Wikipedia:WikiHate

This is an essay on civility.

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.

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Some people become filled with negative emotions. (Painting by Adriaen Brouwer, c. 1630–1640)

WikiHate (or, even more melodramatically, WikiViolence) is a counterproductive attitude and hostile behavior pattern that takes away time from many Wikipedians. Often the consequence of taking both Wikipedia and oneself too seriously, and mixing in hate and/or unmanaged anger, it most often arises when two of more editors have an escalating dispute about an article or guideline, a talk page discussion, or even one particular edit. WikiHate can express itself in barbed disrespect toward, bullying of, personal attacks against or outright harassment of another Wikipedian, usually coupled with a fiercely tendentious campaign of edit warring, a crusade for one's own opinion of what everybody else should do. Its opposite is WikiLove.

Resolution of WikiHate or WikiViolence issues is usually handled between the involved parties, sometimes with mediation or other dispute resolution mechanisms, but can result in an editor being blocked in extreme cases.

The following links may be of assistance when dealing with and avoiding WikiHate:

Do not blame the victim. There is nothing an editor could do to deserve personal attacks or threats, and never a reason for another editor to use personal attacks and threats.

See also