User:Ricken/SandboxPG/No personal attacks
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Do not make personal attacks anywhere in AmtWiki. Comment on content, not on the contributor. Personal attacks harm the AmtWiki community, and by extension the Amtgard community. Derogatory comments about other editors or other people in Amtgard may be removed by any editor. Repeated or egregious personal attacks may lead to blocks.
Contents
What they are
There is no rule that is objective and not open to interpretation on what constitutes a personal attack as opposed to constructive discussion, but some types of comments are never acceptable:
- Racial, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ageist, religious, political, ethnic, national, sexual, or other epithets (such as against people with disabilities) directed against another contributor, against a group of contributors, or against an Amtgardian. Disagreement over what constitutes a religion, race, sexual orientation, or ethnicity is not a legitimate excuse.
- Using someone's affiliations as an ad hominem means of dismissing or discrediting their views. Note that it is not a personal attack to question an editor at their talk page about their possible conflict of interest on a specific article or topic.
- Linking to external attacks, harassment, or other material, for the purpose of attacking another editor.
- Comparing editors to Nazis, dictators, or other infamous persons. Invoking Godwin's Law is not a constructive form of communication.
- Accusations about personal behavior that lack evidence. Serious accusations require serious evidence. Evidence often takes the form of diffs and links presented on wiki.
- Threats, including, but not limited to: threats of legal action, threats of violence or other off-wiki action (particularly death threats), threats of vandalism, or threats to give out personal information.
These examples are not exhaustive. Insulting or disparaging an editor is a personal attack regardless of the manner in which it is done. When in doubt, comment on the article's content without referring to its contributor at all.
Why they are harmful
Contributors often wish to have their viewpoints included in articles. Through reasoned debate, contributors can synthesize these views into a single article, and this creates a better, more neutral article for everyone. Every person who edits an article is part of the same larger community.
The prohibition against personal attacks applies equally to all users. It is as unacceptable to attack a user with a history of foolish or boorish behavior, or one who has been blocked, banned, or otherwise sanctioned, as it is to attack any other user.
Responding to personal attacks
=First offenses and isolated incidents
Often the best way to respond to an isolated personal attack is to simply ignore it. Sometimes personal attacks are not meant as attacks at all, and during heated and stressful debates editors tend to overreact. Additionally, because AmtWiki discussions are in a text-only medium, nuances and emotions are conveyed poorly which can easily lead to misunderstanding. While personal attacks are not excused because of these factors, editors are encouraged to disregard angry and ill-mannered postings of others when it is reasonable to do so.
If you feel that a response is necessary and desirable, you can leave a polite message on the other user's talk page. Avoid responding on a talk page of an article, as this tends to escalate matters. Likewise, it is important to avoid becoming hostile and confrontational yourself, even in the face of abuse. When possible, try to find compromise or common ground regarding the underlying issues of content, rather than argue about behavior.
Attacks that are particularly offensive or disruptive (such as physical threats, legal threats, or blatantly racist or sexist insults) should not be ignored. Extraordinary situations that require immediate intervention are rare, but may be reported on the admin noticeboard.
Discussion of behavior in an appropriate forum (e.g. user's talk page) does not in itself constitute a personal attack.
Lesser personal attacks often result in a warning. In extreme cases, even isolated personal attacks may lead to a block for disruption.
Recurring attacks
A pattern of hostility reduces the likelihood of the community assuming good faith, and can be considered disruptive editing. Users who insist on a confrontational style marked by personal attacks can be subject to admin intervention. Death threats and issues of similar severity may result in a block without warning.
