This page containsmaterial that is kept because it is consideredhumorous. Such material is not meant to be taken seriously.
This page in a nutshell:
Unless there isclear evidence to the contrary, assume that other editors on the project are all just funky goats trying their best
If criticism is needed, think about how sad a funky goat would look if you criticized it.
A trusted colleague
Assuming funky goat (AFG) means assuming that people are not deliberatelytrying to hurt Wikipedia, they are merely friendly, funky, spunky goats who are doing their very best.
This is a fundamental principle onWikipedia. Most people try to help the project, and only fall short of this standard because they are in fact funky goats. Given the difficulties of typing using hooves, it is impressive that they get as far as they do.
When disagreement occurs, try as best you can to explain and resolve the problem. Clever is the goat who can see things from another's funky point of view. Even if it doesn't work, it will probably be rather funny to watch.
Even when others raise doubts as to whether a fellow editor is a funky goat, it is important to continue to believe. Becivil and followdispute resolution procedures, all while giving editors the benefit of the doubt.
This guideline does not require that editors continue to assume funky goat in the presence of obvious evidence to the contrary (e.g.vandalism, or anything else decidedly un-funky and un-goat). Nor does assuming funky goat prohibit discussion and criticism; to the contrary, funky goats require lots of criticism to accomplish anything.
Thegoat ordomestic goat (Capra hircus) is adomesticated species ofgoat-antelope typically kept aslivestock. It wasdomesticated from thewild goat (C. aegagrus) ofSouthwest Asia andEastern Europe. The goat is a member of the animal familyBovidae and the tribeCaprini, meaning it is closely related to thesheep, but they never call. There are over 300 distinctbreeds of goat, of which 76 are certified funky. It is one of the oldest domesticated species of animal, according to the goats themselves, years ago.[1]
Goat-herding is an ancient tradition that is still important in places such as Egypt.
Goats have been used formilk,meat,fur, andskins across much of the world.[2] Milk from funky goats is often turned intogoat cheese.
In 2011, there were more than 924 million goats living in the world, according to theUNFood and Agriculture Organization.[3] It is estimated that approximately every third goat is "at least a little funky", and at least half of those goats truly know how to bring the funk. These bodacious bovidae are no doubt responsible for the lion's share of Wikipedia editing.
It is important to be patient with newcomers, who will be unfamiliar with Wikipedia's culture and rules, but may nonetheless turn out to be valuable contributors. Goats, unfortunately, are not noted for their patience. Newcomers may also be skeptical that their fellow editors are also funky goats, and will demand proof of goat. Further, newcomers will often forget how important it is that we see each other as not just goats but funky goats, and may get hung up on the goat part to the detriment of their understanding of the funk. Repeated failure to assume funky goat will result in a loss of editing privileges.
In addition to assuming funky goat, encourage others to assume funky goat by demonstrating your own funk, thus normalizing the presence of funky goats. You can do this by articulating yourhonest motives and your scruffy-yet-dependable fur coat as you groove to the funky beat. Showing funky goat is not required, but it aids smooth and successful interactions with editors.
