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This is an essay; it contains the advice and/or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. It is not a policy or guideline, and editors are not obliged to follow it. |
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- We are editors, not bloggers. No matter how forum-like some talk pages and Wikipedia discussions are, we are here to edit an encyclopaedia – not to host a social gathering.
- Principle beats process. In any issue, the spirit of a policy or action is crucial. Human discretion must be used in all cases; if ever an action on Wikipedia becomes so functional that a bot could do it, the ability to distinguish between the right and wrong decision is lost. The reasons for blocking, for example, are far more important than the button that confirms the action.
- No-one is a lone ranger. Recent changes patrollers often seem to have an 'us against them' attitude. The vast majority of vandals are here at best to cause minor graffiti and at worst to disrupt the encyclopedia – not your day. Vigilantism achieves nothing: it is far better to allow the community to deal with a user than staking out a personal line against them.
- People not usernames. Wikipedia is not a game. You are not typing messages to a computer screen or a username, you are typing them to a person. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, that person may be thousands of miles away or sat in the next room. If you would not send that message to a friend, don't send it to another user!
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