Guild Wars 2 Wiki:The spirit of policy

From Guild Wars 2 Wiki

This article is a proposal draft. It is not mature enough to be a policy proposal, and should not be treated as one. Feel free to edit this draft and participate in the discussion.

This article is a guideline draft. It is not mature enough to be a guideline proposal, and should not be treated as one. Feel free to edit this proposal and participate in the discussion.

The spirit of the policy is as important, if not more important, than the literal presentation of it.

The spirit of a policy refers to its original intent, i.e. the general meaning which underlies it. It is not always possible to create an all-inclusive policy which accounts for every possibility, so the reason the policy was drafted should be kept in mind.

[edit] What following the spirit means

• An unexpected or unanticipated event which violates the spirit of a policy can be dealt with in the same manner as a one which violates the literal wording of the policy.
• Trolls or nonconstructive editors can be dealt with faster -- the wiki's best interests are always first and foremost.

[edit] What following the spirit does not mean

• It does not mean the word is unimportant! Policies are written in a specific manner for a reason, so they should still be adhered to as written.
• This does not mean users can "get away" with violations of policy.

This policy/guideline is to ensure that both the literal interpretation as well as the spirit of the policy are kept in mind when making administrative decisions or when dealing with users.

In conclusion, policy should not be the unchangeable and absolute law. Rather, it should reflect what the Guild Wars 2 wiki community feels is most vital to perfecting the content, protecting the community, and ensure the well-being of the wiki.