[Wikimedia-l] Go away, community (from WMF wiki at least)

[Nathan]

Anyone who has spent time on the projects knows that the tone is often
awful. The disputes can be bitter, no matter the small stakes, and
many people are remarkably quick to snap irritably or to offend
indiscriminately. It's been observed that this can have a negative
effect on the most regular recipients of wiki bile; some English
Wikipedia administrators have had notoriously little patience with
others, and the environment can be so famously toxic that a policy is
necessary to remind us to assume good faith on the part of others. So
Gayle's reaction to the conflicting needs, methods and attitudes of
the "community" is understandable.

But a big part of the solution is as simple as the golden rule - do
unto others as we would have them do unto you. If you are interacting
with a staff member or a volunteer, or making a decision that might
affect them, think about how they might react to you. Then imagine how
you would want to be treated in their position, or if its easier
imagine that the other person is in the office next to you and is
someone you might see every day. It's hard to legislate by policy the
types of behaviors that might make relations between the WMF and the
"community" better, but surely this is one step that is simple if not
easy.

~Nathan