 | This is anessay on theconduct policy. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one ofWikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not beenthoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
 | This page in a nutshell: Do not make accusations ofharassment orpersonal attacks lightly. |
An editor subject to criticism may feelharassed orattacked, but this does not mean that there has been actual harassment. Instead ofcrying wolf in such situations, tryassuming good faith. If there is a nugget of truth in the criticism, counterclaims of harassment will look like evasion and a lack of acollaborative spirit, and may thus escalate the dispute. Furthermore, unsubstantiated claims of harassment make it harder for people who suffer real harassment to get assistance.
Legitimate criticism can be distinguished from harassment because it:
Harassment often includes some of the following elements:
If you are the subject of criticism that seems unfair, ask for specific evidence. If arguments are heated, ask the other editors to refactor for virtuousmanners. Recourse to establisheddispute resolution mechanisms may also help.
When criticizing another editor, be sure to focus on behavior and provide specific evidence. If the subject of criticism complains of harassment, consider backing off or using formaldispute resolution processes.