[WikiEN-l] Policy on Reversions?

[Erik Moeller]

Ed-
> Repeatedly reverting others' edits is a pointless
> waste of time

Pointless for whom? The reality is that it works: One side usually gives  
up and the other side "wins", with at worst a slight loss of face (but  
when the "loser" brings up the edit war on the list, they will be reminded  
that it "takes two to tango"). Regulars who engage in blanket reverts are  
not faced with any serious actions or reprimands, and reverting is so much  
easier than discussing things and resolving problems.

Until there is a firm policy that is strictly enforced (e.g. you can  
revert only once, if that doesn't work, you will have to take it to the  
talk page), edit wars will be a reality on Wikipedia, and the side that is  
willing to invest the most time in their "POV" will get it through by  
sheer force. To say that the other side should simply let it rest for a  
few days and come back later is idiotic if you're dealing with a regular  
who will be just as willing to do blanket reverts three days later as he  
is today. Edit wars are not purely a symptom of heightened emotions, they  
are a symptom of fundamental differences in beliefs and an unwillingness  
to bridge them through NPOV.

A code of honor works well for small projects with like-minded people.  
Wikipedia is neither small nor like-minded. That's why it needs policies  
which are actually followed through, and not just a call for WikiLove  
every now and then. We don't need a WikiGestapo, but we need a certain  
amount of policy enforcement and clear rules, and that's just not  
happening. As a result, NPOV is mostly theoretical for many of the  
controversial articles on Wikipedia.

Regards,

Erik