This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Odd nature (talk | contribs) at 22:20, 4 June 2008 (Copy edits to reflect lack of existing policy and consensus, and that this is an essay, not a guideline.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 22:20, 4 June 2008 by Odd nature (talk | contribs) (Copy edits to reflect lack of existing policy and consensus, and that this is an essay, not a guideline.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Essay on editing Misplaced Pages | This 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. |
Though there is no express prohibition on divisive behavior on Misplaced Pages, some feel divisiveness on Misplaced Pages between members of the Misplaced Pages community is against Misplaced Pages's policies, guidelines, and reason for existing. They say that since Misplaced Pages is an encyclopedia, dividing Misplaced Pages contributors up into separated camps hinders rather than helps the process of creating and maintaining an encyclopedia. There is by no means a consensus on this point, or on even what does and does not constitute divisive behavior.
For example, if people see this:
| |||
| |||
|
on your user page and complain of divisiveness, you can better communicate what you had originally intended to communicate by EXPANDING it to this:
"Remember what we are doing here. We are building a 💕 for every single person on the planet. We are trying to do it in an atmosphere of fun, love, and respect for others. We try to be kind to others, thoughtful in our actions, and professional in our approach to our responsibilities." Jimbo Wales 16:49, 26 August 2005 (UTC)
Essay in a nutshell
If content on your user page might be divisive then expand the content in question.
Relevant policies
- Misplaced Pages is first and foremost an online encyclopedia, and as a means to that end, an online community. Please avoid the temptation to use Misplaced Pages for other purposes, or to treat it as something it is not.
- You agreed to allow others to modify your work. So let them.
- Do not make personal attacks anywhere in Misplaced Pages. Comment on content, not on the contributor.
- Being rude, insensitive or petty makes people upset and stops Misplaced Pages working well. Try and discourage others from being incivil, and be careful to avoid offending people unintentionally. Mediation is available if needed.
Relevant guidelines
- Don't vote on everything, and if you can help it, don't vote on anything because when you try to distill an essay's worth of thought into a single phrase it becomes divisive rather than the careful consideration, dissection and eventual synthesis of each side's arguments that is needed for the goal of an encyclopedia.
Other essays
- Misplaced Pages is a communal effort so to make it work, contributors must think from a community perspective as well as a personal one.
User space
Divisive content in user space, whether in the form of divisive user boxes or any other kind of bumper-sticker type labeling is viewed by some as being harmful to Misplaced Pages. Creative, explanatory, or otherwise useful information is encouraged as these efforts can help build a community that in turn builds an encyclopedia. If it is generally perceived that a label, userbox, or bumper sticker type self-expression on your user page is divisive, then expand it with creativity, explanations, and other positive inclusive elements or remove it because that's what is good for building the community that is building this encyclopedia.
Facile labels, polarizing "bumper stickers", polemical user boxes, factionalism, and division are bad for Misplaced Pages. Creative informative explanatory self-expression is good for Misplaced Pages.
Individuality of expression always looks more meaningful than branding.
Talk space
If the existing policies and guidelines are broadly interpreted; then within talk space, this essay can be seen as redundant. If the existing policies and guidelines are narrowly interpreted; then within talk space, this essay fills a loophole by explicitly discouraging divisiveness.
Article space
The point of the Misplaced Pages community not being divisive within itself is to help us create the best encyclopedia we can. This essay neither adds to nor subtracts from existing article content guidelines.
Category: