User:Woonpton/Call a Spade a Spade

Call a Spade a Spade

Clear thought and clear expression facilitate good editing as well as effective communication between editors. "Call a spade a spade" is a shorthand way of saying, "say clearly and concisely what you mean; describe the thing clearly, accurately and succinctly." Rather than using oblique and obfuscating language, just "tell it like it is."

Calling a spade a spade requires clear observation and honest judgment. The time to call a spade a spade is after you've looked into the thing deeply enough to be sure you understand its nature; in other words, be sure the spade is a spade, before you call it a spade. Jumping to conclusions is inconsistent with what we mean by calling a spade a spade, because it can lead to misrepresenting the thing you're describing, which is contrary to the goal of accurate description. Do not be so quick to judge, that you neglect good judgment.

Jumping to unwarranted conclusions can take several forms, but in each case it has the same effect: it leads you to misrepresent the situation or the thing you're describing. This is especially serious, or at least especially disruptive to the editing process, when the discussion at hand has to do with other editors rather than to edits or content, which is a good reason to keep discussions focused on issues and content rather than on editors.

"Call a spade a spade" when applied to other editors rather than to edits and content, can lead to unnecessary conflict. Remember that while a spade can be a spade, a person is not a spade, and that personal comments are almost always inappropriate and unproductive. "Calling a spade a spade" should not be used as an excuse for calling people names, which is uncivil and disruptive.

Taking general detached, impersonal remarks personally is another way of jumping to unwarranted conclusions that is disruptive to the editing process. Interpreting a general characterization of a point of view as a personal attack just because you happen to hold that point of view, is disruptive and uncivil, as well as a misrepresentation of the actual situation. Both making things personal and taking things personally get in the way of a good working environment, and should be avoided.