Wikipedia:Don't take the bait
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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: Goading others into making uncivil comments is a distressingly common tactic. Don't take the bait. |
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Wikipedia's policy on civility is the most straightforward policy for administrators to enforce. Disruptive or agenda-driven editors often are clever enough to realize this, and manipulate the civility policy as a weapon in content disputes. A common way to do this is by badgering their opposite number — while being careful to remain superficially civil — until their victim lashes out. They then complain to an administrator. Time-pressed administrators may look only at specific edits without delving into the background that led up to the incident, resulting in a warning or block for the targeted editor. Most discouraging of all, this tactic is nearly risk-free. There rarely are negative consequences for those who use it, in part because a pattern of ongoing provocation can't easily be explained following the usual "diffs please" request.
Don't fall for it. You are under no obligation to respond to goading. Avoid the temptation to get in the last word. It's only polite to reply to the first inquiry or two, but you are free to end the discussion at the point where you feel further exchanges serve no useful purpose. Don't tell your harasser that they aren't welcome, as this can be used against you. In short, don't take the bait. Just swim away.
