Wikibooks talk:Be civil

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What is civility

We now have a user strongly contesting that they have been uncivil when most people feel that he has. I would like to revise this policy to include a list of behaviors that many people find to be uncivil. Here is a list of behaviors I would suggest mentioning explicitly.

• Belittling
• Being judgmental
• Taunting
• Calling names
• Making unfounded accusations
• Using profane language
• Publicly calling for punishment
• Taking others' statements out of context
• Misrepresenting others' statements
• Hijacking a discussion with off-topic posts
• Spamming
• Defacing pages
• Being disruptive to make a point
• Assuming bad faith
• Using ad hominem arguments
• Making indecent suggestions
• Using epithets or slurs
• Threatening

I think that if we're going to be banning people for violating this policy it needs to state more explicitly what qualifies as uncivil. --xixtas 03:01, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

This policy was created specifically to avoid such a list. Lists are problematic for several reasons:

• It preempts admins from using their best judgment in situations like this
• Things that aren't on the list, but are still uncivil will be highly contested because they aren't on the list
• The list will have to be continuously updated, which takes timely community discussion processes.

We all know that those things listed are uncivil, and we all know that there are more things besides what you have listed that qualify. It's a case of "I know it when I see it", and there is no sense trying to be too specific. --Whiteknight (talk) (projects) 03:21, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Although I disagree that such a list would prevent admins from using their judgment. Such a list does not claim to be either comprehensive or exhaustive. Perhaps you are right that it is better left very simple. I may write a supporting essay and ask for it to be linked here instead. --xixtas 03:30, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Now that is a very good idea, i think, and it's the approach that I wish more people would take to help clarify things. Personal essays are much more flexible then policy documents, and they don't have to be so restrictive. I would even offer to help author such an essay, if you were interested. --Whiteknight (talk) (projects) 03:37, 8 February 2007 (UTC)