Wikipedia:Why ageism on wikipedia should not be employed
 | 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: The age of a candidate should not come into play in a discussion. They should be judged purely on their merits. |
In adminship discussions, the issue of age often comes up. One viewpoint on this is expressed at [Wikipedia:Ageism]. This expresses another.
Arguments
editA wikipedia member should not be judged in full, or in part on the basis of their age. While it is true that one's age may affect maturity, consideration of a candidate's age may instill a bias in the minds of other members as to their maturity. There is no excuse for judging a member on anything other than their merits, and judging based on a factor that may affect their merits places undue weight. If someone were applying for a fava bean eating job, would they be rejected because many people are allergic to fava beans, whether they are, or not? It may furthermore be considered a violation of NPOV to support adults over children, with its implicit suggestion of the superiority of adults. In short, there is no excuse to bring up the age of a candidate during a discussion. Assuming a comprehensive knowledge of the consequences of prejudice, such an action can only be performed in bad faith.