User:Idris/Sandbox 2
This WIP guide may or may not be a proposal for the GW2W namespace; if the community decides it's unneeded, it will probably remain as part of my own userspace. Other editors are welcome to tweak this or dump a list of tips they think I should cover here.
Handy links for inspiration:
- Guild Wars 2 Wiki:Don't be a dick
- Guild Wars 2 Wiki:Assume good faith
- Guild Wars 2 Wiki:Code of Conduct
Guide to user conduct[edit]
Here on the Guild Wars 2 Wiki, we strive to maintain a friendly and relaxed atmosphere in which all of our editors feel they can participate as equals, regardless of their background. While we expect a certain standard of behavior from our users, you may have noticed that we lack official policies of the sort you may have seen on other wikis, and may be feeling a little confused as to how you're expected to conduct yourself.
The short answer is: Don't worry about it! Jump in and start editing; our friendly community will point you in the right direction if you slip up!
The long answer? Well, you're reading it. This guide is intended for inexperienced editors or those who keep finding themselves tangled up in conflicts, and will give you some tips and tricks on how to improve your interactions here on the wiki. It is not a list of rules, and you won't get in trouble for ignoring the advice here. It's just that: advice.
Be bold[edit]
- Remember your worth
- You have as much of a right to be here as any other editor.
- If you have ideas on how the wiki should be run, speak up! The Community portal is the best place for voicing your opinion.
- If you feel like you're being treated unfairly, open a dialogue with the offending user on their talk page or, if it's a larger/persistent issue, bring it up on the Admin noticeboard.
- Edit, edit, edit!
- We understand that you have good intentions, so don't hesitate to make changes just because you're worried you'll make a mistake!
- The editing process is iterative; feel free to leave an article unfinished if you're unsure of what to put. (Leave a {{stub}} or {{section-stub}} tag so other editors know to help out!)
- Reach out to a more experienced editor if you're unsure about something or need help. We were all new once, so don't be shy!
- If you spot someone making multiple mistakes or who looks like they could benefit from knowing about some obscure wiki trick, leave a friendly comment on their on their talk page pointing them in the right direction.
- Show appreciation
- Newbies are often nervous about making mistakes or attracting the ire of experienced editors. Dropping onto their talk page to say hi or to compliment an edit they made can mean the world to someone who's just starting out.
- If someone makes an edit you like, click on the "thank" button next to their entry in the edit history. This will send them a notification to let them know you liked their edit!
- There's a nifty feature called "WikiLove", which lets you post a customized message of appreciation on another user's talk page. Enable it in your settings and share some love!
Be constructive[edit]
- How to deal with conflict
- The wiki functions on consensus; see image.
- If a user reverts or alters a change of yours and you disagree with it, begin a discussion on the talk page instead of reverting it.
- Your focus should be on finding a compromise. Don't get bogged down in endlessly pushing for your preferred solution, justifying previous edits, or criticizing your opponent's ideas.
- Explain your reasoning; what seems obvious to you may not be obvious to others.
- Ask questions instead of making assumptions.
- Attack your opponent's argument, not your opponent.
- Focus on the positives
- Correct mistakes instead of scolding or complaining about them.
- Don't dismiss someone's opinion just because you don't like the way it was presented (too long, too rude, etc.) They took the time to write a comment for you; have the decency to take it seriously.
Be mindful[edit]
- Assume good faith
- You came here to improve the wiki, so why assume the same isn't true of others? No-one makes an edit unless they think it's the right thing to do.
- If another user is rude or short with you, consider that they might just be having a bad day and don't mean to be unkind.
- If another user is being stubborn or illogical, consider that they might be acting sensibly and that you're just miscommunicating with each other.
- Some of our users are non-native speakers of English or have a disability, and may make many minor errors or struggle to explain themselves properly. They deserve your patience.
- Have humility
- The goal is to improve the wiki, not stroke your ego. Sometimes you will have bad or unpopular ideas, and that's ok.
- Your emotions affect your behavior. If you feel yourself getting angry or upset, take some time to cool off before typing up your response.
- Your behavior affects others' emotions. What happens here can have consequences in real life.
- If you've wronged someone, they will care more about you acknowledging you wronged them and promising not to do it again, than an explanation of why you did it. People tend to respect those who can own up to their mistakes.
- While you should never feel like your input is unwanted, sometimes it can be more productive to be quiet and listen to those with more experience than you.
- Practice good manners
- Nobody wants to read a rambling essay; be succinct.
- Help others understand your intentions by leaving an edit summary, even if it's as simple as "Fixed a typo."
- Avoid spamming Recent changes with lots of minor corrections by making use of the "Show preview" button.
