Wikipedia:Avoid the word "vandal"

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This is an essay; it contains the advice and/or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. It is not a policy or guideline, and editors are not obliged to follow it.
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This page in a nutshell: Vandals are people who deliberately attempt to damage Wikipedia, not those who make adverse edits.

Lately it has become trendy to adopt catchwords and apply them in a wider variety of circumstances than is appropriate. One such word is 'vandal'.

According to Wikipedia:Vandalism, vandalism is "any addition, removal, or change of content made in a deliberate attempt to compromise the integrity of Wikipedia." This definition is excessively wide, even for the purposes of broad policy coverage. It goes on to restrict what constitutes 'vandalism', however, saying emphatically that "any good-faith effort to improve the encyclopedia, even if misguided or ill-considered, is not vandalism."

Note that the definition does not mention:

As a result, the word 'vandal' should not be used in reference to any contributor in good standing or to any edits that can arguably be construed as good-faithed. If the edits in question are made in good faith, they are not vandalism and the contributor should not be called a 'vandal'.

Non-vandalism disruption may also occur. Instead of calling a person committing such disruption a 'vandal', you are better off discussing his or her specific edits with him or her. Comment on the content and substance of his or her edits or arguments, not his or her person.

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