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. |
This page in a nutshell: We're not buying it |
The problem
editThere are things you're not supposed to do. For example, you're not supposed to attack other people. You do something substantially the same as that thing that you're not supposed to do, say insulting someone's writing as the worst piece of crap you've ever read. Upon being admonished for such behavior, you make a supposedly clever argument, like "I wasn't attacking the person, I was attacking their content" conveniently forgetting the part where you're still insulting someone with the intent to hurt them.
Stop. Wikipedia is not a collection of rules blindly followed without common sense. You're not fooling anyone, not even yourself. Just stop.
The solution
editIf you indulge in this behavior, don't. It's petty and eventually you still get slapped down.
When you encounter this sort of behavior, do not indulge it by making an argument, however superior. That is a mistake, because by making an argument, you give silly behavior legitimacy. Just call them out on it, and act.