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Anonymity and editor treatment

While it is humorous to say 'On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog', on Wikipedia it is presumed that you are a human being and you have chosen to edit Wikipedia. Beyond that, nothing is presumed nor need to be presumed.

So regardless of any word which may describe a person out in the real world, no editor should receive special treatment due to that, and no editor should expect special treatment due to that.

In general, editing Wikipedia is anonymous (except when it's not), and no editor should be expected to treat you a certain way due to anything beyond what you do as a contributor to Wikipedia. (Having a conflict of interest being a notable exception.)

And regardless of whether you edit using a selected username or while not signed in, the expectation is that you treat other editor's edits, and others treat your edits, similarly. By choosing how you edit (registered or unregistered) it is presumed that you have selected how your edits (and you) will be referred to, which is currently either the account name you selected, or the IP address you were using when you edited when not signed into an account.

While there may be a difference in access level, the fact whether an editor has been granted additional tools, or not, should not affect how that editor is treated, or how that person's edits are treated. We have policies on civility and assuming good faith which apply to everyone.

Inaccurate referencing

There is no requirement that anyone should presume to know personal information about a particular editor, and an editor should not be required to have to try to research another editor merely to try to have a discussion with that editor. Reading a userpage or any other informative notice may be courteous, but it is not a requirement in order to participate in a discussion with any editor.

If someone uses a word to refer to you which you feel is inaccurate (such as if the editor inaccurately refers to you as "Irish" or your edits as "her edits"), presume that it was well-meant, and - if you feel it is appropriate to share such information - politely inform the editor that the word was inappropriately applied to you. There is no requirement that you do so, though if you do not, realise that the editor may continue to use the term, unknowing of its inaccuracy.

However, at the same time, even if you share a term which you feel accurately applies to you (such as that you are a Pastafarian, or a Rouge admin), there is no requirement that any other editor must refer to you in that way. An editor has the free choice to refer to you - in a civil manner - using any neutral term or using any other information you have chosen to provide.

In general, an editor should either refer to another editor using information that editor self-provided (such as the editor's username), or a neutral term.

Also, no editor should refer to another editor using an intentionally inaccurate term. To do so may be considered incivil, and could result in sanction. And no one should expect that an editor can demand to be referred to by a particular term.

In summary

We're all Wikipedians here.


See also


source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:We_are_all_Wikipedians_here