Wikipedia:Don't be a fanatic

This is an essay.

It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

Shortcuts

This page in a nutshell: Recognize that all Wikipedia editors are ultimately colleagues working together, listen with civility, and try to find ways to respect and (within Wikipedia policy limits) incorporate others' viewpoints and material as well as your own.

“

Fanaticism consists in redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim.

”

— George Santayana, The Life of Reason

Fanatics have uncritical zeal or obsessive enthusiasm for their beliefs and little tolerance for contrary ideas or opinions. Since Wikipedia is a communal effort, editors with a fanatic obsession for their "cause" can create problems. To make Wikipedia work, contributors must think from a community perspective as well as a personal one. This means:

Respect common standards: If the Wikipedia view of how articles should be presented differs from one's own perception of the subject, then it's important to recognize that Wikipedia has standards applicable to the community and all its members.
Don't over-guard articles: Even if a subject is close to an editor's heart, or an article has been fostered lovingly, remember that no one owns an article and articles are built by communal shared collaboration. Even if an edit takes the article in a direction that the original editor doesn't agree with, so long as policies are being followed, allow communal ownership to supersede personal emotional involvement.
Don't be too certain: Too much certainty can lead to assumptions of bad faith, or to inability to listen to others properly, both sources of conflict.
Don't be zealous to the point other goals are lost: Intense caring for Wikipedia's policies and ways can at times lead to such excess of zeal as to be a problem in its own right. Such editors often do not understand why others criticize them because in their own eyes they are "just doing what's right for Wikipedia".
Don't slip into bad behavior: Fanaticism often leads towards personal attacks and breaches of civility, if "the truth" becomes "what one wants to hear", rather than "what's best for the project and those one is working with".
Don't marginalize others: If you dismiss other points of view, or attempt to marginalize the people who hold them, your position may actually be the marginal one. Instead, ask sincere questions to see where the differences are and which editors are on solid ground.

Remedies

If editing becomes heated, take a break from the article. Have a snack. Read a book or go for a walk. The world won't end if you do. The article will still be there when you get back (unless, perhaps, it gets here. In that case, don't panic. Instead, find a civil way to care for the page and get it out of there).
Seek dispute resolution in a conflict.
If you would rather be a passionate advocate for a cause than write neutrally-phrased, well-sourced text, then Wikipedia may not be the best place for you. If you really want to express your personal views and opinions on contentious subjects, there are many other websites that permit this (within limits), such as blogs and chat sites.
Lighten up and take another break! Go offline and have a cool beverage or switch to one of 5.1 million other articles and "to-do" tasks in Wikipedia.

Common standards

Wikipedia is a balance between personal approaches and interests, within a framework of common values and policies.

It is this framework that ensures the result is actually useful to Wikipedia and meets its communal goals. When it comes to article content, the communal goals matter more than personal viewpoints. It's important not to lose track of the greater good.

Advocacy

A major way to be a fanatic is advocacy, often leading to breaches of civility and breaches of neutrality. Don't. However passionate one may be – and passion is valued in any community – channel the passions you bring into creating good articles that fall in line with Wikipedia standards for neutrality and notability. Nobody owns articles, even those who have created them or worked on them many months from the beginning.

Certainty

No individual is the universe's answer to all questions. Knowledge is one thing, but it should be tempered always by the awareness that there are thousands of other editors. Some are quite likely to understand how Wikipedia works, or the subject, or how to present it well – and understand these better than you might think. Listen to them, and consider that their viewpoint is not arbitrary, either. Belief that one is right should never be allowed to slip into the closed-minded assertion that "I'm right; they're wrong."

However, it is important to read this in the context of policies such as WP:NPOV and guidelines such as Wikipedia:Consensus. Good editorship asks for, and respects notable viewpoints and information even whilst disagreeing, and seeks to prevent poor or factually incorrect edits. There is a balance involved, and this is what is sought. Fanaticism, by contrast, is often characterized by lack of balance whichever side it is on.

“

Fanaticism is overcompensation for doubt.

”

— Robertson Davies

Zeal

Zeal is a good thing if balanced, but unbalanced zeal is a flaw, which as frequently becomes a social problem as a social help. Unbalanced zeal often leads people to impulsive, poor or even abusive decisions. "I did it to protect you" is often cited as a justification both online and offline for fanatical, excessive or unwarranted behavior. There are many editors who support Wikipedia strongly; most do not find it necessary to justify fanatical intensity, or to reject constructive criticisms regarding aspects of their behavior if it's problematic.

"Bold but fair" is a necessary part of a good editor's role. But a dozen good acts do not mean that the abusive, rash, excessive or poorly judged ones may be ignored. As a guiding principle, one should not use good conduct in some areas as a way to condone lack of change, or less positive conduct, in others. Higher power must be balanced with more thought in its use under all circumstances – do not use "zeal" to excuse or justify excessive action. Misapplied zeal is often a considerable problem within any community.

Note that these points apply to many situations. They are an observation on problems that often come with being too forceful and ego-involved. Especially for administrators and those who have asked for positions of responsibility – it's more important to be able to balance with moderation when given power beyond the norm.

“

Fanaticism obliterates the feelings of humanity.

”

— Edward Gibbon

Remedies

Common standards

Advocacy

Certainty

Zeal

See also