From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

When editors tell you something about their own personal experiences, you should normally believe them.

Specifically, you should believe what they said – that they, personally and individually, are having the experience they describe. Their experience might or might not align with your own experience.

The offended editor

For example, if an editor says that they are offended, you should believe that they (not you) are experiencing the named emotion (offendedness). It is a violation of both common sense and Wikipedia:Assume good faith to believe that they are lying to you about their own emotions; if they say they're offended, you should believe that they really are feeling offended.

You should not, however, believe things that they didn't say. For example, if an editor says that they are offended, you should not believe that they said you are a bad person, or that you must agree with them, or that the entire world agrees with them.

When an editor says "I'm offended", what does it mean to believe them?
Yes, this response shows you believe them No, this response shows you don't believe them Maybe it's time to re-read their actual words...
  • I'm not offended by it myself, but thanks for sharing your point of view.
  • I guess different people have different reactions to this.
  • Do you have any ideas about an alternative that works for both of us?
  • Nobody is offended by this.
  • According to reliable sources, this is not offensive to anyone.
  • I've analyzed this logically, and you shouldn't be offended.
  • According to the etymology, this word is not offensive.
  • They claimed the whole world is offended by this!
  • You are violating Wikipedia:No personal attacks.
  • Why do you activists always demand that I agree with you?

The editor's workflow

For example, if an editor says that an editing task was difficult for them, you should believe that they (not you) actually did experience difficulty with the named workflow. It is a violation of both common sense and Wikipedia:Assume good faith to believe that they are lying to you about their own experience; if they say they had trouble, you should believe that they (not you) really did have trouble with it. Similarly, if they say that they found it easy, you should believe that they (not you) found it easy.

You should not, however, believe things that they didn't say. For example, if an editor says that they struggled to complete a task, you should not believe that they said nobody can accomplish the task, or that they said that you won't be able to. If an editor said that they prefer one method over another, you should not believe that they said everyone will prefer that method, or that their preferred method is the only possible method.

When an editor says "I prefer this method for editing", what does it mean to believe them?
Yes, this response shows you believe them No, this response shows you don't believe them Maybe it's time to re-read their actual words...
  • For myself, I like this other way better.
  • Why do you like that better?
  • Have you ever tried this other method?
  • Would you recommend that to new editors?
  • Nobody likes that method.
  • Everyone prefers this other way.
  • Research proves that nobody likes your way.
  • They claimed my method doesn't work!
  • You are violating Wikipedia:No personal attacks.
  • Why are you trying to force me to use your preferred method of editing?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

When editors tell you something about their own personal experiences, you should normally believe them.

Specifically, you should believe what they said – that they, personally and individually, are having the experience they describe. Their experience might or might not align with your own experience.

The offended editor

For example, if an editor says that they are offended, you should believe that they (not you) are experiencing the named emotion (offendedness). It is a violation of both common sense and Wikipedia:Assume good faith to believe that they are lying to you about their own emotions; if they say they're offended, you should believe that they really are feeling offended.

You should not, however, believe things that they didn't say. For example, if an editor says that they are offended, you should not believe that they said you are a bad person, or that you must agree with them, or that the entire world agrees with them.

When an editor says "I'm offended", what does it mean to believe them?
Yes, this response shows you believe them No, this response shows you don't believe them Maybe it's time to re-read their actual words...
  • I'm not offended by it myself, but thanks for sharing your point of view.
  • I guess different people have different reactions to this.
  • Do you have any ideas about an alternative that works for both of us?
  • Nobody is offended by this.
  • According to reliable sources, this is not offensive to anyone.
  • I've analyzed this logically, and you shouldn't be offended.
  • According to the etymology, this word is not offensive.
  • They claimed the whole world is offended by this!
  • You are violating Wikipedia:No personal attacks.
  • Why do you activists always demand that I agree with you?

The editor's workflow

For example, if an editor says that an editing task was difficult for them, you should believe that they (not you) actually did experience difficulty with the named workflow. It is a violation of both common sense and Wikipedia:Assume good faith to believe that they are lying to you about their own experience; if they say they had trouble, you should believe that they (not you) really did have trouble with it. Similarly, if they say that they found it easy, you should believe that they (not you) found it easy.

You should not, however, believe things that they didn't say. For example, if an editor says that they struggled to complete a task, you should not believe that they said nobody can accomplish the task, or that they said that you won't be able to. If an editor said that they prefer one method over another, you should not believe that they said everyone will prefer that method, or that their preferred method is the only possible method.

When an editor says "I prefer this method for editing", what does it mean to believe them?
Yes, this response shows you believe them No, this response shows you don't believe them Maybe it's time to re-read their actual words...
  • For myself, I like this other way better.
  • Why do you like that better?
  • Have you ever tried this other method?
  • Would you recommend that to new editors?
  • Nobody likes that method.
  • Everyone prefers this other way.
  • Research proves that nobody likes your way.
  • They claimed my method doesn't work!
  • You are violating Wikipedia:No personal attacks.
  • Why are you trying to force me to use your preferred method of editing?

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