Project:Conduct policy

The purpose of this project is to be a collaborate platform for documenting English video game online communities. In order to facilitate a healthy environment, the following policies relating to editor behavior have been adopted.

These policies build on top of the policies laid out in the Terms of Use. If any policies here contradict the Terms of Use, the Terms of Use supersedes it.

Civility

Differences of opinion are inevitable. When discussion regarding these differences occur, it can seem like editors are being harsh while the intent is simply to be direct. Some editors may be oversensitive once their views are challenged. Ultimately, words written on a page do not transmit the nuances of verbal discussion. An uncivil comment, even if technically correct, can spiral into a nasty back-and-forth that is no longer focusing on contributing to this project.

Resolve differences of opinion through civil discussion; disagree without being disagreeable.

Editors are expected to be reasonably cooperative, to work within the scope of policies, and to be responsive to good-faith questions.

• Explain yourself. Insufficient explanations for edits can be perceived as uncivil. Use good edit summaries, and use the talk page if the edit summary does not provide enough space or if a more substantive debate is likely to be needed.
• Try not to get too intense. Passion can be misread as aggression, so take great care to avoid the appearance of being heavy-handed or bossy.
• Avoid editing while you're in a bad mood or under the influence of any substance. It does spill over.
• Avoid name-calling. Someone may very well be an idiot, but telling them so is neither going to increase their intelligence nor improve your ability to communicate with them.
• Avoid condescension. No matter how frustrated you are, do not tell people to "grow up" or include any language along the lines of "if this were kindergarten" in your messages.
• Avoid appearing to ridicule another editor's comment. Even if you see the comment as ridiculous, they very probably don't, and expressing ridicule is likely only to offend and antagonize, rather than helping.
• Be careful with edit summaries. They are relatively short comments and thus potentially subject to misinterpretation or oversimplification.

No personal attacks

Do not make personal attacks anywhere on Online Communipedia. Comment on content, not on the contributor. Personal attacks harm the community and the collaborative atmosphere. Derogatory comments about other editors may be removed by any editor. Repeated or egregious personal attacks may lead to blocks.

There is no rule that is objective and not open to interpretation on what constitutes a personal attack as opposed to constructive discussion, but some types of comments are never acceptable:

• Abusive, defamatory, or derogatory phrases based on race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religious or political beliefs, disability, ethnicity, nationality, etc. directed against another editor or a group of editors.
  • Disagreement over what constitutes a religion, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or ethnicity is not a legitimate excuse.
• Using someone's affiliations as an ad hominem means of dismissing or discrediting their views—regardless of whether said affiliations are mainstream. An example could be, "You're an otaku so what would you know about the real world?"
• Linking to external attacks, harassment, or other material, for the purpose of attacking another editor.
• Comparing editors to Nazis, communists, terrorists, dictators, or other infamous persons. (See also Godwin's law.)
• Accusations about personal behavior that lack evidence. Serious accusations require serious evidence, usually in the form of diffs and links.
• Threats of any kind with specific examples list below. Administrators are empowered to block editors indefinitely without warning or appeal upon discovery of a threat.
  • Threats of legal action against a specific editor or Online Communipedia
  • Threats of violence or other off-wiki action (particularly death threats)
  • Threats or actions which deliberately expose other Online Communipedia editors to political, religious or other persecution by a government, their employer, or any others.
  • Threats to out (give out personal details about) an editor.

These examples are not exhaustive. Insulting or disparaging an editor is a personal attack regardless of the manner in which it is done. When in doubt, comment on the article's content without referring to its contributor at all.

Site officials

The administration of the project is done by it's administrators (and in extension the site operator). These editors work in tandem to maintain a positive environment for collaborate editing. This includes enforcing this conduct policy, the content policy, the Terms of Use, any other policy, fighting copyright infringement, and contributing to the project like any other editor.

Editors of the project are obligated to adhere to the instructions of administrators unless their instructions violate a project policy or the Terms of Use. Otherwise, said editors may be blocked.

At least one revision of this page incorporates text from multiple sources. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Civility was used and is released under CC BY-SA-4.0. (view authors) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_personal_attacks was used and is released under CC BY-SA-4.0. (view authors)