User talk:Ritchie333/MOS for Dummies

Disagree[edit]

I have to disagree with if they're arguing over it, it does not belong in the MOS. In fact, MOS should be pretty much only for stuff that gets argued over; MOS' job is primarily to end argument. If it's something no one ever disagrees on (e.g. uncontroverted rules of English grammar and mechanics) then it doesn't belong in MOS. E Eng 01:39, 16 July 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@EEng: The trouble is, the MOS doesn't end arguments; it can't, since it's not designed to do so (being a set of guidelines not absolute rules that must be followed). To give an obvious example, try saying "right, we're having infoboxes, enough discussion" - the dramaboards would explode. And if the MOS did settle the score, there would never be any need to drag parts of it to Arbcom. Ritchie333 ^(talk) ^(cont) 11:56, 4 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

It may not end all arguments, but it ends plenty of them, and provides a framework for resolution of many others. E Eng 03:30, 5 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I guess it must be confirmation bias - I can't ever remember an argument being decided by the MOS. I can recall questions along the lines of "what should 'x' look like?" going to the MOS to get an answer, but not being used to settle an actual disagreement. Ritchie333 ^(talk) ^(cont) 14:27, 5 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

While not ideal, here's an example [1]. E Eng 14:52, 5 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

....and yet said example still managed to have a personal attack or two lobbed into the debate. I am not surprised. Ritchie333 ^(talk) ^(cont) 10:36, 6 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I said it wasn't ideal. Look at it this way: it worked despite all that. E Eng 11:17, 6 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]