User:Kingsindian/Guide to discussions on WP

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Here is my guide to discussions on WP.[1][2] In a nutshell:

  1. WP:TLDR
  2. WP:TLDR
  3. WP:TLDR
  4. Everything else.

Remember that WP is a hobby. 90% of everything is crap. Even your biggest enemies are doing you a huge service by simply reading your comment. Respect them, and take the time to shorten your comment, in line with Pascal's insight.[3]

For discussions involving admins, the guideline is triply important.

  • Admins are uninvolved; reading about an uninteresting subject is a chore.
  • Admins have seen it all before; your comment is likely to be useless.
  • Admins have narrowly defined powers and functions; most of your comment will be useless to them.

Rest of this document is about "everything else".

General comments[edit]

  1. Patience:[4] The world will not stop turning if the WP:WRONGVERSION stays up a few more days.
  2. Cite wikipedia policies and guidelines: They are distillations of common arguments.[5]
  3. Avoid appeals to emotion, ethics or politics: Nobody changes their mind about political or moral matters based on internet debates with strangers.
  4. Take a short break (or even count to 10) or sleep on it: Decrease your comment size by 50-100%.
  5. Editors have pride:[6] If you have a superior argument, don't taunt, bludgeon or belittle others. Simply state the argument; if possible, understate it. Leave a ladder for the person to climb down the tall tree she may find herself on, without losing face.
  6. You are not required to respond or listen to every comment: Give your arguments just once or twice.
  7. Don't argue forever: Apart from being useless, it increases chances of WP:TLDR for observers. WP:3O is an under-appreciated tool. Other venues are given here.
  8. Last but not least, learn how to lose.

Drama boards[edit]

WP:AE[edit]

  1. If you are defending yourself, say as little as possible. The burden is on the person bringing the complaint to show her case. I have seen plenty of people punished based on their response to the complaint, and not on the complaint itself.
  2. Avoid responding to non-admins. You are wasting your time: admins will not read it. Also, it will increase chances of WP:TLDR.

WP:ANI[edit]

  1. Don't.
  2. See WP:ANI Advice.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ This is not a prescriptive guideline: numerous exceptions exist.
  2. ^ Even though I disagree with Shrike on many issues, he is my model for much of the stuff on this page.
  3. ^ There is an ancillary advantage. Still waters run deep. People will not take you lightly in the future.
  4. ^ Also OWB #30
  5. ^ Caveat: many pages (like WP:BRD) are just essays like this one, not policies, or even guidelines. Citing them can still be useful.
  6. ^ This essay strictly deals with blocks, but the argument applies more generally.
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