[WikiEN-l] A minor point

[James D. Forrester]

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steve v wrote:

> Reason 4: "Block was inline with IAR (ignore all rules)" - IAR
> trumps real policy?

Well, err, yes, when appropriate[*]. IAR, NPOV, and DBAD are the three
primary rules of Wikipedia ("policy trifecta", I've heard them referred
to), from which all other written documentation of policy, or "real
policy" as you put it, is derived, essentially. These written-down forms
are mere temporary instantiations of overall policy, imperfect (as all
written things are) and at any time wrong, though generally only in very
slight a subtle ways by the time they've been around long enough. As
David puts it (and, after some reading to find out what on Earth he was
talking about ;-), I've come to agree him), Wikipedia policy is a game
of "Calvinball"; 'tis not writ in stone.

I was mildly discouraged to see IAR be described as non-policy (meaning,
I assumed from the wording used, that it doesn't apply, rather than that
it operates as super-policy). I consider this to be a mis-appreciation
of what it actually means.

* - "When appropriate" being the entire reason that we have any policy
    at all but the trifecta - people often have quite some difficulty
    understanding what is and is not all right, so extensive policy
    documentation is written, saying "here is an example of what is not
    all right"; it is not, however, complete, and is not in any way
    intended to be.

Yours sincerely,
- --
James D. Forrester
Wikimedia : [[W:en:User:Jdforrester|James F.]]
E-Mail    : james at jdforrester.org
IM (MSN)  : jamesdforrester at hotmail.com
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