User:OohBunnies!/sandbox

Don't diagnose other editors (working title)

Wikipedia as a project and community attracts many colorful people, and we all have different ways of communicating and different ways of behaving under stress. Disputes are common in this environment, where even the most people-shy contributors sometimes have to interact with other editors and where principles and practices are not necessarily codified. Tensions and difficulties in communication can bring out the best and the worst in everyone. During conflicts it is important to stay focused on reaching a solution, and not to get side-tracked into analyzing the personality of the other editor. It is especially important not to make remarks or insinuations about their mental health, however erratic their behavior may seem.

Diagnosis using the Internet

In the Internet age, self-diagnosis is all too common. With easy access to materials such as the DSM, and bullet-pointed lists of symptoms (many of which are available right here on Wikipedia), anyone can think of themselves as having all the knowledge they need to make an accurate assumption about their mental health. There are online tests available that claim to be able to determine personality disorders and other kinds of mental health disorders such as depression, and even non-"mental health" conditions like autism.

However, we are not equipped to make any such diagnosis. Even medical professionals are discouraged from attempting to diagnose themselves. The truth is, only a trained professional (who has spent years learning in great detail about the conditions you have spent twenty minutes reading about) has the knowledge to accurately diagnose a mental disorder.

Even if you are an expert in mental illness, correctly diagnosing someone based on their behavior while editing an online encyclopedia is nigh-on impossible. No doctor would use Wikipedia talk page conduct as a good example of a person's behavior and mental state. A person's online identity can differ greatly from how they act outside in the Real World™.

Diagnosing your fellow editors

Sometimes your fellow editors might behave in what you perceive to be odd or worrying ways. It could be a result of stress in their lives outside of Wikipedia, Wiki-stress, or it could be a mental health problem. You won't know unless they tell you, and it's important not to speculate, or at least not speculate out loud. Doing so can be damaging, for a number of reasons.

Calling another editor "crazy" or "nuts" during a dispute is a personal attack and should not be done. However, editors have gotten away with loudly wondering if someone is suffering from something like paranoia, anxiety or bi-polar disorder. Sometimes the wondering is less explicit: they might ponder if their fellow contributor is "having some kind of problems", or say something like, "I can't think why you'd act like this, it makes me worry about you". To some, these examples are just as bad as outright declaring a person is mentally ill.

If you are in a dispute with someone, making a comment about their mental health is one of the worst things you can do to inflame the situation. Suggesting that someone has a mental health problem when they think of themselves as entirely sane and healthy can be both upsetting and infuriating for them. Similarly, suggesting someone has a mental health problem when they actually do can be upsetting; they might feel as though they are losing their ability to act "normally" or think their condition is getting worse, and the worry and stress can have a negative effect on their overall health and life. Remember, even if you're right in your assumptions, it is not your duty to fix them and also none of your business. They can either contribute during a period of health problems, or they can't. Either way, using the mental health of another editor as a weapon in an argument is a disrespectful thing to do.

Well-intentioned diagnosing can also be problematic. Now and then there will be editors who have problems with their behavior that may be caused by a mental illness or disorder. Attempting to diagnose, and starting arguments about what illnesses they may have that causes their behavior in order to defend them, is not a wise course of action. You might be wrong, and even if you're right, someone will inevitably point to the essay Wikipedia is not therapy. In most cases, it's best just left alone. It could be damaging – and the most important thing that medical professionals learn is "First: do no harm!"

On the other hand...

Sometimes, when an editor's behavior becomes really erratic, a mental health problem may the only obvious answer other than trolling, and suggesting that they might be having problems is just a matter of honesty. If such a situation arises, try to be polite and compassionate and not to pry. It's often best not to offer your advice unless asked – unasked-for advice is rarely welcome.

Some editors are very open and honest about any medical conditions they might have, and how it can affect their editing. This is certainly a good thing and goes a long way towards battling the stigma surrounding mental illness. However, many editors are more private people who value their online anonymity and would hate to disclose personal information, especially about something as sensitive as mental health, and they shouldn't have to.

What this essay is NOT trying to say

This essay is not trying to say that we shouldn't talk about mental health, ever. In fact, we should! It shouldn't be a taboo subject, just as talking about any other health problem shouldn't be taboo. What this essay is saying is that we shouldn't speculate on another editor's mental health. We should respect their feelings and their privacy. If they volunteer information themselves, then that's fine. Talking about it is healthy, and many people with mental illnesses are willing to answer questions and share their experiences.

If you yourself have a mental illness or disorder, then hopefully Wikipedia can be a welcoming community for you, whether you are fine with telling the world about it or not. Many respected Wikipedians have contributed and achieved great things here while struggling with their mental health problems.

See also

• WP:NOTTHERAPY
• WP:AUTIE – an essay about Wikipedia and autism.
• Self-diagnosis
• Cyberchondria
• Mentalism (discrimination)
• User:TenOfAllTrades/Why not?