..civility took root at Wikipedia. It grew into a social…
““..civility took root at Wikipedia. It grew into a social norm...But sometimes, even the toughest social norms aren’t enough. We found there is always a tiny fraction of people who get a kick out of being rude and abusive, and they won’t stop even when they are asked, politely, to knock it off. Every community has a right and a duty to set expectations for minimum acceptable behavior and enforce standards as a last resort, so we created a system for warnings. Those who ignored the warning could be kicked out briefly. If they came back and kept acting like jerks they got booted for longer. Or even permanently.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Wikipedia enforces behavior standards with warnings and bans to maintain civility despite some persistent trolls.
In simple terms: Enforce standards to keep community civil.
Key Takeaway
Apply clear rules and enforce them.
Themes
online community
moderation
civility
Mood
cautious
determined
Type
policy
educational
When to use this quote
- Forum discussions
- online collaborations
- policy drafting
- user onboarding
Key Concepts
Social norms
enforcement mechanisms
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance openness with enforcement?
- What alternative methods could reduce abusive behavior?
A Different Perspective
May alienate some users.