That essay is as close to policy as any essay can get. Basically, it
means that if you are constantly upsetting other people by engaging in
gratuitous aggressiveness you're bad news even if you are always "right".
It could be titled, "Don't be a cunt", or Don't be an asshole"
without
changing its essential meaning.
Feel free to suggest a new title and revise the article accordingly.
We've used that expression for a long time, but I don't think there is
any good reason to not change it. However, the title needs to be both
descriptive and memorable; as I say, it's pretty much policy and users
have been banned on that basis. This sort of character is familiar in
life:
Behold the Pale Horse. And the man who sat upon him was Death. And Hell
followed after...
Fred
Now hereâs something. As soon as I saw it, I thought
âThis belongs in
the Gendergap Digest!â It is a Meta essay called âDonât be a
Dickâ. 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
isnât that profane. Also read the disclaimer âThis 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.â
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 didnât
say something like âIf youâre a dick, I will f***ing blank your p***y
c** page because youâre a sl***y b****y c*** who I hope gets raped by a
b***h p***y n****r every day because youâre a dick!â
Finally, I hope that using the word âdickâ 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 âDonât be a dickâ inspires
anyone to leave Wikipedia or its sister projects, that person shouldnât
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._______________________________________________
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