Wikipedia:Incivility/Poll
It is a given that WP is vulnerable to incivil behavior. The Question becomes what to do once the behavior and the perpetrator have been identified. WP should be bound by an ironclad commitment to a safe and comfortable working environment for ALL employees. (I say employees knowing we are all unpaid. But, except for that minor detail we are "at work".) We should be assured of a professional workspace.
be courteous
[edit]Civility is the lubricant between faceless editors!
The object of the discussion is:
- to insure a comfortable, non-contentious, professional workplace for all concerned,
- to reward (via freedom of movement) editors that respect their fellow editors,
- to preserve feelings of compatability & congeniality thru mutual respectful interaction,
- to investigate possible solutions for growing concerns regarding incivil behavior.
why are some editors uncivil (rude)
[edit]- competition--who is better at name calling, single digit waving, etc.
- pride--Wow! Am I a great wordsmith or what? Did you'all read that?
- participation--negative but still in the game. Its all they know to do.
- natural or cultural instinct-- bottom line, an excuse not to change!
- it's easier than co-operating or finding a common ground.
- None of the above (nor many more) are exceptable excuses.
Why do some editors choose incivility as a building block for their WP career? Sorry to say but some editors (and their behavior) are expendable. When they just won't listen.....or.....they outright refuse to understand civility.....or.....are unwilling to change any of their rude behavior...They need to go. Or at least sit on the sidelines until they cool down.
responsibility
[edit]All WP editors should be concerned and responsible for safeguarding the comfort level of the WP workplace. But, when faced with implementing solutions, who are the proper custodians of this task? Who will step forward and state that they will secure the value and prestige of WP? Who is responsible (liable?) for monitoring and changing the negative behavior of rogue editors? The preservation of compatability, professionalism, conviviality, mutually respectful interaction, etc. are necessary in this social setting we call WP. Incivility is bad for morale. It places WP at risk of criticism.
Safety Representative
[edit]- appointed (?)...elected (?)....delegated (?)....selected (?).
- bans/blocks incivil editors. No waiting! No bickering! Not to many options!
- maintains a centralized list, a Rogues Gallery, as it were, of hazardous editors. Maintains pertinent information for future reference and use. Documents unsuitable behavior.
- steps forward with the facts...a watchdog?
- co-ordinates the steps (?) necessary to facilitate an improvement in the constant negative interplay of incivil editors with good faith editors.
- resolves disputes...then again, maybe not. Too much buzy work. Too much chatter. Too much defending. Makes a judgement. Thats it!
- assists/Inputs/has a major voice in implementing solutions and safeguards.
- a strict controller of behavior...a civility Czar.
- provides guidance and mentorship to those that will listen. Or, better yet, can send them to a guide or a mentor. He is not a teacher or a mentor or a friend. But he can find you one if that is what you need.
- has a clear understanding of incivil behavior and can recognize it without question or doubt.
- is sensitive to the overall value of productive working editors over troublesome "talk only" editors.
- has a clear SELF definition of incivil behavior.
- is grounded in the concept of assuring a comfortable and non-controversial workplace.
verification
[edit]Up to the S.R. Its his/her call. No questions asked. S.R. has the communities trust and backing! Incivility is not that hard to recognize. We can all recognize it when we see it. We may be willing to ignore it or not give it much concern. But we know it when we see it. S.R...."No discussion required...You did it...I saw it (in the history)....Here's the price you pay!""
in the light of day
[edit]Sunlight is the best cleanser...and protector.
editorial control
[edit]Editors that choose incivility are a small but defiant group. The vast majority of us are GFEs (Good Faith Editors)
initial point of contact
[edit]new editors=the easiest victims of incivil behavior
....Rules of the Road...non-compliance? you lose your drivers license.
Greeting by bot/explaining Safety Representative/Civility Czar.
A tag--->limited to civility training
--->procedures for reporting ---->Contact suggestions.
A warning of the repercussions for incivil behavior should be an integral facet of the initial greeting or welcome to WP.
editors of value
[edit]worth protecting
peer pressure
[edit]a valid force to change behavior.