Meta: Don't be a dick - Gendergap

13 Mar 2011

Now here’s something. As soon as I saw it, I thought “This belongs in the Gendergap
Digest!” It is a Meta essay called “Don’t be a Dick”. I know that many people will rally
for or against it, but before we do, we have to do four things:

1. Read the essay at http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_be_a_dick. It isn’t that
profane. Also read the disclaimer “This is an essay. It expresses the opinions and ideas
of some wikimedians or Meta-Wiki users but may not have wide support. This is not policy
on the Meta-Wiki, but it may be policy or guideline on other Wikimedia projects. Feel free
to update this page as needed, or use the discussion page to propose major changes.”
2. Realize that this essay uses a vulgar, yet not excessively profane, casual line of
speech that is inherently manly. Women might not like that.
3. Wikipedia is supposed to be a melding of knowledge and opinions.
4. Wikipedia and its sister projects advise against personal attacks (yet this deals with
being attacked, or accused of being a dick and politely dealing with a dick).
5. Wikipedia and its sister projects advise against removing content for the benefit of
any group, no matter how large or powerful (the only exception is hardcore pornography).

Considering these four things, I believe that the best course of action is to read a lot
of essays. They are often the opinion of one or a few editors.Reading the opinions of many
people can help broaden your mind, even if it is a little vulgar. Take it with a little
salt. They didn’t say something like “If you’re a dick, I will f***ing blank your p***y
c** page because you’re a sl***y b****y c*** who I hope gets raped by a b***h p***y n****r
every day because you’re a dick!” 

Finally, I hope that using the word “dick” in this entry has been excused. I believe that
this can be seen offensive to both men and women, but mostly women. But, I believe that if
“Don’t be a dick” inspires anyone to leave Wikipedia or its sister projects, that person
shouldn’t have even been on Wikipedia in the first place. Wikipedia is supposed to be a
melding of opinions. As this is an essay and not an article, it is supposed to be a place
for exclusively opinion.