar means), further disruption should be liable to blocking at the ] and may lead to more serious disciplinary action through the ] process. In extreme cases this could include a site ban, either though the ] or by a consensus. Disruptive editors may seek to disguise their behavior as productive editing, yet distinctive traits separate them from productive editors. When discussion fails to resolve the problem and when an impartial consensus of uninvolved editors agree (through ] or similar means), further disruption is grounds for blocking, and may lead to more serious disciplinary action through the ] process. In extreme cases, this could include a site ban, either through the ] or by a consensus.


The ], if observed by disruptive editors, is not to be construed as a defense against action taken to enforce this policy against disruptive editors. As stated in that policy, "The rule is not an entitlement to revert a page a specific number of times." The ] should not be broken, even by editors attempting to revert disruptive edits. While ] is always disruptive, disruptive editing is ]; it is better for editors to follow the ] than to break the rule.
], if observed, shall not be construed as a defense against action taken to enforce this policy. As stated in that policy:
:''This does not imply that reverting three times or fewer is acceptable. In excessive cases, people can be blocked for edit warring or disruption even if they do not revert more than three times per day.''


==Definition of disruptive editing and editors== ==Examples of disruptive editing==
{{Shortcut|WP:DISRUPTSIGNS}}
This guideline concerns gross, obvious and repeated violations of fundamental policies, not subtle questions about which reasonable people may disagree.
{{See also|Misplaced Pages:Editing policy}}
'''A disruptive editor''' is an editor who:

*'''Is ]''': continues editing an article or group of articles in pursuit of a certain point for an extended time despite opposition from one or more other editors.
This guideline concerns gross, obvious and repeated violations of policies, not subtle questions about which reasonable people may disagree.
*'''Cannot satisfy ]'''; fails to cite sources, cites unencyclopedic sources, misrepresents reliable sources, or manufactures original research.

*'''Rejects community input''': resists moderation and/or requests for comment, continuing to edit in pursuit of a certain point despite an opposing consensus from impartial editors and/or administrators.
'''A disruptive editor''' often exhibits these tendencies:
In addition, such editors may:
<ol>
*'''Campaign to drive away productive contributors''': act in spite of policies and guidelines such as ],], ], engage in sockpuppetry/meatpuppetry, etc. on a low level that might not exhaust the general community's patience, but that operates toward an end of exhausting the patience of productive rules-abiding editors on certain articles.
<li>'''Is ]''': continues editing an article or group of articles in pursuit of a certain point for an extended time despite opposition from other editors. Tendentious editors not only add material; some engage in disruptive deletions as well, e.g. repeatedly removing reliable sources posted by other editors.</li>
<li>'''Is unwilling or unable to satisfy ]'''; fails to cite sources, cites unencyclopedic sources, misrepresents reliable sources, or performs ].</li>
<li>'''Engages in "disruptive ]"'''; adds unjustified {{tl|citation needed}} or {{tl|more citations needed}} tags to an article when the content tagged is already sourced, uses such tags to suggest that properly sourced article content is problematic.</li>
<li>'''Fails to engage in ]:'''
<ol type="A">
<li>repeatedly disregards other editors' questions or requests for explanations concerning edits or objections to edits;</li>
<li>repeatedly disregards other editors' explanations for their edits.</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>'''Fails to recognize, rejects, or ignores community input''': resists moderation and/or requests for comment, continuing to edit in pursuit of a certain point despite an opposing consensus from impartial editors.</li>
</ol>
In addition, such editors might:{{anchor|Campaign to alienate productive editors|Campaign to drive away productive contributors}} {{Shortcut|WP:DAPE|WP:CTDAPE}}
<ol start="6"><li>'''Campaign to drive away productive contributors''': act counter to policies and guidelines such as ], ], or ]—or ]/] that might not exhaust the general community's patience but still operates toward an end of exhausting the patience of productive, rule-abiding editors on certain articles.</li></ol>
{{#lst:Misplaced Pages:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point|intro}}

{{anchor|Failure&#32;or&#32;refusal&#32;to&#32;"get&#32;the&#32;point"&#32;&#123;&#123;anchor{{!}}IDHT{{!}}Refusal&#32;to&#32;'get&#32;the&#32;point'&#125;&#125;}}
===Failure or refusal to "get the point"===
{{anchor|IDHT}}{{anchor|Refusal to 'get the point'}}
{{Redirect|WP:ICANTHEARYOU|inability of mobile editors to receive messages|Misplaced Pages:Mobile communication bugs}}
{{Redirect|WP:Listen|the template to embed audio|Template:Listen}}
]
{{Shortcut|WP:LISTEN|WP:IDIDNTHEARTHAT|WP:IDNHT|WP:IDHT|WP:ICANTHEARYOU|WP:NOTGETTINGIT|WP:DONTGETIT}}

Sometimes, editors perpetuate disputes by sticking to a viewpoint long after community ] has decided that ] would be more productive. This is disruptive.

Believing that you have a valid point does not confer the right to act as though your point must be accepted by ] when you have been told otherwise. The community's rejection of your idea is <em>not</em> because they didn't hear you. Stop writing, listen, and consider what the others are telling you. Make an effort to see their side of the debate, and work on finding points of agreement. Do not confuse "hearing" with "]".

Sometimes, even when editors act in ], their contributions may be time-wasting, especially if they can't understand what the problem is. Although editors should be encouraged to ] and just do things if they think they're right, sometimes a ] can get in the way. If the community spends more time cleaning up editors' mistakes and educating them about policies and guidelines than it considers necessary, ] may be imposed.
{{clear left}}


==Distinguished from productive editing== ==Distinguished from productive editing==
Editors often post minority views to articles. This fits within Misplaced Pages's mission so long as the contributions are ] and do not give ]. The burden of evidence rests with the editor who initially provides the information or wishes the information to remain. Editors often post minority views to articles. This fits within Misplaced Pages's mission so long as the contributions are ], do not give ], and where appropriate, comply with ]. The ] rests with the editor who initially provides the information or wishes the information to remain.


From ]: From ]:


:NPOV says that the article should fairly represent all significant viewpoints that have been published by a ], and should do so in proportion to the prominence of each. '''Now an important qualification:''' Articles that compare views need not give minority views ''as much'' or as detailed a description as more popular views, and may not include tiny-minority views at all. {{quote|Neutrality requires that each article or other page in the mainspace fairly represents all significant viewpoints that have been published by reliable sources, in proportion to the prominence of each viewpoint. Giving due weight and avoiding giving undue weight means that articles should not give minority views as much of or as detailed a description as more widely held views.}}


Verifiable and noteworthy viewpoints include ] as published through reputable peer-reviewed journals. Editors may reasonably present active public disputes or controversies which are documented by reliable sources. This exemption does not apply to settled disputes; for example, insertion of claims that the Sun revolves around the Earth would not be appropriate today; even though this issue was active controversy in the time of ]. Editors may present active public disputes or controversies documented by reliable sources; citing a viewpoint stated in a mainstream scholarly journal, textbook, or monograph is not ''per se'' disruptive editing. This exemption does not apply to settled disputes, e.g. that ]. (''The dispute itself'' is notable.)


Sometimes well-meaning editors may be misled by fringe publications or make honest mistakes when representing a citation. Such people may reasonably defend their positions for a short time, then concede the issue when they encounter better evidence or impartial feedback. Articles are acceptable which document widely discredited hypotheses (and/or their advocates) which have an organized following, such as the ]. However, claims that the Earth is flat would be inappropriate in articles such as ] or ], even if presented as a minority opinion. Sometimes well-meaning editors may be misled by fringe publications or make mistakes. Such people may defend their positions for a short time, then concede the issue when they encounter better evidence or impartial feedback.


==Attempts to evade detection==
In order to protect against frivolous accusations and other potential exploitation, no editor shall be eligible for a disruptive editor block until after a consensus of neutral parties has agreed that an editor has behaved in a disruptive manner. This consensus can be achieved through ], ], ], or similar means. This does not include editors whose edits constitute violations of probation or other edit restrictions, who may be blocked for such edits independent of this guideline.
{{shortcut|WP:RUNAWAY}}

Bad-faith disruptive editors attempt to evade ] in several ways:
* Their edits occur over a long period of time, in which case no single edit is disruptive but the overall pattern clearly is.
* Their edits are largely confined to talk pages; such disruption may not directly harm an article, but it often prevents other editors from reaching consensus on how to improve it.
* Their comments may avoid breaches of ] by refraining from ] but still interfering with civil and collaborative editing and discussion.
* Their edits are limited to a small number of pages that very few people watch.
* Conversely, their edits may be distributed over a wide range of articles to make it less likely that any given user watches a sufficient number of affected articles to notice the disruptions.

Nonetheless, such disruptive editing violates Misplaced Pages policy and norms.


==Dealing with disruptive editors== ==Dealing with disruptive editors==
{{Shortcut|WP:DDE}}
Following is a model for remedies, though these steps do not necessarily have to be done in this sequence. In some extreme circumstances a rapid report to ] may be the best first step, in others, a fast track to a ] may be in order. But in general, most situations can benefit from a gradual escalation, with hope that each step may help resolve the problem, such that further steps are not needed:


The following is a model for remedies, though these steps do not necessarily have to be done in this sequence. In some extreme circumstances, a rapid report to ] may be the best first step; in others, a fast track to a ] may be in order. But in general, most situations can benefit from a gradual escalation:
# First unencyclopedic entry by what appears to be a disruptive editor.
* First unencyclopedic entry by what appears to be a disruptive editor:
#: ]. Do not attack the author who you suspect is disruptive. However, ''revert'' uncited or unencyclopedic material. Use an edit summary which describes the problem in non-inflammatory terms. Stay very ]. Post to talk page asking for discussion and/or sources. Consult ], and be aware that you may be dealing with someone who is new and confused, rather than a problem editor.
** ]. Do not attack the author who you suspect is disruptive. However, '''revert''' uncited or unencyclopedic material. Use an edit summary which describes the problem in non-inflammatory terms. Stay very ]. Post to talk page asking for discussion and/or sources. Consult ], and be aware you may be dealing with someone who is new and confused, rather than a problem editor.
# If editor unreverts:
* If editor restores, or unreverts:
#:Revert again if they haven't responded at the talkpage. Ensure that a clear explanation for the difference in opinion is posted by you at the article talkpage. Refer to this thread in your edit summary. If possible, '''suggest compromises at the talkpage'''.
** If sourced information appears this time around, do nothing; if not, revert again if they haven't responded at the talkpage. Ensure a clear explanation for the difference in opinion is posted by you at the article talkpage. Refer to this thread in your edit summary. If possible, '''suggest compromises at the talkpage'''.
## If the reverting continues, and they are <u>inserting unsourced information</u>:
* If reverting continues, and they are <u>inserting unsourced information</u>:
##: Revert, and '''request an administrator''' via ] (ANI). Provide ] of the multiple reverts by the tendentious editor. Keep your post short (no more than 250-500 words), well-diffed (multiple ] showing evidence), and focus on user conduct issues (the tendentious editor is not engaging in discussion / is inserting unsourced information / is ignoring talkpage ]). Try to avoid going into detailed article content issues at ANI, as it may reduce the likelihood that an admin will understand the complaint. Note: To be most successful at ANI, your own history must be clean. At all times, stay civil, and avoid engaging in multiple reverts yourself.
** Revert, and '''request administrator assistance''' via ] (ANI). Provide ] of the multiple reverts by the tendentious editor. Keep your post short (no more than 250–500 words), well-diffed (multiple ] showing evidence), and focus on user conduct issues (the tendentious editor is not engaging in discussion / is inserting unsourced information / is ignoring talkpage ]). Try to avoid going into detailed article content issues at ANI, as it may reduce the likelihood that an admin will understand the complaint. Note: To be most successful at ANI, ]. At all times, stay civil, and avoid engaging in multiple reverts yourself.
## If the tendentious editor ''is'' using sources, but <u>if the sources are bad or misinterpreted</u>:
* If tendentious editor ''is'' using sources, but <u>if the sources are poor or misinterpreted</u>:
##* Do not go to ANI yet.
** Do not go to ANI yet.
##* Review ].
** '''Review''' ].
##* File a report at ], if appropriate.
** '''File a report''' at the ], if appropriate.
##* Continue attempts to engage new editor in dialogue. Refer to policies and guidelines as appropriate.
** Continue attempts to engage the editor in dialogue. '''Refer to policies''' and guidelines as appropriate.
##**If only two editors are involved, seek a ].
##**If more editors are involved, try a ]. *** If only two editors are involved, '''seek a ]'''.
*** If more editors are involved, try a ''']'''.
##* Suggest ].
# If mediation is rejected, unsuccessful, and/or the problems continue: * If attempts at dispute resolution are rejected or unsuccessful, or the problems continue:
#: '''Notify the editor you find disruptive, on their user talkpage'''.<br/>Include diffs of the problematic behavior. Use a section name and/or edit summary to clearly indicate that you view their behavior as disruptive, but avoid being unnecessarily provocative. Remember, you're still trying to de-escalate the situation. If other editors are involved, they should post their own comments too, to make it clear that the community disapproves of the tendentious behavior. ** '''Notify the editor you find disruptive on their user talkpage'''.<br />Include diffs of the problematic behavior. Use a section name and/or edit summary to clearly indicate that you view their behavior as disruptive, but avoid being unnecessarily provocative. Remember, you're still trying to de-escalate. If other editors are involved, they should post their own comments too, to make clear the ''community'' disapproves.
#Tendentious editor continues reverting. * If tendentious editor continues reverting:
** Use templates {{tls|uw-disruptive1}}, {{tls|uw-disruptive2}}, {{tls|uw-disruptive3}}, and {{tls|uw-disruptive4}}.
#: Assuming that it's one editor against many at this point, continue reverting the tendentious editor. If s/he exceeds three reverts in a 24-hour period, file a report at ] (but be careful you don't do excessive reverts yourself!). However, ''one tendentious editor cannot maintain problematic content in the face of multiple other editors reverting his/her edits''.
** Assuming it's one editor against many at this point, '''continue reverting''' the tendentious editor. If they exceed three reverts in a 24-hour period, '''file a report at ]''' (but be careful you don't do excessive reverts yourself!). However, ''one tendentious editor cannot maintain problematic content in the face of multiple other editors reverting their edits''.
# If the tendentious editor is not violating 3RR, or there aren't enough editors involved to enforce Misplaced Pages policies:
* If tendentious editor is not violating the three-revert rule (3RR), or there aren't enough editors involved to enforce Misplaced Pages policies:
#: File another ANI report.
** '''File a report at ANI, even if you have already filed one or more.'''
# If for some reason administrators do not respond:
* If editor continues to ignore consensus of any decision reached at ANI:
#: File a ], but only if you have multiple diffs to show that you have tried to address the problem via other means, ''and'' you have at least one other editor who has attempted to resolve the problem, and will help certify the RfC.
** Again, '''request assistance at ]''' for administrator intervention, and point to consensus from earlier talk pages or noticeboards. An admin should issue a warning or temporary block as appropriate.
# Editor continues to ignore consensus of the RfC.
* If blocks fail to solve the problem, or you are still unable to obtain attention via ANI, ''and all other avenues have been tried'':
#: Again request assistance at ] for administrator intervention, point to consensus from the User Conduct RfC. An admin should issue a warning or temporary block as appropriate.
** '''File a case for the ] to review'''. Base it strictly on user conduct, and not on article content.
# If blocks fail to solve the problem, or you are still unable to obtain attention via ANI, ''and all other avenues have been tried'':
#: File a case for ] to review. Base it strictly on user conduct, and not on article content.


===Blocking and sanctions===
==Wikilove==
* Disruptive editing may result in warnings and then escalating blocks, typically starting with 24 hours.
It is important to be as patient and kind as possible. Techniques such as reverting need to be combined with sincere efforts to turn the user toward productive work. Only when editors show themselves unwilling or unable to set issues aside and work harmoniously with others, for the benefit of the project, should they be regarded as irredeemable, and politely but firmly removed.
* Accounts used primarily for disruption will most likely be ].


==See also== ==April Fools' Day==
{{main|Misplaced Pages:Rules for Fools}}
*]
*]


All edits on ] must continue to adhere to all applicable policies and guidelines, including (but not limited to) ], ] and the ]. With the exception of the Main Page, all edits that are intended to be humorous should be kept out of the ] and ], as well as their respective talk pages; and be tagged with {{tl|Humor}} (or equivalent template, such as the inline {{tl|April fools}} or {{tl|4-1}}) to avoid misleading users.
]


==See also==
]
* ]
]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
{{Misplaced Pages policies and guidelines |state=collapsed}}
]

Latest revision as of 17:47, 19 December 2024

Guideline about degrading reliability of Misplaced Pages or exhausting patience of editors Not to be confused with Misplaced Pages:Vandalism or Misplaced Pages:Do not disrupt Misplaced Pages to illustrate a point. "WP:DE" redirects here. For other uses, see WP:DE (disambiguation). "WP:DIS" redirects here. Not to be confused with Misplaced Pages:Disambiguation. For the encyclopedic article about this, see Disputes on Misplaced Pages.
Blue tickThis page documents an English Misplaced Pages behavioral guideline.
Editors should generally follow it, though exceptions may apply. Substantive edits to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on this guideline's talk page.		Shortcuts
This page in a nutshell: Editors who persistently disrupt Misplaced Pages, knowingly or unknowingly, may be blocked or banned indefinitely.
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Disruptive editing is a pattern of editing that disrupts progress toward improving an article or building the encyclopedia. This may extend over a long time on many articles. Disruptive editing is not always vandalism, though vandalism is always disruptive. Each case should be treated independently, taking into consideration whether or not the actions violate policies and guidelines.

Editors should take care to not wrongly label disruptive situations as vandalism as it drives away others and especially newcomers.

Disruptive editing is not always intentional. Editors may be accidentally disruptive because they don't understand how to correctly edit, or because they lack the social skills or competence necessary to work collaboratively.

Summary

Misplaced Pages's openness sometimes attracts people who seek to exploit the site as a platform for pushing a single point of view, original research, advocacy, or self-promotion. While notable minority opinions are welcomed when verifiable through reliable sources, and constructive editors occasionally make mistakes, sometimes an editor creates long-term problems by persistently editing a page or set of pages with information which is not verifiable through reliable sources or insisting on giving undue weight to a minority view.

Collectively, disruptive editors harm by degrading Misplaced Pages's reliability and/or by exhausting the patience of other editors, who may quit the project in frustration.

An edit which, in isolation, is not disruptive may still be part of a pattern of editing that is. A group of disruptive edits may be close together in time, or spread out; they may all occur on a single page, or on many pages; they may be all very similar, or superficially quite different.

Disruptive editors may seek to disguise their behavior as productive editing, yet distinctive traits separate them from productive editors. When discussion fails to resolve the problem and when an impartial consensus of uninvolved editors agree (through requests for comment or similar means), further disruption is grounds for blocking, and may lead to more serious disciplinary action through the dispute resolution process. In extreme cases, this could include a site ban, either through the Arbitration Committee or by a consensus.

The three-revert rule, if observed by disruptive editors, is not to be construed as a defense against action taken to enforce this policy against disruptive editors. As stated in that policy, "The rule is not an entitlement to revert a page a specific number of times." The three-revert rule should not be broken, even by editors attempting to revert disruptive edits. While vandalism is always disruptive, disruptive editing is not always vandalism; it is better for editors to follow the process suggested below than to break the rule.

Examples of disruptive editing

Shortcut See also: Misplaced Pages:Editing policy

This guideline concerns gross, obvious and repeated violations of policies, not subtle questions about which reasonable people may disagree.

A disruptive editor often exhibits these tendencies:

  1. Is tendentious: continues editing an article or group of articles in pursuit of a certain point for an extended time despite opposition from other editors. Tendentious editors not only add material; some engage in disruptive deletions as well, e.g. repeatedly removing reliable sources posted by other editors.
  2. Is unwilling or unable to satisfy Misplaced Pages:Verifiability; fails to cite sources, cites unencyclopedic sources, misrepresents reliable sources, or performs original research.
  3. Engages in "disruptive cite-tagging"; adds unjustified {{citation needed}} or {{more citations needed}} tags to an article when the content tagged is already sourced, uses such tags to suggest that properly sourced article content is problematic.
  4. Fails to engage in consensus building:
    1. repeatedly disregards other editors' questions or requests for explanations concerning edits or objections to edits;
    2. repeatedly disregards other editors' explanations for their edits.
  5. Fails to recognize, rejects, or ignores community input: resists moderation and/or requests for comment, continuing to edit in pursuit of a certain point despite an opposing consensus from impartial editors.

In addition, such editors might:

Shortcuts
  1. Campaign to drive away productive contributors: act counter to policies and guidelines such as Misplaced Pages:Civility, Misplaced Pages:No personal attacks, or Misplaced Pages:Ownership of articles—or sockpuppetry/meatpuppetry that might not exhaust the general community's patience but still operates toward an end of exhausting the patience of productive, rule-abiding editors on certain articles.

Point-illustrating

Main page: Misplaced Pages:Do not disrupt Misplaced Pages to illustrate a point

When one becomes frustrated with the way a policy or guideline is being applied, it may be tempting to try to discredit the rule or interpretation thereof by, in one's view, applying it consistently. Sometimes, this is done simply to prove a point in a local dispute. In other cases, one might try to enforce a rule in a generally unpopular way, with the aim of getting it changed.

Such behavior, wherever it occurs, is highly disruptive and can lead to a block or ban. If you feel that a policy is problematic, the policy's talk page is the proper place to raise your concerns. If you simply disagree with someone's actions in an article, discuss it on the article talk page or related pages. If mere discussion fails to resolve a problem, look into dispute resolution.

Practically speaking, it is impossible for Misplaced Pages to be 100 percent consistent, and its rules will therefore never be perfect. If consensus strongly disagrees with you even after you have made proper efforts, then respect the consensus, rather than trying to sway it with disruptive tactics.

Note that it is possible to make a point, without disrupting Misplaced Pages to illustrate it.

Failure or refusal to "get the point"

"WP:ICANTHEARYOU" redirects here. For inability of mobile editors to receive messages, see Misplaced Pages:Mobile communication bugs. "WP:Listen" redirects here. For the template to embed audio, see Template:Listen.
Drawing of a person sticking their fingers in their ears.
"There's nothing wrong with my editing!"
Shortcuts

Sometimes, editors perpetuate disputes by sticking to a viewpoint long after community consensus has decided that moving on would be more productive. This is disruptive.

Believing that you have a valid point does not confer the right to act as though your point must be accepted by the community when you have been told otherwise. The community's rejection of your idea is not because they didn't hear you. Stop writing, listen, and consider what the others are telling you. Make an effort to see their side of the debate, and work on finding points of agreement. Do not confuse "hearing" with "agreeing with".

Sometimes, even when editors act in good faith, their contributions may be time-wasting, especially if they can't understand what the problem is. Although editors should be encouraged to be bold and just do things if they think they're right, sometimes a lack of competence can get in the way. If the community spends more time cleaning up editors' mistakes and educating them about policies and guidelines than it considers necessary, sanctions may be imposed.

Distinguished from productive editing

Editors often post minority views to articles. This fits within Misplaced Pages's mission so long as the contributions are verifiable, do not give undue weight, and where appropriate, comply with WP:FRINGE. The burden of evidence rests with the editor who initially provides the information or wishes the information to remain.

From Misplaced Pages:Neutral point of view:

Neutrality requires that each article or other page in the mainspace fairly represents all significant viewpoints that have been published by reliable sources, in proportion to the prominence of each viewpoint. Giving due weight and avoiding giving undue weight means that articles should not give minority views as much of or as detailed a description as more widely held views.

Editors may present active public disputes or controversies documented by reliable sources; citing a viewpoint stated in a mainstream scholarly journal, textbook, or monograph is not per se disruptive editing. This exemption does not apply to settled disputes, e.g. that the Sun revolves around the Earth. (The dispute itself is notable.)

Sometimes well-meaning editors may be misled by fringe publications or make mistakes. Such people may defend their positions for a short time, then concede the issue when they encounter better evidence or impartial feedback.

Attempts to evade detection

Shortcut

Bad-faith disruptive editors attempt to evade disciplinary action in several ways:

  • Their edits occur over a long period of time, in which case no single edit is disruptive but the overall pattern clearly is.
  • Their edits are largely confined to talk pages; such disruption may not directly harm an article, but it often prevents other editors from reaching consensus on how to improve it.
  • Their comments may avoid breaches of civility by refraining from personal attacks but still interfering with civil and collaborative editing and discussion.
  • Their edits are limited to a small number of pages that very few people watch.
  • Conversely, their edits may be distributed over a wide range of articles to make it less likely that any given user watches a sufficient number of affected articles to notice the disruptions.

Nonetheless, such disruptive editing violates Misplaced Pages policy and norms.

Dealing with disruptive editors

Shortcut

The following is a model for remedies, though these steps do not necessarily have to be done in this sequence. In some extreme circumstances, a rapid report to Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents may be the best first step; in others, a fast track to a community ban may be in order. But in general, most situations can benefit from a gradual escalation:

  • First unencyclopedic entry by what appears to be a disruptive editor:
    • Assume good faith. Do not attack the author who you suspect is disruptive. However, revert uncited or unencyclopedic material. Use an edit summary which describes the problem in non-inflammatory terms. Stay very civil. Post to talk page asking for discussion and/or sources. Consult Do not bite the newcomers, and be aware you may be dealing with someone who is new and confused, rather than a problem editor.
  • If editor restores, or unreverts:
    • If sourced information appears this time around, do nothing; if not, revert again if they haven't responded at the talkpage. Ensure a clear explanation for the difference in opinion is posted by you at the article talkpage. Refer to this thread in your edit summary. If possible, suggest compromises at the talkpage.
  • If reverting continues, and they are inserting unsourced information:
    • Revert, and request administrator assistance via Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents (ANI). Provide diffs of the multiple reverts by the tendentious editor. Keep your post short (no more than 250–500 words), well-diffed (multiple diffs showing evidence), and focus on user conduct issues (the tendentious editor is not engaging in discussion / is inserting unsourced information / is ignoring talkpage consensus). Try to avoid going into detailed article content issues at ANI, as it may reduce the likelihood that an admin will understand the complaint. Note: To be most successful at ANI, your own history must be clean. At all times, stay civil, and avoid engaging in multiple reverts yourself.
  • If tendentious editor is using sources, but if the sources are poor or misinterpreted:
  • If attempts at dispute resolution are rejected or unsuccessful, or the problems continue:
    • Notify the editor you find disruptive on their user talkpage.
      Include diffs of the problematic behavior. Use a section name and/or edit summary to clearly indicate that you view their behavior as disruptive, but avoid being unnecessarily provocative. Remember, you're still trying to de-escalate. If other editors are involved, they should post their own comments too, to make clear the community disapproves.
  • If tendentious editor continues reverting:
  • If tendentious editor is not violating the three-revert rule (3RR), or there aren't enough editors involved to enforce Misplaced Pages policies:
    • File a report at ANI, even if you have already filed one or more.
  • If editor continues to ignore consensus of any decision reached at ANI:
  • If blocks fail to solve the problem, or you are still unable to obtain attention via ANI, and all other avenues have been tried:
    • File a case for the Arbitration Committee to review. Base it strictly on user conduct, and not on article content.

Blocking and sanctions

  • Disruptive editing may result in warnings and then escalating blocks, typically starting with 24 hours.
  • Accounts used primarily for disruption will most likely be blocked indefinitely.

April Fools' Day

Main page: Misplaced Pages:Rules for Fools

All edits on April Fools' Day must continue to adhere to all applicable policies and guidelines, including (but not limited to) edit warring, no personal attacks and the biographies of living persons policy. With the exception of the Main Page, all edits that are intended to be humorous should be kept out of the article and help namespaces, as well as their respective talk pages; and be tagged with {{Humor}} (or equivalent template, such as the inline {{April fools}} or {{4-1}}) to avoid misleading users.

See also

Misplaced Pages key policies and guidelines (?)
Content (?)
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Conduct (?)
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Deletion (?)
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Enforcement (?)
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Editing (?)
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Style
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WMF (?)
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