On Tue, 16 May 2006, Peter Mackay wrote:
It's been a long-standing tenet of Wikipedia (and, in my view, a crucial and necessary one) that contributors should leave their political opinions at the door. Accordingly, any actions designed to divide the editing community into political factions can be seen as unhelpful.
Where is this "long-standing tenet" defined? NPOV, for example, depends on different points of view, including political opinions, being given space consistent with their level of support.
Consistent with their level of support in the world, yes. Consistent with their level of support among the Wikipedia editing community, no. There is a crucial difference.
People are free to express their political opinions so long as it is done in a civil and non-inflammatory manner.
They may be free to express them, but my point is that they aren't free to inflict them on articles.
Jimbo's word on the matter:
The point is, we don't act *in Wikipedia* as a Democrat, a Republican, a pro-Lifer, a pro-Choicer, or whatever. Here we are Wikipedians, which means: thoughtful, loving, neutral.
Cheers,
N.