User talk:Ritchie333/MOS for Dummies

Latest comment: 7 years ago by EEng in topic Disagree

Disagree

edit

I have to disagree with if they're arguing over it, it does not belong in the MOS. In fact, MOS should be pretty much only for stuff that gets argued over; MOS' job is primarily to end argument. If it's something no one ever disagrees on (e.g. uncontroverted rules of English grammar and mechanics) then it doesn't belong in MOS. EEng 01:39, 16 July 2017 (UTC)Reply

@EEng: The trouble is, the MOS doesn't end arguments; it can't, since it's not designed to do so (being a set of guidelines not absolute rules that must be followed). To give an obvious example, try saying "right, we're having infoboxes, enough discussion" - the dramaboards would explode. And if the MOS did settle the score, there would never be any need to drag parts of it to Arbcom. Ritchie333 (talk) (cont) 11:56, 4 October 2017 (UTC)Reply
It may not end all arguments, but it ends plenty of them, and provides a framework for resolution of many others. EEng 03:30, 5 October 2017 (UTC)Reply
I guess it must be confirmation bias - I can't ever remember an argument being decided by the MOS. I can recall questions along the lines of "what should 'x' look like?" going to the MOS to get an answer, but not being used to settle an actual disagreement. Ritchie333 (talk) (cont) 14:27, 5 October 2017 (UTC)Reply
While not ideal, here's an example [1]. EEng 14:52, 5 October 2017 (UTC)Reply
....and yet said example still managed to have a personal attack or two lobbed into the debate. I am not surprised. Ritchie333 (talk) (cont) 10:36, 6 October 2017 (UTC)Reply
I said it wasn't ideal. Look at it this way: it worked despite all that. EEng 11:17, 6 October 2017 (UTC)Reply