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border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tr> <td width="20" valign="top" style="color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;padding:10px 10px;">“</td> <td valign="top" style="padding:4px 10px;"><b>Civility, Maturity, Responsibility</b></td> <td width="20" valign="bottom" style="color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;text-align:right;padding:10px 10px;">”</td> </tr> </table> <table class="plainlinks ombox ombox-notice" style=""> <tr> <td class="mbox-image"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_check.svg" class="image" title="Blue check.svg"><img alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20081217054455im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Blue_check.svg/30px-Blue_check.svg.png" width="30" height="30" border="0"/></a></td> <td class="mbox-text" style=""><b>This page documents an English Wikipedia <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikipedia_behavioral_guidelines" title="Category:Wikipedia behavioral guidelines">behavioral guideline</a>.</b> It is a generally accepted standard that editors should attempt to follow, though it is best treated with <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Use_common_sense" title="Wikipedia:Use common sense">common sense</a> and the <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Ignore_all_rules" title="Wikipedia:Ignore all rules">occasional exception</a>. Any substantive edit to this page should reflect <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Consensus" title="Wikipedia:Consensus">consensus</a>. When in doubt, discuss first on the <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point" title="Wikipedia talk:Do not disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point">talk page</a>.</td> <td class="mbox-imageright"> <table class="shortcutbox noprint" style="float: right; border: 1px solid #aaa; background: #fff; margin: 0; padding: 1px; text-align: center; line-height: 1.1em"> <tr> <th style="border: none; background: transparent;"><span id="WP:POINT"></span><small><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Shortcut" title="Wikipedia:Shortcut">Shortcut</a>:<br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:POINT" title="Wikipedia:POINT" class="mw-redirect">WP:POINT</a></small></th> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table class="plainlinks ombox ombox-notice" style=""> <tr> <td class="mbox-image"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nutshell.png" class="image" title="Nutshell.png"><img alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20081217054455im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Nutshell.png" width="30" height="30" border="0"/></a></td> <td class="mbox-text" style=""><b>This page in a nutshell:</b> If you think you have a valid point, causing disruption is probably the least effective way of presenting that point – and it <i>may</i> get you blocked.</td> </tr> </table> <table style="padding:0.3em; float:right; margin-left:15px; margin-bottom:8px; border:1px solid #A3B1BF; background:#f5faff; text-align:center; font-size:95%; line-height:1.5em;width:200px; ;"> <tr> <th style="background:#cee0f2; padding:0.3em; font-size:1.1em;"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikipedia_guidelines" title="Category:Wikipedia guidelines">Wikipedia guidelines</a></th> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding:0.1em; font-size:0.9em; background-color:#cee0f2;">Content</th> </tr> <tr> <td> <div> <p><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest" title="Wikipedia:Conflict of interest">Conflict of interest</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Do_not_include_copies_of_primary_sources" title="Wikipedia:Do not include copies of primary sources">Do not copy sources</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disambiguation" title="Wikipedia:Disambiguation">Disambiguation</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Do_not_create_hoaxes" title="Wikipedia:Do not create hoaxes">Do not create hoaxes</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Patent_nonsense" title="Wikipedia:Patent nonsense">Patent nonsense</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources" title="Wikipedia:Reliable sources">Reliable sources</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:User_page" title="Wikipedia:User page">User page</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding:0.1em; font-size:0.9em; background-color:#cee0f2;">Article Inclusion</th> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Notability" title="Wikipedia:Notability">Notability</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding:0.1em; font-size:0.9em; background-color:#cee0f2;">Classification</th> </tr> <tr> <td> <div> <p><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Subpages" title="Wikipedia:Subpages">Subpages</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Categories,_lists,_and_navigation_templates" title="Wikipedia:Categories, lists, and navigation templates">Cats, lists, templates</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Lists" title="Wikipedia:Lists">Lists</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Categorization" title="Wikipedia:Categorization">Categories</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding:0.1em; font-size:0.9em; background-color:#cee0f2;">Editing</th> </tr> <tr> <td> <div> <p><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Be_bold" title="Wikipedia:Be bold">Be bold</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Build_the_web" title="Wikipedia:Build the web">Build the web</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Edit_summary" title="Help:Edit summary">Edit summary</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Article_size" title="Wikipedia:Article size">Article size</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding:0.1em; font-size:0.9em; background-color:#cee0f2;">Discussion</th> </tr> <tr> <td> <div> <p><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Talk_page_guidelines" title="Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines">Talk page guidelines</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signatures" title="Wikipedia:Signatures">Sign on talk pages</a><br/></p> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding:0.1em; font-size:0.9em; background-color:#cee0f2;">Behavior</th> </tr> <tr> <td> <div> <p><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Etiquette" title="Wikipedia:Etiquette">Etiquette</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Assume_good_faith" title="Wikipedia:Assume good faith">Assume good faith</a><br/> <strong class="selflink">Do not disrupt Wikipedia<br/> to illustrate a point</strong><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_do_not_bite_the_newcomers" title="Wikipedia:Please do not bite the newcomers">Do not bite the newcomers</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Gaming_the_system" title="Wikipedia:Gaming the system">Do not "game the system"</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding:0.1em; font-size:0.9em; background-color:#cee0f2;">Style</th> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style" title="Wikipedia:Manual of Style">Manual of Style</a> <hr/> <span style="font-size:0.8em;">See also <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikipedia_official_policy" title="Category:Wikipedia official policy">policies</a></span></td> </tr> </table> <div class="dablink"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:POINT" title="Wikipedia:POINT" class="mw-redirect">WP:POINT</a> redirects here. You may be looking for <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view" title="Wikipedia:Neutral point of view">Wikipedia:Neutral point of view</a> (shortcut: <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NPOV" title="Wikipedia:NPOV" class="mw-redirect">WP:NPOV</a>)</div> <table id="toc" class="toc" summary="Contents"> <tr> <td> <div id="toctitle"> <h2>Contents</h2> </div> <ul> <li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#State_your_point.3B_do_not_prove_it_experimentally"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">State your point; do not prove it experimentally</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#Specific_kinds_of_.27disruption_to_illustrate_a_point.27"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Specific kinds of 'disruption to illustrate a point'</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Gaming_the_system"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Gaming the system</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Refusal_to_.27get_the_point.27"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Refusal to 'get the point'</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Hoaxes"><span class="tocnumber">2.3</span> <span class="toctext">Hoaxes</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#Examples"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Examples</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li> </ul> </td> </tr> </table> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); } //]]> </script> <p><a name="State_your_point.3B_do_not_prove_it_experimentally" id="State_your_point.3B_do_not_prove_it_experimentally"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: State your point; do not prove it experimentally">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">State your point; do not prove it experimentally</span></h2> <p>Discussion is the preferred means for demonstrating problems with policies or the way they are implemented.</p> <p>In the past, some contributors have found their <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081217054455/http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikistress" class="extiw" title="m:Wikistress">wikistress</a> levels rising, particularly when an issue important to them has been handled unfairly in their view. The contributor may point out inconsistencies, perhaps citing other cases that have been handled differently. Moreover, the contributor may postulate: "What if everyone did that?"</p> <p>While such examples are legitimate to cite <i>in a discussion</i>, two important aspects of Wikipedia should also be considered: it is inconsistent, and it tolerates things that it does not necessarily encourage. (Some argue that these are not defects.)</p> <p>It can sometimes be tempting to illustrate a point using either <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parody" title="Parody">parody</a> or some form of <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaching_experiment" title="Breaching experiment">breaching experiment</a>. For example, the contributor may apply the decision to other issues in a way that mirrors the policy they oppose. Such tactics are widely considered to be <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disruptive_editing" title="Wikipedia:Disruptive editing">disruptive</a>, spiteful, and <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:What_Wikipedia_is_not" title="Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not">unencyclopedic</a>, as others are caught in the crossfire of edits that are not made in <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Assume_good_faith" title="Wikipedia:Assume good faith">good faith</a>, and which are <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll" title="Internet troll" class="mw-redirect">designed to provoke outrage and opposition</a>. Generally, points are best expressed directly in discussion, without <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony" title="Irony">irony</a> or subterfuge, as this is the best way to garner respect, agreement and <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Consensus" title="Wikipedia:Consensus">consensus</a>.</p> <p><a name="Specific_kinds_of_.27disruption_to_illustrate_a_point.27" id="Specific_kinds_of_.27disruption_to_illustrate_a_point.27"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Specific kinds of 'disruption to illustrate a point'">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Specific kinds of 'disruption to illustrate a point'</span></h2> <p><a name="Gaming_the_system" id="Gaming_the_system"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Gaming the system">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Gaming the system</span></h3> <dl> <dd><i>Further information: <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Gaming_the_system" title="Wikipedia:Gaming the system">Wikipedia:Gaming the system</a></i></dd> </dl> <p>Gaming the system means using <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines" title="Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines">Wikipedia policies and guidelines</a> in <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_faith" title="Bad faith">bad faith</a>, to deliberately thwart the aims of Wikipedia and the process of communal editorship. Gaming the system is <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subversive" title="Subversive" class="mw-redirect">subversive</a> and in some cases, a form of <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disruptive_editing" title="Wikipedia:Disruptive editing">disruption</a>. It usually involves improper use of (or appeal to) a policy, to purposefully derail or disrupt Wikipedia processes, to claim support for a viewpoint which clearly contradicts those policies, or to attack a genuinely policy-based stance.</p> <p>Examples of gaming include (but are not limited to): –</p> <ol> <li><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:LAWYER" title="Wikipedia:LAWYER" class="mw-redirect">Wikilawyering</a></li> <li>Playing policies against each other</li> <li>Relying upon the letter of policy as a defense when breaking the spirit of policy</li> <li>Mischaracterizing other editors' actions to make them seem unreasonable or improper</li> <li>Selectively 'cherry picking' wording from a policy (or cherry picking one policy to apply such as <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:V" title="Wikipedia:V" class="mw-redirect">verifiability</a> but willfully ignoring others such as <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NPOV" title="Wikipedia:NPOV" class="mw-redirect">neutrality</a>)</li> <li>Attempting to force an untoward interpretation of policy, or impose one's own view of "standards to apply" rather than those of the community</li> <li>Asserting a <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:CONSENSUS" title="Wikipedia:CONSENSUS" class="mw-redirect">consensus</a> where none exists</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081217054455/http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stonewall" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:stonewall">Stonewalling</a> (willfully stalling discussion or preventing it moving forward)</li> <li>'Borderlining' (habitually treading the edge of policy breach or engaging in low-grade policy breach to make it hard to actually prove misconduct)</li> <li><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuse_of_process" title="Abuse of process">Abuse of process</a></li> </ol> <p>Gaming can sometimes overlap with policies and guidelines such as <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:DISRUPT" title="Wikipedia:DISRUPT" class="mw-redirect">disruption</a> (including "disruption to illustrate a point"), <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:CIVIL" title="Wikipedia:CIVIL" class="mw-redirect">incivility</a> (including posting of repeated spurious 'warnings'), <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NPA" title="Wikipedia:NPA" class="mw-redirect">personal attack</a>, and failure to <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:AGF" title="Wikipedia:AGF" class="mw-redirect">assume good faith</a>.</p> <p>If there is no evidence of improper intent or there is a genuine mistake, it is not usually considered to be gaming. It may well be, however, if the action is deliberate, or it is clear there is no way they can reasonably claim to be unaware.</p> <p><a name="Refusal_to_.27get_the_point.27" id="Refusal_to_.27get_the_point.27"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Refusal to 'get the point'">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Refusal to 'get the point'</span></h3> <table class="shortcutbox noprint" style="float: right; border: 1px solid #aaa; background: #fff; margin: .3em .3em .3em 1em; padding: 3px; text-align: center;"> <tr> <th style="border: none; background: transparent;"><span id="WP:IDIDNTHEARTHAT"></span><span id="WP:IDHT"></span><small><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Shortcut" title="Wikipedia:Shortcut">Shortcuts</a>:<br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IDIDNTHEARTHAT" title="Wikipedia:IDIDNTHEARTHAT" class="mw-redirect">WP:IDIDNTHEARTHAT</a><br/> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IDHT" title="Wikipedia:IDHT" class="mw-redirect">WP:IDHT</a></small></th> </tr> </table> <p>In some cases, editors have perpetuated disputes by sticking to an allegation or viewpoint long after it has been discredited, <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_nauseam" title="Argumentum ad nauseam" class="mw-redirect">repeating it almost without end</a>, and refusing to acknowledge others' input or their own error. Often such editors are continuing to base future attacks and disruptive editing upon the erroneous statement to make a point.</p> <p>Wikipedia is based upon collaborative good faith editing and <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:CONSENSUS" title="Wikipedia:CONSENSUS" class="mw-redirect">consensus</a>. When a stance passes the point of reasonableness, and it becomes obvious that there is a willful refusal to 'get the point' despite the clear statement of policy, and despite reasoned opinions and comments provided by experienced, independent editors, administrators or mediators, then refusal to get the point is no longer a reasonable stance or policy-compliant – it has become a disruptive pattern, being used to make or illustrate a point.</p> <p>Note that it is the disruptive editing itself, not the mere holding of the opinion, that is the problem.</p> <p><a name="Hoaxes" id="Hoaxes"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Hoaxes">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Hoaxes</span></h3> <p>On a related note, please <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Do_not_create_hoaxes" title="Wikipedia:Do not create hoaxes">do not put misinformation into Wikipedia</a> to test our ability to detect and remove it; this wastes everyone's time, including yours.</p> <p><a name="Examples" id="Examples"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Examples">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Examples</span></h2> <ul> <li><b>If</b> somebody suggests that Wikipedia should become a majority-rule democratic community... <ul> <li><b>do</b> point out that it is entirely possible for Wikipedians to create <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Sock_puppetry" title="Wikipedia:Sock puppetry">sock puppets</a> and vote more than once.</li> <li><b>do not</b> create seven sock puppets and have them all agree with you.</li> </ul> </li> <li><b>If</b> someone creates an article on what you believe to be a silly topic, and the community disagrees with your assessment on <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion" title="Wikipedia:Articles for deletion">Wikipedia:Articles for deletion</a> (AfD)... <ul> <li><b>do</b> make your case clearly on AfD, pointing to examples of articles that would be allowable under the rules the community is applying.</li> <li><b>do not</b> create an article on an entirely silly topic just to get it listed on AfD.</li> </ul> </li> <li><b>If</b> an article you've nominated for deletion on AfD is not deleted... <ul> <li><b>do</b> reconsider whether your nomination was justified.</li> <li><b>do not</b> frivolously nominate the same article for <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Featured_articles" title="Wikipedia:Featured articles">featured article</a> status.</li> </ul> </li> <li><b>If</b> someone deletes information about a person you consider to be important from an article, calling them <i>unimportant</i>... <ul> <li><b>do</b> argue on the article's talk page for the person's inclusion, pointing out that other information about people is included in the article.</li> <li><b>do not</b> delete all of the information about every person from the article, calling it <i>unimportant</i>.</li> </ul> </li> <li><b>If</b> you wish to change an existing procedure or guideline... <ul> <li><b>do</b> set up a discussion page and try to establish consensus</li> <li><b>do not</b> push the existing rule to its limits in an attempt to prove it wrong, or nominate the existing rule for deletion</li> </ul> </li> <li><b>If</b> you're upset someone didn't follow process in making a change... <ul> <li><b>do</b> find out why they did it and attempt to convince them otherwise</li> <li><b>do not</b> revert an arguably good change for no reason other than "out of process" (see <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IAR" title="Wikipedia:IAR" class="mw-redirect">WP:IAR</a>)</li> </ul> </li> <li><b>If</b> you think that a particular barnstar is silly and pointless... <ul> <li><b>do</b> discuss the matter on the template's talk page, at <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Awards" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Awards">WikiProject Awards</a>, or more broadly at the <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_Pump" title="Wikipedia:Village Pump" class="mw-redirect">Village Pump</a></li> <li><b>do not</b> forge an implausible award to yourself to highlight how silly you think it is</li> </ul> </li> <li><b>If</b> you think someone unjustifiably removed your additions to an article with the edit summary "unsourced"... <ul> <li><b>do</b> find a source for your additions</li> <li><b>do not</b> remove all unsourced content on the page or re-add your information claiming that the entire page is unsourced</li> </ul> </li> <li><b>If</b> an article contains technical terms or jargon that may be unclear to the average reader... <ul> <li><b>do</b> point this out on the article's talk page or add the {{<a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Technical" title="Template:Technical">Technical</a>}} template.</li> <li><b>do not</b> tag the article for speedy deletion under <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:CSD#A2" title="Wikipedia:CSD" class="mw-redirect">criterion A2</a>. (not English)</li> </ul> </li> <li><b>If</b> you think that this list of examples has become excessively long and boring... <ul> <li><b>do</b> suggest that half of them may be deleted without loss for the understanding of the guideline</li> <li><b>do not</b> add <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Answer_to_Life,_the_Universe,_and_Everything" title="Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything" class="mw-redirect">42</a> more cases, however plausible they are</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>Egregious disruption of any kind is blockable by any administrator. Editors involved in <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration" title="Wikipedia:Arbitration" class="mw-redirect">arbitration</a> are likely to find that violating the spirit of this guideline may prejudice the decision of the <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee" title="Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee">Arbitration Committee</a>. See <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration_policy/Precedents" title="Wikipedia:Arbitration policy/Precedents" class="mw-redirect">Wikipedia:Arbitration policy/Precedents</a> for examples of the Committee's views on various types of disruptive behavior.</p> <p><a name="See_also" id="See_also"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Do_not_disrupt_Wikipedia_to_illustrate_a_point&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: See also">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">See also</span></h2> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Be_reasonable" title="Wikipedia:Be reasonable">Wikipedia:Be reasonable</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disruptive_editing" title="Wikipedia:Disruptive editing">Wikipedia:Disruptive editing</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Don%27t_stuff_beans_up_your_nose" title="Wikipedia:Don't stuff beans up your nose">Wikipedia:Don't stuff beans up your nose</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_many_legs_does_a_horse_have%3F" title="Wikipedia:How many legs does a horse have?">Wikipedia:How many legs does a horse have?</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_climbing_the_Reichstag_dressed_as_Spider-Man" title="Wikipedia:No climbing the Reichstag dressed as Spider-Man">Wikipedia:No climbing the Reichstag dressed as Spider-Man</a></li> </ul> <table class="navbox" cellspacing="0" style=";"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px;"> <table cellspacing="0" class="nowraplinks collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;background:transparent;color:inherit;;"> <tr> <th style=";" colspan="2" class="navbox-title"> <div style="float:left; width:6em;text-align:left;"> <div class="noprint plainlinksneverexpand" style="background-color:transparent; padding:0; white-space:nowrap; font-weight:normal; font-size:xx-small; ;;border:none;;"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Wikipedia_policies_and_guidelines" title="Template:Wikipedia policies and guidelines"><span title="View this template" style=";;border:none;;">v</span></a> <span style="font-size:80%;">•</span> <a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Wikipedia_policies_and_guidelines" title="Template talk:Wikipedia policies and guidelines"><span style="color:#002bb8;;;border:none;;" title="Discussion about this template">d</span></a> <span style="font-size:80%;">•</span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Wikipedia_policies_and_guidelines&action=edit" class="external text" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Wikipedia_policies_and_guidelines&action=edit" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#002bb8;;;border:none;;" title="You can edit this template. Please use the preview button before saving.">e</span></a></div> </div> <span style="font-size:110%;"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines" title="Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines">Key Wikipedia policies and guidelines</a></span></th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px;"> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-group" style=";;">Overview</td> <td style="text-align:left;border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;width:100%;padding:0px;line-height:1.4em;;;" class="navbox-list navbox-odd"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"><span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines" title="Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines">Policies and guidelines</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_policies" title="Wikipedia:List of policies">List of policies</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_guidelines" title="Wikipedia:List of guidelines">List of guidelines</a></span></div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-group" style=";;">Global principles</td> <td style="text-align:left;border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;width:100%;padding:0px;line-height:1.4em;;;" class="navbox-list navbox-even"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"><span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:What_Wikipedia_is_not" title="Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not">What Wikipedia is not</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Consensus" title="Wikipedia:Consensus">Consensus</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Dispute_resolution" title="Wikipedia:Dispute resolution">Dispute resolution</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Ignore_all_rules" title="Wikipedia:Ignore all rules">Ignore all rules</a></span></div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-group" style=";;">Article standards policies</td> <td style="text-align:left;border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;width:100%;padding:0px;line-height:1.4em;;;" class="navbox-list navbox-odd"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"><span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view" title="Wikipedia:Neutral point of view">Neutral point of view</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">Verifiability</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research" title="Wikipedia:No original research">No original research</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Biographies_of_living_persons" title="Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons">Biographies of living persons</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Deletion_policy" title="Wikipedia:Deletion policy">Deletion policy</a></span></div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-group" style=";;">Behavioral policies</td> <td style="text-align:left;border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;width:100%;padding:0px;line-height:1.4em;;;" class="navbox-list navbox-even"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"><span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Civility" title="Wikipedia:Civility">Civility</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Edit_war" title="Wikipedia:Edit war">Edit warring</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_personal_attacks" title="Wikipedia:No personal attacks">No personal attacks</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_legal_threats" title="Wikipedia:No legal threats">No legal threats</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Ownership_of_articles" title="Wikipedia:Ownership of articles">Ownership of articles</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Three-revert_rule" title="Wikipedia:Three-revert rule">Three-revert rule</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Sock_puppetry" title="Wikipedia:Sock puppetry">Sock-puppetry</a></span></div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-group" style=";;">Behavioral guidelines</td> <td style="text-align:left;border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;width:100%;padding:0px;line-height:1.4em;;;" class="navbox-list navbox-odd"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"><span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Assume_good_faith" title="Wikipedia:Assume good faith">Assume good faith</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Etiquette" title="Wikipedia:Etiquette">Etiquette</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><strong class="selflink">Do not disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point</strong> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_do_not_bite_the_newcomers" title="Wikipedia:Please do not bite the newcomers">Please do not bite the newcomers</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Gaming_the_system" title="Wikipedia:Gaming the system">Gaming the system</a></span></div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-group" style=";;">Classification guidelines</td> <td style="text-align:left;border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;width:100%;padding:0px;line-height:1.4em;;;" class="navbox-list navbox-even"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"><span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Subpages" title="Wikipedia:Subpages">Subpages</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Categories,_lists,_and_navigation_templates" title="Wikipedia:Categories, lists, and navigation templates">Categories, lists, and navigation templates</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Lists" title="Wikipedia:Lists">Lists</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Categorization" title="Wikipedia:Categorization">Categorization</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Template_namespace" title="Wikipedia:Template namespace">Template namespace</a></span></div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-group" style=";;">Content guidelines</td> <td style="text-align:left;border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;width:100%;padding:0px;line-height:1.4em;;;" class="navbox-list navbox-odd"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"><span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest" title="Wikipedia:Conflict of interest">Conflict of interest</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Do_not_include_copies_of_primary_sources" title="Wikipedia:Do not include copies of primary sources">Do not include copies of primary sources</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disambiguation" title="Wikipedia:Disambiguation">Disambiguation</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="/web/20081217054455/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Do_not_create_hoaxes" title="Wikipedia:Do not create hoaxes">Do not create hoaxes</a> <b>·</b></span> <span style="white-space:nowrap"><a 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