Wikipedia:Teahouse/Host lounge/How-to guides/COI

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Trevj (talk | contribs) at 15:59, 22 February 2012 (I found an article about someone I know and there is wrong information in it, what do I do?: commenting). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This guide explores conflict of interest situations.

Conflict of interest

Wikipedia shouldn't be edited to promote a users own interests, or those of other people or businesses. For example: you shouldn't write an article about yourself, your friend or family member, or the company you work for!

I'm a notable person (really, I am!), so can I write my own article? If not, what should I do?

Please share your reply here!

I found an article about someone I know and there is wrong information in it, what do I do?

  • There is a complete policy on biographies of living persons, with potentially defamatory material subject to immediate removal. In the case of inaccuracies, and where the article's subject is known personally to you, either:
    1. discuss the information on the article's talk page, stating what's incorrect and how you know this to be the case (also clearly declare your conflict of interest); or
    2. correct the information yourself, again being sure to clearly declare your conflict of interest on the talk page and/or in the Edit summary depending on the nature of the information/presence of references.
    • If in doubt, default to not performing the edit yourself (with an exception in the case of potentially defamatory material).
-- Trevj (talk) 15:59, 22 February 2012 (UTC)[reply]