Guild Wars 2 Wiki:Don't be a dick
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This page is a suspended policy proposal. It has been superseded by a list of common wiki practices. The Guild Wars 2 Wiki has no policies. All former proposals are kept for historical preservation. |
Don't be a dick is the golden rule of all social spaces. If people abided by this, we wouldn't need any other policies about behavior.
Fundamentals[edit]
Being a dick makes people dislike you. Having people dislike you will only make editing the wiki a difficult and unpleasant experience for everyone involved. So don't be a dick.
If a significant number of reasonable people suggest, whether bluntly or politely, that you are being a dick, the odds are good that you are not entirely in the right. Of course, accusing someone of being a dick is also often a dick-move, even if true. For this reason, if you (yes, you!) are considering suggesting someone may be a dick, ensure you are polite, explain why you feel the behaviour is dickish, and for god's sake, assume good faith.
Being right about an issue does not mean you're not being a dick! Dicks can be right — but they're still dicks; if there's something in what they say that is worth hearing, it goes unheard, because no one likes listening to dicks. It doesn't matter how right they are.
In general, if you want to avoid being a dick, don't say to anyone on the internet something that you wouldn't be willing to say to their face. Anyone can be an internet tough guy.
Definition[edit]
Some dickish characteristics are abrasiveness, selfishness, a lack of empathy, and general inconsiderateness for others. A "dick" could be a person who talks down to others and instead of using their knowledge and experience to help others, will use it to intimidate others and make them feel inferior.
Dickish behaviour may entail:
- Attempting to win an argument by making others feel as if they are not knowledgeable enough to participate in a discussion.
- Using terms such as "scrub" or "noob".
- Disregarding the opinions of others without explaining why they disagree.
- Using personal attacks instead of arguing the point.
Coping with being labeled a dick[edit]
Dickishness is purely subjective, and you may not be able to spot it yourself, so if other people (especially if there are several) are saying you are a dick, you may have to consider the possibility that it is true. If you suspect that you may be a dick, the first step to remedying it is to become aware of it. Ask yourself what behavior might be causing this perception. Try modifying your language and behaviour to be less abrasive. For example, identify "harsh" words in your communications and replace them with "softer" ones.
It's also important to honestly examine your motivations. Are you here to contribute and help build a better guide for Guild Wars 2 players? Or is your goal actually just to find fault, get your views across, or be the one in control? For example, perhaps you enjoy confrontation. This may not make you a bad person, but to everyone who is busily trying to build something great, you become an impediment. People get frustrated, rancor ensues, the atmosphere changes, and the whole project suffers. Are you here to give, or to take?
If appropriate, publicly apologize to anyone to whom you may have been a dick. It's okay; this won't make you seem weak. On the contrary, people will take notice of your willingness to cooperate and will almost always meet your efforts with increased respect.
External links[edit]
- What Makes A Fuckhead? (David R. Kendrick) ("dick" in the context of this article having originally been a euphemism for "fuckhead").
- High-testosterone people reinforced by others' anger, new study finds (University of Michigan news service)
