On 10/10/06, Steve Summit scs@eskimo.com wrote:
I asked more or less this question on the talk page just now, and the original proposer claims that it "is not a 'ban' on sarcasm per se", but rather "an explanation that sarcasm is a form of rudeness, as some people seem not to be aware of it". He proposes to include it in "the list of 'minor offenses', alongside other similar forms of incivility."
I note that he's reverted to his new version a few times against multiple dissent. Apparently sarcasm is much worse for the editing environment than actual bad editing practices.
In fairness to him, I must note that we already have a [[m:Don't be dense|<s>rule</s> guideline]] against stupidity, which has in fact abolished all stupidity on Wikipedia and therefore removed any possible motivation editors may have to resort to sarcasm, even in extremis.
- d.