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| {{subcat guideline|editing guideline|Reference desk|WP:RD/G}} | |||
| {{proposed}} | |||
| {{nutshell|Keep the ] in mind when responding on the ], and try to make it useful for our readers and a benefit to ].}} | |||
| {{bots|deny=HagermanBot}} | |||
| The Misplaced Pages reference desk attempts to provide services comparable to those of a ]. Questions posed by users are answered by other Wikipedians, also called "respondents". The aim of the following guidelines is to clarify what are considered appropriate responses. | |||
| == Summary == | |||
| We expect responses that not only answer the question, but are also ''factually correct'', and to refrain from responding with answers that are based on guesswork. Ideally, answers should refer (link) to relevant Misplaced Pages articles, or otherwise cite ]. As always, any responses should be ] and avoid anything that could be seen as disrespectful or even remotely be considered a ] or ]. Many questioners will be newcomers, and the reference desk should be a friendly and welcoming place. | |||
| ===Purposes of the desk=== | |||
| No question should be answered with professional advice on medical or legal matters, or advice that might be construed as medical advice or legal advice. An answer that contains professional advice on medical or legal matters is likely to be removed from the reference desk. Removal of a question from a reference desk is discouraged but in the case of a seriously inappropriate question, the reference desk community might agree to remove the question in accordance with ]. | |||
| *The primary purpose of the desk is to provide improvement of, and access to, the encyclopedia. To do this, the ] attempts to provide an informative resource to all users. | |||
| ==Purposes of the desk== | |||
| *Whilst providing readers with a convenient method of answering their questions, it also serves the public by facilitating access to the information contained in Misplaced Pages, and improves the encyclopedia by promoting the refinement of encyclopedia content. | |||
| The Misplaced Pages reference desk works like a library reference desk. In a library, users consult the professional staff at the reference desk for help in finding information. We don't have professional staff, so fellow Wikipedians work to find information relevant to questions posted by others. | |||
| *The reference desk is also intended to encourage article contributions and additions. A question may bring to light areas in which Misplaced Pages lacks coverage, where article names and redirects could better serve those seeking information, or where article quality needs improvement. | |||
| The reference desk process helps the growth and refinement of Misplaced Pages by identifying areas that may need improvement. If an article that ''could'' answer a question is lacking the relevant information, look for a way to work the information into the article. This provides a lasting value to the project. | |||
| *The desk is comparable to a ]. Readers are advised to first try to find the answer by searching. Answers are kept within the scope of the question asked and usually link to articles which may have relevant information. The reference desk is located in what is termed 'project space' | |||
| == What the reference desk is not == | |||
| *<span id="nohelpdesk" ></span>The reference desk is not for help using Misplaced Pages. Unless the answer is very simple, questioners should be referred to the ]. | |||
| *<span id="nochatroom" ></span>The reference desk is not a chatroom, nor is it a ] for promoting individual opinions. Editors should strive to accurately and ] represent significant views published by ]. An individual editor is not required to provide a fully comprehensive answer – a partial answer may be improved on by subsequent answers. However, responses must not '''intentionally''' skew answers to reflect only one side of a material dispute. | |||
| *The reference desk is not a place to seek professional advice on medical and legal matters nor analyses or solutions to questioners' health or legal problems. See also ] and ]. | |||
| *<span id="nodiagnosis" ></span>The reference desk is '''not''' a place to seek professional advice on medical or legal matters, and responses that could be construed as such must not be given. Any question that solicits a ''']''', a ''']''', or a suggested ''']''' is a request for medical advice. For further information, see ]. Any question that solicits guidance on the application of legal principles, laws, regulations, or contracts to the requestor, or to a person or entity with whom the requestor has a personal relationship, is a request for legal advice. However, general medical and legal questions ("What is sleep apnea?", "What is the role of the U.S. President in making laws?") are fine. | |||
| *The reference desk is not a place to your homework for you. You should do the actual ''work'' yourself, but we will give assistance in interpreting questions, help with ideas and concepts, and attempt to point you to other resources that might help you to solve your tasks. | |||
| *<span id="nohomework" ></span>The reference desk is not a service that will ] for others. It should be made clear to questioners that we will give assistance in interpreting questions, help with ideas and concepts, and attempt to point them to resources that might help them to complete their tasks, but that in the end they should do the actual ''work'' themselves. | |||
| *The reference desk is not a place to rehash the debate about ], ], the ], or any other kind of controversy. Whilst we're glad to direct you to relevant discussions – in Misplaced Pages and elsewhere – of theories of theology, epistemology, cosmology, or conspiracy, the reference desk is not the place where any of these are going to be resolved. | |||
| *<span id="noflamewars" ></span>The reference desk is not a place to debate ]. Respondents should direct questioners to relevant information and discussions, but should refrain from participating in any extended, heated debate. | |||
| === What we try to do === | |||
| Within our capabilities, we do try to answer scientific, semantic or historical questions, help explain concepts, and point the questioner to possible sources of solutions. | |||
| == |
==Talk page guidelines== | ||
| It should be noted that the ] apply to the reference desk, both for posting questions and for responding to questions, unless these guidelines clarify that they do not apply. | |||
| The reference desk is not censored. Although we try not to give offense, it is possible that some viewers may occassionally be offended or shocked by something they see or read here. The desk are not intended to present an overly formal atmosphere; replies may often be light and humorous while still maintaining their purpose. | |||
| == |
==Guidelines for responding to questions== | ||
| As a respondent, you will be viewed (whether you want to be or not) by readers as a representative of the Misplaced Pages community. Many people have their first Misplaced Pages experience asking a question at the Reference Desk and it is a good opportunity for us to build goodwill with the readers which in turn can help the encyclopedia. If people have a bad first experience here, they may never come back. | |||
| === Asking your question === | |||
| Responses to posts should always attempt to answer the question and should almost always fall into one of three categories: | |||
| *Please choose the most suitable Reference Desk (e.g. Science; Humanities) for placing your question. This will increase the likelihood of getting a quick response. | |||
| *direct answers or referrals to Misplaced Pages articles, web pages, or other sources, | |||
| *As Misplaced Pages is an encyclopedia, not a discussion forum, questions that ask for personal opinion are discouraged. | |||
| *clarifications of other answers, or | |||
| *requests for clarification. | |||
| If one or more answers have already been given, respondents should check that their response adds value. | |||
| *Please do not post questions to which you already know the answer in order to start a discussion. Such discussions are best placed on the talk page of an article on the subject, or on user talk pages. | |||
| Our standards on ], ], or ] should be kept in mind on the Reference Desk, as well as the rest of the project. Answering questions by referring to articles or even ] is consistent with these key content policies. Try to make sure that statements of fact in answers can be supported by an article or reference. If it is impossible to answer a question without some calculation, please make this clear in your answer with a phrase such "My calculation is as follows …". Aside from calculations, however, answers should be verifiable, that is, to the extent the questioner wishes to verify that the answer is not fabricated, there should exist a reliable source (or sources) that would give the same answer. | |||
| *Do not double post, or repeat your question several times. It may take a while to get an answer, and repeating yourself doesn't reduce that time. | |||
| Don't worry if you can't completely answer a question. Some questions may demand a broad range of skills and knowledge; it is still helpful to contribute from your areas of personal expertise, and your partial answer may provide useful pointers for other editors who can then expand on your initial response. Don't feel as though you need to answer every question either - if you lack the relevant knowledge, someone else may have it. It's better to not answer at all than to give incorrect or misleading information. | |||
| === Replying to questions=== | |||
| *The reference desk necessarily involves communication between questioners and answerers from different backgrounds and cultures. This communication does not need to be completely formal. Humour is allowed in reference desk answers, provided it is relevant to the question, is not at the expense of other editors, and is not likely to offend a typical reference desk reader. | |||
| Personal opinions in answers should be limited to what is absolutely necessary, and avoided entirely when it gets in the way of factual answers. In particular, when a question asks about a controversial topic, we should attempt to provide purely factual answers. This helps prevent the thread from becoming a debate. | |||
| *Responses to posts should always attempt to answer the question and should almost always fall into one of three categories: | |||
| **direct answers, | |||
| **clarifications of other answers and | |||
| **requests for clarification. | |||
| :Giving personal opinions in answers should be limited to what is absolutly necessary, and avoided entirely when it gets in the way of factual answers. | |||
| === Content and tone === | |||
| *Because the reference desk shares with the Misplaced Pages encyclopedia the goal of giving factual answers based on ], the core policy ] applies to the reference desk just as it does to article space. | |||
| The reference desk is not censored. No subject ''per se'' is off limits. | |||
| Misplaced Pages is a broad-scope encyclopedia, so questions about topics related to politics, sexuality, bodily functions, or religion, for example, may yield responses that some people consider offensive. We understand that some responses about very controversial subjects, or ''any'' discussion of what some may consider "taboo" subjects, are more likely to offend some people than discussion of other subjects. This is unavoidable. Responses are not deemed to be inappropriate as long as they are relevant to the question. However, we take special care to treat potentially offensive subjects with sensitivity, diligence, and rigor. Further, we never set out deliberately to offend, and we endeavor to quickly remove ''needlessly'' offensive material in questions or responses. | |||
| **Responses should ideally refer to Misplaced Pages articles or reliable sources as much as possible. When possible, you should direct the questioner to a Misplaced Pages article or articles which fully or partially answer their query. Though most questions may not be fully answerable by linking to Misplaced Pages, replies can usually direct the asker to at least some article content. | |||
| **If you ''do'' give an answer from memory, without finding sources, take care to make sure that it is factual. If someone requests a source for a statement you have made, you should find it or correct/withdraw your statement. | |||
| Questions usually attract more than one answer and it is always possible to discern a variation in the quality of these answers. Some answers will show a high degree of expertise and professionalism, and others won’t. If you see an answer you think is amateurish or lacking in technical rigor, simply supply a better one. It isn’t necessary to draw readers’ attention to the fact that you disapprove of one or more of the earlier answers. If one of the earlier answers is inferior to yours, readers will be able to determine that themselves. The only acceptable grounds for making adverse comment about someone else’s answer is if that answer contains advice that is likely to be harmful to readers. | |||
| *If you suggest that someone use Google to find an answer, ''link'' to an appropriate Google search and verify that Google ''does'' lead to a useful result. If you're not just providing a 'pointer' in response to a homework question, it's almost always best to provide direct links to useful results. If you're writing from personal experience or opinion, make this clear in your answer. If you can provide a source or citation for an unsourced answer, please do so. | |||
| The desk is not intended to present an overly formal atmosphere; responses may be lighthearted while still maintaining their purpose. Humor is allowed in reference desk answers, provided it is: | |||
| *Sometimes one question leads to another and it is a good idea to refactor these subsequent questions into their own section or into a third-level subsection to keep their discussions from overwhelming the original question and answers. | |||
| *relevant to the question, | |||
| *not at the expense of other people, including the questioner, and | |||
| *not needlessly offensive. | |||
| ''Please'' don't start adding jokes just for the sake of it, and don't let humor get in the way of providing a useful answer. '''If you must make jokes''', please wait until ''after'' references have been provided. | |||
| === Some Do's and Don'ts === | |||
| Joking is problematic because some people (for example children and non-native English speakers) may not understand the joke, or, worse, may mistake a joke for a serious answer. ']' can make outsiders feel confused or unwelcome. ] can be especially hard to detect in a written statement. | |||
| ==== Do strive to maintain the highest standards of courtesy ==== | |||
| While Misplaced Pages policy demands only that we be ], we should in all cases strive to exceed that minimum standard. Note that this expectation applies to people who ask questions and not just those who answer them. We're volunteers here, and we deserve to be treated reasonably. (Don't confuse poor English with rudeness, however.) | |||
| In particular, '''don't poke fun at a poorly written question'''. The reference desk necessarily involves communication between questioners and respondents from different backgrounds and cultures. There may be a number of reasons for 'badly written' questions – the questioner may not have enjoyed a formal education, or may suffer from learning disabilities – but they still deserve a proper answer. If you're not sure about the meaning of a question, ask for clarification; if you ''think'' you understand the question, feel free to state your assumptions and attempt an answer. | |||
| ==== Do have a sensible sense of humour ==== | |||
| First and foremost, we're here to answer questions. Having a bit of humour in your answer is almost always a good thing but please don't start adding jokes just for the sake of it. | |||
| We should in all cases strive to ''exceed'' the minimum standard of ]. ], and don't make the mistake of confusing an editor's poor English with intentional rudeness. Remember that all Reference Desk staff are volunteers and deserve to be treated courteously. | |||
| Remember that young people and people for whom English is not their first language may not 'get' a lot of jokes; too much joking around can be very confusing, and make it difficult for these users to find the answers that they're looking for. 'In jokes' can make outsiders feel confused or unwelcome; be aware that such jokes are only funny to those on the inside. | |||
| === Don't edit others' questions or answers === | |||
| ...except to fix formatting errors that |
...except to fix formatting errors that interfere with readability (like a leading space or unclosed markup tags). Do not correct spelling or presumed typos, or anything that might change the meaning of the question. | ||
| If |
If there is no title to a question, add one. You may also add to a non-descriptive title (such as "question"), but it is best to keep the original title as a portion of the new one, as it may be used by the questioner to find the question. | ||
| You may add to the title, but don't delete or modify the original portion, as it may be used by the original poster to find the question; an exception to this is in cases when the title is deliberately irrelevant and thus unlikely to be used for this purpose. -- ] 11:20, 2 January 2007 (UTC) | |||
| ==== Don't poke fun at a poorly-written question ==== | |||
| You don't know who's at the keyboard on the other end. If a question is badly written, it may be because the asker is lazy or drunk. It could be an eight-year-old. It could be an arthritic eighty-year-old with bad eyesight. (It might be ''your'' grandmother.) It could be a scholar for whom English happens to be his fifth language. | |||
| ==== Do take pity on the dial-up user ==== | |||
| Some people still go online using a dial-up modem. Please be sparing in your use of inline images on the page (consider linking them, instead) and limit off-topic discussion. The Reference Desk is a pretty big page, and we all need to do our part to keep it accessible to as many people as possible. | |||
| Don't add wikilinks to a question or the title; it may unduly suggest to others that the questioner was aware of the Misplaced Pages articles. Instead, if relevant, just include these links in your response. | |||
| ==== Do sign and indent your replies ==== | |||
| Complex technical questions and questions of a more subjective nature may prompt substantial discussion involving many parties. Please remember to sign your responses (with <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>) and indent threaded discussions (using colons) to make clear who is responding to whom. If you forget to sign or indent, helpful editors are encouraged to assist you. Signing your replies adds a 'personal touch'. It also allows questioners to follow up responses privately, for in-depth discussions or debates that may not be appropriate for the Ref Desk itself. Please leave a line space between your reply and the previous poster-- it keeps the page easy to read. | |||
| === |
=== Page protocols and layout === | ||
| Although the Reference Desk ''project'' pages are not strictly ''talk'' pages, the same ] apply. | |||
| *''Do not'' ] on the reference desk. | |||
| *Remember that Misplaced Pages is a broad-scope encyclopedia, so questions about topics related to e.g. politics or sexuality may yield answers that some people may consider offensive, but this is not inappropriate as long as it's relevant to the question. However, special care should be taken to treat potentially-offensive subjects with seriousness and rigor. | |||
| Sometimes one question leads to another and it is a good idea to create a new heading to keep the new answers from overwhelming the original question and answers. | |||
| === Making the Reference Desk a useful part of Misplaced Pages === | |||
| Complex technical questions and questions of a more subjective nature may prompt substantial answers from many parties, so please remember to sign your responses (with <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>). | |||
| ==== Link to Misplaced Pages articles where appropriate ==== | |||
| Link to Misplaced Pages articles which answer the question. If a Misplaced Pages article ''doesn't'' answer a question – but ''should'' – make this clear; you don't want to send a questioner on a wild goose chase, and you do want to let other editors know that the article needs improvement. | |||
| Signing your replies adds a 'personal touch' and also allows questioners to follow up responses privately, for in-depth discussions or debates that may not be appropriate for the Reference Desk itself. Please leave a line space between your reply and the previous poster—it makes the page easier to read and edit. | |||
| ==== Use external links from answers as sources to improve our articles ==== | |||
| The Ref Desk is a service ''to'' the encyclopedia, and not just a service provided ''by'' the encyclopedia. If people ask questions that our articles don't answer, use the Ref Desk's answers to improve our articles. | |||
| Some people go online using a ] ] or have an unreliable Internet connection, so please be sparing in your use of inline images on the page (consider linking them, instead) and limit off-topic discussion. The Reference Desks are large pages, and we all need to do our part to keep them accessible to as many people as possible. | |||
| ==== Remember that you're an ambassador for the community ==== | |||
| ...whether you want to be or not. A lot of people have their first Misplaced Pages experience asking a question at the Reference Desk. By putting our best foot forward here, we build goodwill which in turn builds the community and the encyclopedia. If people have a bad first experience here, they may never come back. | |||
| === Provide source information === | |||
| ==Archives== | |||
| For some types of questions, answers that contain references are more useful than those which don't. For those questions, make a serious effort to locate a Misplaced Pages article or an outside ] that supports your assertions, and include a link to it in your answer. ''You'' may know that your answer is correct, but a ''reader'' has no way to judge how reliable your information is unless you specify your sources. Even if your only source is, say, your own recollections from your school days, it is very helpful to state so in the posting. If there is a Misplaced Pages article that should answer a question, but doesn't, make this clear; you don't want to send a questioner on a wild goose chase, and you do want to let other editors know that the article needs improvement. | |||
| {{archive top}} | |||
| === Use external links from answers as sources to improve our articles === | |||
| ===Rules page=== | |||
| {{see also|Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Reference Desk Article Collaboration}} | |||
| Certain Misplaced Pages policies, but not all, apply to the Reference Desk. The Ref Desk is not an article, and is not subject to any policies specific to articles. In general, the rules for talk pages apply at the Ref desk, although we strive to provide a level of quality matching that of Misplaced Pages articles. Since the Ref Desk is unique, some Ref Desk interpretations of Misplaced Pages policies are unique, as well. | |||
| == Reference Desk Guidelines == | |||
| The Reference Desk is a service ''to'' the encyclopedia, and not just a service provided ''by'' the encyclopedia. If people ask questions that our articles don't address, use the answers to improve our articles—so long as the answers can be ] by a ]. | |||
| *Are answers with references outside of Misplaced Pages allowed ? '''Yes.''' | |||
| === Reference requests and factual disputes === | |||
| *Are references required for all statements of fact ? '''Required, no. Encouraged, yes.''' | |||
| While we should keep the Misplaced Pages ] policy in mind while answering, and referenced answers are strongly preferred, it is not always efficient or useful to apply the policy strictly. If you believe a response ''should'' provide a reference, but does not, feel free to politely ask for one. If somebody requests a reference for one of your own responses, please try to provide one or indicate that you cannot. If you believe your own earlier answer is wrong, you may strike it out or add a clarification. If you think somebody else's answer is wrong, add a comment explaining why you think so, and provide evidence, if possible. Make a serious effort to locate supporting sources, as you would in an original answer. Do not delete an incorrect answer, solely because it is wrong, even if you can prove that it is. Instead provide the evidence and let the readers decide. | |||
| *Are responses which don't directly answer the question allowed ? '''See below:''' | |||
| :*If still related to the topic ? '''Yes, within reason.''' | |||
| :*If totally unrelated ? '''Yes, within reason (as long as the unrelated conversation is not disruptive).''' | |||
| === Do not offer answers on topics on which you are not qualified === | |||
| *Are opinions allowed ? '''See below:''' | |||
| :*Questions which contain an opinion ? '''Yes.''' | |||
| :*Questions which solicit an opinion ? '''Yes.''' | |||
| :*In responses to factual question ? '''Yes, but opinions should be identified as such, i.e., with "I think..." or "I believe...".''' | |||
| If you are unfamiliar with a topic, it's recommended to stay out of the discussion, unless you are posting directly factual information such as link to a ] confirming details previously posted by others. Opinions should generally be avoided unless justified in response to sourced material, or quoted (with appropriate citation) from them. | |||
| *Is original research allowed: '''Yes, but it should be clearly identified as such, i.e., "I've found that...".''' | |||
| The reference desk does not provide answers where an opinion from a qualified professional is needed, such as advice of a medical or legal nature, and the response to such questions should be to refer the OP to the appropriate professionals in all cases. | |||
| *Can we address another responder ? '''Yes, but any admonishments should go on the editor's talk page.''' | |||
| == When moving a posting == | |||
| *Are poorly worded questions allowed ? '''Yes, bearing in mind that many questions may be asked by children or those with limited English skills. As long as you can possibly form a reasonable question out of it, you should answer it. If you can't, then ask politely for clarifications. ''' | |||
| Occasionally material will end up on a particular Reference Desk that is better suited to another Reference Desk, the ], the Reference Desk ], or any of a number of different ] pages or article talk pages. Any user can move this content to the appropriate page, but please only do so in a manner that is easy for everyone to follow. | |||
| When moving content from a Reference Desk page, please do not remove the section header, and please do add a signed note describing the move and linking to the new location, such as: <blockquote><nowiki><small>Question moved to "]" on the Computing desk. -- ~~~~ </small></nowiki></blockquote> At the new location of the content, please note and link to the original source of the material with a signed comment, such as: <blockquote><nowiki><small>Question moved from "]" on the Miscellaneous desk. -- ~~~~ </small></nowiki></blockquote> | |||
| *Is humor allowed ? '''Yes, in moderation, but only after at least one serious answer has been given. | |||
| The moved material should generally be placed in a new section and treated as a new submission (e.g. placed in the location for new submissions—the bottom of the page on a Reference Desk page or talk page). Standard ] also apply: a move should never change the meaning or content of others' postings. | |||
| *Is sexual content allowed ? '''Yes, but not prurient sexual content, and only in response to a sexual question.''' | |||
| Particularly for less-experienced Misplaced Pages editors and posters, it can also be helpful to place a polite notification of the move on the original poster's talk page, with a link to their question's new location. | |||
| *Are signatures required ? '''Yes.''' | |||
| If you have any concerns regarding a move or aren't sure of the appropriate destination, please discuss the action on the ] first (to avoid unnecessary shuffling of content). | |||
| *May we edit the posts of others ? '''See below:''' | |||
| :*The title ? '''Yes, but only add to the title, as the original title may be used as a search keyword.''' | |||
| :*The original question ? '''Yes, but for format only, not to add links or fix spelling.''' | |||
| :*The responses ? '''Yes, but for format only, not to add links or fix spelling.''' | |||
| :*Should responses be edited for content? '''No, but they may be deleted (see section below).''' | |||
| == When removing or redacting a posting == | |||
| *Is "just Google it" a good response ? '''No, you should do the search yourself, verify that it provides useful results, and provide a link to those search results, instead.''' | |||
| When removing or redacting someone else's posting, the usual ] apply. In particular, ''never'' edit someone's words to change their meaning. Editing others' comments is sometimes allowed, as discussed in these and the present guidelines, but you should exercise caution in doing so. In all cases, use common sense rather than some literally minded interpretation of the guidelines. Removing postings unwisely is bound to result in hurt feelings and acrimonious debate. | |||
| When removing a posting, ''also'' remove any posted reactions, unless they are appropriate and can stand on their own, not needing the other removed material for context. | |||
| *May the same people post both questions and answers ? '''Yes.''' | |||
| In general, you should leave a note on the Reference desk talk page explaining your edit and the reason behind it. When removing a questioner's e-mail address, there is no need to sign the removal note; just replace the address by a text such as: | |||
| *May we use abbreviations like "OP" and neologisms like "suitly emphazi" ? '''No, only use language that new users will understand.''' | |||
| :<''E-mail address removed to prevent spamming''> | |||
| A personal attack can be removed by replacing it by | |||
| :<nowiki>] removed.'' <nowiki>~~~~]</nowiki> | |||
| In such cases the reason should be obvious and need not be stated separately. | |||
| For removing a question seeking medical advice, you can make use of the boilerplate text of ] to replace the question. Here it is particularly important to also remove any reactions that can be construed as offering a diagnosis, advice on treatment, or prognosis. But please use common sense — not all questions involving medical or legal topics are seeking advice. (See also ].) | |||
| == Deletion == | |||
| When you remove a posting, it is recommended to note this on the ]. Include a ] of your edit. For example: | |||
| Unnecessary escalation is both rude and nonproductive. The proper procedure should be followed: | |||
| :== Medical question removed== | |||
| #First, mention the post on the author's talk page, politely list your objection, and request that they remove it. | |||
| :I have a question seeking a medical diagnosis. <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>". | |||
| #If they refuse, and if the comment is so outrageous as to warrant further action, then bring it up at ], again politely. | |||
| #If a consensus is reached there to remove it, then the author can again be given the opportunity to remove the comment. At this, point, however, once community consensus exists that it should be removed, other members of the community may delete the comment, if the author refuses. | |||
| #If, and only if, the author replaces the comment four times, should an Admin be summoned, via a ] violation complaint. | |||
| Please do not restore a question that was removed by another editor acting in good faith using a reasonable interpretation of the Misplaced Pages policies and guidelines, just because you disagree with the reasoning, and also do not discuss this on the Reference desk pages themselves. Instead, discuss the issue on the Reference desk talk page, so that, hopefully, consensus may be reached. | |||
| There are also grounds for a "speedy deletion" by anyone, such as death threats, etc., but only the most severe cases of disruption warrant such actions (see ]). And, even in these cases, the author should still be notified of the deletion (on their talk page) and the reason (policy violations) given. An exception exists for anonymous I/P users, where notification is not required. | |||
| We should also discuss the reasons to do things according to the above procedure: | |||
| Any user who collapses, closes or "hats" any part of thread should sign their closing action and include a short reason. | |||
| :a) '''To be polite.''' Politeness goes a long way. | |||
| == External links == | |||
| :b) '''To avoid "revert wars".''' (If a comment is removed without consensus having been reached to do so, then the author is entirely justified to disagree with the opinion of the person who removed it and restore the comment.) | |||
| *] - Desk on a sister project that allows debates. | |||
| :c) '''To avoid a POV bias in the removals.''' For example, a politically liberal editor might tend to delete any slightly off topic politically conservative comments, and vice-versa, even though they would leave such comments in if they were more in line with their political ideology. This could escalate to having all liberal statements removed by conservatives, and vice-versa, even if entirely on-topic. | |||
| ] | |||
| :d) '''To avoid personal vendettas in the removals.''' That is "you removed my post, so I'll remove yours". If a consensus is required for such removals, this type of petty behavior is unlikely. | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:34, 7 May 2023
 | This page documents an English Misplaced Pages editing 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. | Shortcut |
 | This page in a nutshell: Keep the core policies and guidelines in mind when responding on the reference desk, and try to make it useful for our readers and a benefit to Misplaced Pages. |
The Misplaced Pages reference desk attempts to provide services comparable to those of a library reference desk. Questions posed by users are answered by other Wikipedians, also called "respondents". The aim of the following guidelines is to clarify what are considered appropriate responses.
We expect responses that not only answer the question, but are also factually correct, and to refrain from responding with answers that are based on guesswork. Ideally, answers should refer (link) to relevant Misplaced Pages articles, or otherwise cite reliable sources. As always, any responses should be civil and avoid anything that could be seen as disrespectful or even remotely be considered a personal attack or ad hominem. Many questioners will be newcomers, and the reference desk should be a friendly and welcoming place.
No question should be answered with professional advice on medical or legal matters, or advice that might be construed as medical advice or legal advice. An answer that contains professional advice on medical or legal matters is likely to be removed from the reference desk. Removal of a question from a reference desk is discouraged but in the case of a seriously inappropriate question, the reference desk community might agree to remove the question in accordance with WP:RD/G/M#Dealing with questions asking for medical advice.
Purposes of the desk
The Misplaced Pages reference desk works like a library reference desk. In a library, users consult the professional staff at the reference desk for help in finding information. We don't have professional staff, so fellow Wikipedians work to find information relevant to questions posted by others.
The reference desk process helps the growth and refinement of Misplaced Pages by identifying areas that may need improvement. If an article that could answer a question is lacking the relevant information, look for a way to work the information into the article. This provides a lasting value to the project.
What the reference desk is not
- The reference desk is not for help using Misplaced Pages. Unless the answer is very simple, questioners should be referred to the Misplaced Pages:Help desk.
- The reference desk is not a chatroom, nor is it a soapbox for promoting individual opinions. Editors should strive to accurately and fairly represent significant views published by reliable sources. An individual editor is not required to provide a fully comprehensive answer – a partial answer may be improved on by subsequent answers. However, responses must not intentionally skew answers to reflect only one side of a material dispute.
- The reference desk is not a place to seek professional advice on medical or legal matters, and responses that could be construed as such must not be given. Any question that solicits a diagnosis, a prognosis, or a suggested treatment is a request for medical advice. For further information, see Misplaced Pages:Reference desk/Guidelines/Medical advice. Any question that solicits guidance on the application of legal principles, laws, regulations, or contracts to the requestor, or to a person or entity with whom the requestor has a personal relationship, is a request for legal advice. However, general medical and legal questions ("What is sleep apnea?", "What is the role of the U.S. President in making laws?") are fine.
- The reference desk is not a service that will do homework for others. It should be made clear to questioners that we will give assistance in interpreting questions, help with ideas and concepts, and attempt to point them to resources that might help them to complete their tasks, but that in the end they should do the actual work themselves.
- The reference desk is not a place to debate controversial subjects. Respondents should direct questioners to relevant information and discussions, but should refrain from participating in any extended, heated debate.
Talk page guidelines
It should be noted that the Misplaced Pages talk page guidelines apply to the reference desk, both for posting questions and for responding to questions, unless these guidelines clarify that they do not apply.
Guidelines for responding to questions
As a respondent, you will be viewed (whether you want to be or not) by readers as a representative of the Misplaced Pages community. Many people have their first Misplaced Pages experience asking a question at the Reference Desk and it is a good opportunity for us to build goodwill with the readers which in turn can help the encyclopedia. If people have a bad first experience here, they may never come back.
Responses to posts should always attempt to answer the question and should almost always fall into one of three categories:
- direct answers or referrals to Misplaced Pages articles, web pages, or other sources,
- clarifications of other answers, or
- requests for clarification.
If one or more answers have already been given, respondents should check that their response adds value.
Our standards on verifiability, neutral point of view, or no original research should be kept in mind on the Reference Desk, as well as the rest of the project. Answering questions by referring to articles or even reliable original sources is consistent with these key content policies. Try to make sure that statements of fact in answers can be supported by an article or reference. If it is impossible to answer a question without some calculation, please make this clear in your answer with a phrase such "My calculation is as follows …". Aside from calculations, however, answers should be verifiable, that is, to the extent the questioner wishes to verify that the answer is not fabricated, there should exist a reliable source (or sources) that would give the same answer.
Don't worry if you can't completely answer a question. Some questions may demand a broad range of skills and knowledge; it is still helpful to contribute from your areas of personal expertise, and your partial answer may provide useful pointers for other editors who can then expand on your initial response. Don't feel as though you need to answer every question either - if you lack the relevant knowledge, someone else may have it. It's better to not answer at all than to give incorrect or misleading information.
Personal opinions in answers should be limited to what is absolutely necessary, and avoided entirely when it gets in the way of factual answers. In particular, when a question asks about a controversial topic, we should attempt to provide purely factual answers. This helps prevent the thread from becoming a debate.
Content and tone
The reference desk is not censored. No subject per se is off limits.
Misplaced Pages is a broad-scope encyclopedia, so questions about topics related to politics, sexuality, bodily functions, or religion, for example, may yield responses that some people consider offensive. We understand that some responses about very controversial subjects, or any discussion of what some may consider "taboo" subjects, are more likely to offend some people than discussion of other subjects. This is unavoidable. Responses are not deemed to be inappropriate as long as they are relevant to the question. However, we take special care to treat potentially offensive subjects with sensitivity, diligence, and rigor. Further, we never set out deliberately to offend, and we endeavor to quickly remove needlessly offensive material in questions or responses.
Questions usually attract more than one answer and it is always possible to discern a variation in the quality of these answers. Some answers will show a high degree of expertise and professionalism, and others won’t. If you see an answer you think is amateurish or lacking in technical rigor, simply supply a better one. It isn’t necessary to draw readers’ attention to the fact that you disapprove of one or more of the earlier answers. If one of the earlier answers is inferior to yours, readers will be able to determine that themselves. The only acceptable grounds for making adverse comment about someone else’s answer is if that answer contains advice that is likely to be harmful to readers.
The desk is not intended to present an overly formal atmosphere; responses may be lighthearted while still maintaining their purpose. Humor is allowed in reference desk answers, provided it is:
- relevant to the question,
- not at the expense of other people, including the questioner, and
- not needlessly offensive.
Please don't start adding jokes just for the sake of it, and don't let humor get in the way of providing a useful answer. If you must make jokes, please wait until after references have been provided.
Joking is problematic because some people (for example children and non-native English speakers) may not understand the joke, or, worse, may mistake a joke for a serious answer. 'In-jokes' can make outsiders feel confused or unwelcome. Sarcasm can be especially hard to detect in a written statement.
In particular, don't poke fun at a poorly written question. The reference desk necessarily involves communication between questioners and respondents from different backgrounds and cultures. There may be a number of reasons for 'badly written' questions – the questioner may not have enjoyed a formal education, or may suffer from learning disabilities – but they still deserve a proper answer. If you're not sure about the meaning of a question, ask for clarification; if you think you understand the question, feel free to state your assumptions and attempt an answer.
We should in all cases strive to exceed the minimum standard of civility. Assume good faith, and don't make the mistake of confusing an editor's poor English with intentional rudeness. Remember that all Reference Desk staff are volunteers and deserve to be treated courteously.
Don't edit others' questions or answers
...except to fix formatting errors that interfere with readability (like a leading space or unclosed markup tags). Do not correct spelling or presumed typos, or anything that might change the meaning of the question.
If there is no title to a question, add one. You may also add to a non-descriptive title (such as "question"), but it is best to keep the original title as a portion of the new one, as it may be used by the questioner to find the question.
Don't add wikilinks to a question or the title; it may unduly suggest to others that the questioner was aware of the Misplaced Pages articles. Instead, if relevant, just include these links in your response.
Page protocols and layout
Although the Reference Desk project pages are not strictly talk pages, the same indentation conventions apply.
Sometimes one question leads to another and it is a good idea to create a new heading to keep the new answers from overwhelming the original question and answers.
Complex technical questions and questions of a more subjective nature may prompt substantial answers from many parties, so please remember to sign your responses (with ~~~~).
Signing your replies adds a 'personal touch' and also allows questioners to follow up responses privately, for in-depth discussions or debates that may not be appropriate for the Reference Desk itself. Please leave a line space between your reply and the previous poster—it makes the page easier to read and edit.
Some people go online using a dial-up modem or have an unreliable Internet connection, so please be sparing in your use of inline images on the page (consider linking them, instead) and limit off-topic discussion. The Reference Desks are large pages, and we all need to do our part to keep them accessible to as many people as possible.
Provide source information
For some types of questions, answers that contain references are more useful than those which don't. For those questions, make a serious effort to locate a Misplaced Pages article or an outside reliable source that supports your assertions, and include a link to it in your answer. You may know that your answer is correct, but a reader has no way to judge how reliable your information is unless you specify your sources. Even if your only source is, say, your own recollections from your school days, it is very helpful to state so in the posting. If there is a Misplaced Pages article that should answer a question, but doesn't, make this clear; you don't want to send a questioner on a wild goose chase, and you do want to let other editors know that the article needs improvement.
Use external links from answers as sources to improve our articles
See also: Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Reference Desk Article CollaborationThe Reference Desk is a service to the encyclopedia, and not just a service provided by the encyclopedia. If people ask questions that our articles don't address, use the answers to improve our articles—so long as the answers can be verified by a reliable source.
Reference requests and factual disputes
While we should keep the Misplaced Pages verifiability policy in mind while answering, and referenced answers are strongly preferred, it is not always efficient or useful to apply the policy strictly. If you believe a response should provide a reference, but does not, feel free to politely ask for one. If somebody requests a reference for one of your own responses, please try to provide one or indicate that you cannot. If you believe your own earlier answer is wrong, you may strike it out or add a clarification. If you think somebody else's answer is wrong, add a comment explaining why you think so, and provide evidence, if possible. Make a serious effort to locate supporting sources, as you would in an original answer. Do not delete an incorrect answer, solely because it is wrong, even if you can prove that it is. Instead provide the evidence and let the readers decide.
Do not offer answers on topics on which you are not qualified
If you are unfamiliar with a topic, it's recommended to stay out of the discussion, unless you are posting directly factual information such as link to a Reliable source confirming details previously posted by others. Opinions should generally be avoided unless justified in response to sourced material, or quoted (with appropriate citation) from them.
The reference desk does not provide answers where an opinion from a qualified professional is needed, such as advice of a medical or legal nature, and the response to such questions should be to refer the OP to the appropriate professionals in all cases.
When moving a posting
Occasionally material will end up on a particular Reference Desk that is better suited to another Reference Desk, the Help Desk, the Reference Desk talk page, or any of a number of different WikiProject pages or article talk pages. Any user can move this content to the appropriate page, but please only do so in a manner that is easy for everyone to follow.
When moving content from a Reference Desk page, please do not remove the section header, and please do add a signed note describing the move and linking to the new location, such as:
<small>Question moved to "]" on the Computing desk. -- ~~~~ </small>
At the new location of the content, please note and link to the original source of the material with a signed comment, such as:
<small>Question moved from "]" on the Miscellaneous desk. -- ~~~~ </small>
The moved material should generally be placed in a new section and treated as a new submission (e.g. placed in the location for new submissions—the bottom of the page on a Reference Desk page or talk page). Standard talk page guidelines also apply: a move should never change the meaning or content of others' postings.
Particularly for less-experienced Misplaced Pages editors and posters, it can also be helpful to place a polite notification of the move on the original poster's talk page, with a link to their question's new location.
If you have any concerns regarding a move or aren't sure of the appropriate destination, please discuss the action on the Reference Desk talk page first (to avoid unnecessary shuffling of content).
When removing or redacting a posting
When removing or redacting someone else's posting, the usual talk page guidelines apply. In particular, never edit someone's words to change their meaning. Editing others' comments is sometimes allowed, as discussed in these and the present guidelines, but you should exercise caution in doing so. In all cases, use common sense rather than some literally minded interpretation of the guidelines. Removing postings unwisely is bound to result in hurt feelings and acrimonious debate.
When removing a posting, also remove any posted reactions, unless they are appropriate and can stand on their own, not needing the other removed material for context.
In general, you should leave a note on the Reference desk talk page explaining your edit and the reason behind it. When removing a questioner's e-mail address, there is no need to sign the removal note; just replace the address by a text such as:
- <E-mail address removed to prevent spamming>
A personal attack can be removed by replacing it by
In such cases the reason should be obvious and need not be stated separately.
For removing a question seeking medical advice, you can make use of the boilerplate text of Template:RD-deleted to replace the question. Here it is particularly important to also remove any reactions that can be construed as offering a diagnosis, advice on treatment, or prognosis. But please use common sense — not all questions involving medical or legal topics are seeking advice. (See also Misplaced Pages:Reference desk/guidelines/Medical advice.)
When you remove a posting, it is recommended to note this on the Reference desk talk page. Include a diff of your edit. For example:
- == Medical question removed==
- I have removed a question seeking a medical diagnosis. ~~~~".
Please do not restore a question that was removed by another editor acting in good faith using a reasonable interpretation of the Misplaced Pages policies and guidelines, just because you disagree with the reasoning, and also do not discuss this on the Reference desk pages themselves. Instead, discuss the issue on the Reference desk talk page, so that, hopefully, consensus may be reached.
Any user who collapses, closes or "hats" any part of thread should sign their closing action and include a short reason.
External links
- Wikiversity Help Desk - Desk on a sister project that allows debates.