User talk:HominidMachinae/contextdraft
 | This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
| This essay is in development. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. Essays may represent widespread norms or minority viewpoints. Consider these views with discretion, especially since this page is still under construction. |
 | This page in a nutshell: When you're citing an essay, or even a guideline, make sure you are using it in the proper context! Some guidelines (and essays) apply only to article space. Some apply to only non-mainspace such as talk: and wikipedia:. Don't mistake guidelines for community interaction for article writing guidelines, or vice versa. |
While wikipedia has very few hard-and-fast rules, and as a result many members of the community have stepped up to create guidelines, helpful hints and other forms of advice for wikipedians. It is important, however, to understand that most of these are not applicable to all situations. Wikipedia has several major "departments" the most key to its mission being the 'main' or 'article' space. But there are other spaces: user space where user pages and user talk pages are found, for instance. Or Wikipedia space where information on guidelines, rules process and procedures may be found, as well as discussions and debates.
It is important to ensure that when you are applying a guideline that it is one appropriate to the location of the article.
Guidelines and essays applying only to article space[edit]
Guidelines and essays applying only to article space tend to be those related to content, such as verifiability or notability guidelines, but they also include some others that might not be readily obvious.
Yes wikipedia is not censored but you wouldn't expect a user infobox saying 'this user is male' to have a photograph of a penis, after all. In a similar way some processes require the opinions and creative input of editors, and this is alright, original research is barred from article space, but not from other places, like this essay which is actually entirely original research!
Guidelines and Essays applying only to non-article space[edit]
An equally serious problem is applying things meant to be applied only to things other than articles, Wikipedia procedure, process and community, and applying them to articles. Yes call a spade a spade is fine when you're saying in a noticeboard "if they look and act like a vandal they're a vandal" but asserting 'on its face' status like this in an article could be original research. Likewise, wp:deny exists to avoid encouraging vandals to Wikipedia, but if a notable media celebrity (like, say, Stephen Colbert) talks about Wikipedia vandalism and the incident meets other standards for inclusion (wp:v, wp:rs, wp:n) then WP:DENY is no reason not to write about it. In other words, behavioral guidelines do not apply to articles.
Perhaps the greatest example of this is personal attacks in the context of biographical articles. It would be inappropriate to call another editor a racist, for instance. But reporting that according to Someone's family they held anti-semetic views is perfectly acceptable.
Guidelines and articles applying only to nothing at all[edit]
Sometimes Wikipedia humor articles look like essays! Double check to save yourself embarrassment. Though honestly why you'd want to go climbing seats of German government is beyond me.