Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in edit wars: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:55, 4 April 2021

Revision as of 20:00, 4 April 2021

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==Creator/contributor==

{{shortcut|WP:IMADEIT}}

'''''* "I created this page."'''''<br />

'''''* "I have made most of the contributions to this article."'''''<br />

'''''* "I started this page; please run all proposed changes through me first."'''''<br />

'''''* "I am Wikipedia's top contributor in this field."'''''<br />

'''''* "I received a barnstar for this contribution."'''''<br />

'''''* "You're not even a member of the WikiProject with scope over this article."'''''<br />

'''''* "Those of us who worked hard to push this to Good Article get the final say about what's in it."'''''<br />

On Wikipedia, [[WP:OWN|articles are not owned]]. Just because you created an article does not mean it is yours to decide how it should be written in the future. Once you save your initial edit, it is out there for [[WP:5P|anyone else to edit at will]].

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==Empowerment==

{{shortcut|WP:EMPOWERMENT|WP:EMPOWER|WP:EMP|WP:MYWAY}}

'''''* "Now, stay out of this matter."'''''<br />

'''''* "I'm right, you're wrong."'''''<br />

'''''* "My way or the highway."'''''<br />

Such arguments do not help reach an agreement in any way. They are only one person [[WP:BULLY|bullying]] the other. Wikipedia's mission is to provide ''readers'' with the best possible information to everyone. Wanting to have it [[narcissism|your way]] all the time defeats that purpose.

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==Experience/standing on Wikipedia==

{{shortcut|WP:MOREX}}

'''''* "I've been around longer than you."'''''<br />

'''''* "I have made over 9,000 more contributions than you."'''''<br />

'''''* "I am a registered user; your edits were made by an IP."'''''<br />

'''''* "I am an autoconfirmed user; you are brand new."'''''<br />

'''''* "I have received numerous barnstars."'''''<br />

'''''* "I have written these guidelines myself."'''''<br />

'''''* "I am an administrator."'''''

[[WP:NVC|There are no vested contributors]]. No editor has more authority than any other, regardless of prior experience. Edit count and length of time that has passed since your first edit are only numbers. The editor who creates an article or plays a leading role in raising it to Featured article status does not "own" the article. As for titles, these grant only the ability to use certain types of features, not to have any say over which version is more correct.

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{{seealso|Wikipedia:Amnesia test}}

{{shortcut|WP:EXPERTISE|WP:IKNOW}}

'''''* "I am an expert on this topic."'''''<br />

'''''* "I have done some professional writing about that."'''''<br />

'''''* "I was the inventor/designer/producer of this."'''''<br />

'''''* "I have been to this place and seen it myself."'''''<br />

'''''* "I met that person and they told me that themself."'''''<br />

'''''* "This person is my cousin and I know this information to be untrue."'''''<br />

'''''''* "I have a college degree. You are a high school dropout.'''''''"

You may have a [[Ph.D]] in the subject. You may be an internationally recognized expert on the topic. You may have worked in the field for decades. But your own personal knowledge cannot be included in Wikipedia unless it can be [[WP:V|verified]] in [[WP:RS|reliable sources]].

Wikipedia is supposed to be a collection of <uem>sourced</uem> material, not [[WP:INDISCRIMINATE|indiscriminate information]]. Unverified contribution of material in a subject of one's own so-called expertise may be [[WP:OR|original research]]. If one has direct involvement with a company, organization or individual that the article is about, this may violate [[WP:COI|conflict of interest]] guidelines.

==Fixed page==

{{shortcut|WP:FIXED|WP:SPECRULES}}

'''''* "This page can no longer be edited; its final version has been published already."'''''<br />

'''''* "You do not qualify to edit this page."'''''<br />

'''''* "This page has special editing rules that must be followed."'''''<br />

'''''* "You must discuss before editing this page."'''''<br />

'''''* "Please discuss before making such drastic changes."'''''<br />

It is a big myth on Wikipedia that certain pages, such as some articles on high-profile subjects, Featured articles, templates, and project pages are fixed, and can only be edited by those in a position of authority, with a certain level of experience, with a prior discussion, or otherwise with special permission.

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==Outside guidelines==

{{shortcut|WP:OUTSIDE}}

'''''* "The law in [___location] says it should be this way."'''''<br />

'''''* "This violates the policy of [company]."'''''<br />

'''''* "This is prohibited according to [religious book]."'''''<br />

[[WP:NOTLAW|Wikipedia is not a system of laws]]. While Wikipedia does respect the well-being of people, companies, organizations, civil laws, and religions, its policies are not dictated by other sets of rules.

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==Prior discussion==

{{shortcut|WP:PRIOR|WP:DISCUSSED}}

'''''* "It has been discussed already."'''''<br>

'''''* "There is a longstanding consensus about how to treat this issue."'''''

Yes, certain conclusions may have been reached some time back via a discussion. But [[WP:CCC|consensus can change]]. The surrounding world constantly changes, thereby affecting the standing of material on Wikipedia. A prior agreement or decision may have worked back then. But things are different now. [[WP:STONE|Nothing is ever in stone]].

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{{redirects here|WP:THREATEN|3=Wikipedia:No legal threats}}

{{shortcut|WP:THREATEN|WP:INTIM|WP:INTIMIDATE|WP:INTIMIDATION}}

'''''* "If you do that again, I will report you."'''''<br />

'''''* "Don't do that or you will be blocked."'''''<br />

'''''* "Anyone changing this will be violating [this] policy."'''''<br />

'''''* "Do this and you will lose some privileges."'''''

On Wikipedia, [[Wikipedia:No personal attacks|personal attacks are not tolerated]]. In particular, it is unacceptable to threaten another with some form of action that cannot or will not likely be taken. When editors make threats like these, and the environment becomes hostile, the victims, especially [[WP:NEWBIE|those who are new]] are scared away from Wikipedia altogether.

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==Three revert rule==

{{shortcut|WP:BEYOND24|WP:STRETCH}}

'''''* "The three-plus reverts I made have been stretched beyond 24 hours."'''''<br />

'''''* "I waited some time before I reverted it."'''''<br />

The [[WP:3RR|Three revert rule]] is a [[bright-line rule]] to draw the line somewhere. But making edits in a manner that just barely dodges this time frame does not make one immune from the consequences. An administrator still reserves the right to block an editor if it is obvious they are being disruptive with such constant reverts, and that no progress is being made toward a resolution. Unlike a guideline, Wikipedia enforces this rule.

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==Other abuses==

{{shortcut|WP:OTHAB}}

'''''* "The hidden text says you shouldn't do that."'''''<br />

'''''* "I have already discussed/explained this in the edit summary."'''''<br />

[[WP:HIDDEN|Hidden text]] can be placed in the Wiki text of pages to help out others with editing the page or to indicate other changes that may come about in the future. But it is not to be used to express ownership of a page, or to instruct or discourage others not to make edits to disagree with one's point-of-view.