WikiFur:No personal attacks

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This page is an official policy on WikiFur. This policy serves as a place to record previous consensus actions, and should be followed except when consensus dictates otherwise. Significant changes to this policy should first be proposed on the discussion page.
Squirrel (PSF).png This page in a nutshell:
No one likes to be abused. Stay cool and comment on the content, not the person. Remember to assume good faith. Also remember that many newcomers have to learn their way around, so be especially careful to explain, not attack. If you're angry, step away from the keyboard. On a wiki, it's a pretty safe bet that there's time to wait for cooling off before you reply.


Don't do it[edit]

Do not make personal attacks anywhere in WikiFur, either against contributors or members of the community. Comment on content, not on the contributor. Personal attacks damage the community and deter users. Nobody likes abuse.

Consequences[edit]

Many Wikifurries remove personal attacks on sight, and although this isn't policy it's often seen as an appropriate reaction to extreme personal abuse. Users have been banned for repeatedly engaging in personal attacks. Abusive edit summaries are particularly ill-regarded.

Ramifications[edit]

Remember that disputes on talk pages are accessible to everyone on the Internet. The way in which you conduct yourself on WikiFur reflects on WikiFur and on you. Stay cool.

Being reasonable[edit]

Different contributors may not agree on an article. Members of opposing communities reasonably wish to express their views. Synthesising these views into a single article creates a better, more NPOV article for everyone. Remember to accept that we are all part of the same community as we are all Wikifurries.

So, don't do it![edit]

There is no excuse for personal attacks on other contributors or community members. Do not make them.

Examples[edit]

Specific examples of personal attack include but are not limited to:

  • Negative personal comments and "I'm better than you" attacks, such as "You have no life."
  • Racial, sexual, homophobic, religious or ethnic epithets directed against another contributor. Religious epithets are not allowed even if the contributor is a member of a purported cult.
  • Political affiliation attacks, such as calling someone a Nazi
  • Profanity directed against another contributor.
  • Threats of legal action
  • Death threats.
  • Threats or actions which expose other WikiFur editors to political, religious or other persecution by government, their employer or any others. Violations of this sort may result in a block for an extended period of time which may be applied immediately by any sysop upon discovery.

Alternatives[edit]

Instead, try this:

  • Discuss the facts and how to express them, not the attributes of the other party. This does not mean that you have to agree with the other person, but just agree to disagree.
  • Never suggest a view is invalid simply because of who its proponent is.
  • Explore issues in a less public forum like e-mail if a debate threatens to become personal.
  • Read Wikifur's dispute resolution policy (still in development).

Remedies[edit]

If you are personally attacked, you may remove the attacks or may follow the dispute resolution (not yet official) process or both. In extreme cases, the attacker may be blocked.

A misguided notion: "Kicking them while they are down"[edit]

Note: There are certain WikiFur users who are unpopular, perhaps because of foolish or boorish behavior in the past. Such users may have been subject to disciplinary actions by curators. It is only human to imagine that such users might be fair game for personal attacks. This notion is misguided.

Community spirit[edit]

It is your responsibility to foster and maintain a positive online community in WikiFur. Personal attacks against any user - regardless of his/her past behaviour - is contrary to this spirit.

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