User:Willscrlt/COI

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A conflict of interest is a situation in which a person's private interests conflict with his or her public obligations. This usually involves advancing a personal agenda or interest, a philosophy or theory, an organization, or some activity at the expense of, or to the detriment of, another of the same. In many cases, the person with the conflict of interest stands to benefit, monetarily or otherwise, through his or her actions.

Wikipedia editors have a public obligation to produce a neutral encyclopedia. A conflict of interest occurs when the personal interests of an editor result in edits that conflict with that obligation.

Conflicts of interest, whether real or only perceived to exist, are regularly found to exist:

1. When the topic is a person and the editor is the topic of an article; the topic concerns a relative or close friend of the editor; the topic discusses an employer, ex-employer, employee, collaborator, mentor, or protegé of the editor; the editor is an activist against the person and/or public opponent of the person; or the editor has other close ties with the person featured in the article.
2. When the topic is an organization, company, or group that was founded by the editor or in which the editor has served as an officer; any editor receiving, or whose close family members receive, financial or other direct benefits from the organization; any editor with such a relationship with an organization that is in competition with or a major partner of the topic of the article.
3. When the topic is a concept, philosophy, or theory and the editor is one of the people attributed with developing, promoting, attacking, or denouncing the concept; the professional reputation or livelihood of the editor is dependent upon the concept; or the editor's credibility or status may be affected by how the concept is viewed by others.
4. When the topic is a product, service, or business opportunity and the editor has been involved with the creation, development, marketing, sales, or maintenance of the product or service or a competing one.
5. Anytime an editor is involved in legal matters or mediation related to the topic of the article.

Editors with such conflicts of interest are often some of the best sources of "expert" information on the topics of the articles under consideration, but due to either real or perceived personal bias or self-interest, it is strongly advised that such editors refrain from editing articles in which they have a conflict of interest. Additionally, editors should avoid participating in deletion discussions about articles in which they have real or perceived conflicts of interest.

Editor choosing to ignore this very good advice may edit only:

1. After acknowledging and explaining their conflict of interest on their user page.
2. After acknowledging and explaining their conflict of interest on the article's talk page.
3. In a neutral point of view (which is one of Wikipedia's core policies).
4. Avoiding autobiographical edits.
5. Not link spamming articles with references to Websites or other Wikipedia articles that are under the editor's influence or the influence of other related parties (family members, friends, organizations, etc.)
6. Using plenty of reliable sources from third-parties that verifies the information, but is not based solely upon information provided by the topic of the article (e.g., news articles based primarily on press releases from a representative or agent of the article's topic).
7. Clearly referencing all such sources.
8. Avoiding original research, which essentially means that editor's own ideas or conclusions are not not considered to be reliable enough sources unless a reliable third-party can be cited as offering corroboration.
9. By agreeing to cease all editing of the article if such edits are objected to by other editors for reasons related to violating the terms above.

In short, if you are able to edit in a neutral and dispassionate manner such that other editors do not object, even fully aware of your real or perceived conflict of interest, then there is no problem.

If other editors feel your edits are not so benign and object on the article's talk page to your editing behavior, then you will cease editing the article. You may continue to discuss proposed changes on the article's talk page or file a Request for Comment. Work with the other editors to achieve consensus on future edits, and then let one of other the editors make the actual changes to the article.

Once the conflict is resolved, and if the consensus of the other editors is agreeable, you may return to editing the article. However, you may not resume editing until and unless that consensus is achieved.

The most important thing to remember is to use your best judgment when it comes to topics that are important to you. While it might be tempting to ignore the rules this will usually result in you being considered rude and self-serving by the other editors. That can lead to increased stress levels with everyone involved, inappropriate behavior, administrator involvement, mediation, or even banishment. It is usually far better to point out problems and offer constructive solutions on the talk pages and trust in Wikipedia to eventually correct any problems, than it is for you to edit an article in which you have a conflict of interest.