Wikipedia:Punishing productivity

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.

On Wikipedia, productivity should not be punished. If anything it should be rewarded. Wikipedia is a work in progress and is not perfect any more than its editors are perfect (they're not). As such, mistakes happen. An editor making 10,000 mistakes may seem unconscionable, but if editors make 1 mistake per 100 edits (perhaps an unreachable level of perfection), they will make 10,000 mistakes in 1,000,000 edits.

Users often criticize productivity, especially when one disagrees somehow with the productive user(s) (for example if a user edits prolifically regarding evolution while you believe in creationism). However, mistakes should not be punished, but fixed, and, if possible, prevented through counsel rather criticism (before or after). To expect others to do work, and then criticize them for having done it, may be narcissistic and at best unrealistic.

Mistakes may be prevented through:

Clear policies
Clearly indicated established practices (such as hidden comments in an article to warn users of a decision made on the talk page)
Allowing questions

Wikipedia:Punishing productivity

See also