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Essay on editing Misplaced PagesThis is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Misplaced Pages contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Misplaced Pages's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. | Shortcut |
This page in a nutshell: It's okay to call a spade a spade – to speak plainly – but remember to remain civil, and to stay focused on improving the encyclopedia. |
To call a spade a spade is to describe something clearly and directly. Rather than using oblique and obfuscating language, just "tell it like it is".
Users too often cite policies, like our policy against personal attacks and our policy against incivility, not to protect themselves from personal attacks, but to protect their edits from review.
Although editors who consistently engage in disruptive editing are disruptive editors, and editors who consistently vandalize are vandals, there is still a requirement for editors to be reasonably civil to each other. But being civil should not be confused with being friendly or courteous, let alone charitable or credulous.
It's OK to let others know when you think they're acting inappropriately, but a bit of politeness and tact while doing so will get them to listen more readily. One can be honest and direct about another editor's behaviour or edits without resorting to name-calling or attacks. Discuss troubling edits, in reasonable terms, on that article's discussion page. If the behaviour of a user remains troublesome, use the dispute resolution process. When referring to a particular bad edit, it is always best to include a diff.
A complement to this is Misplaced Pages:Don't call a spade a spade.
See also
- Misplaced Pages:Avoid the word "vandal"
- Misplaced Pages:Discuss cruft
- Misplaced Pages:Don't call the kettle black
- Misplaced Pages:You can't squeeze blood from a turnip