User:Randy Kryn/Rule of thumb

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User:Randy Kryn/In the Shadow of Keep
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Like any eclipse you know it when you see it. The soulless darkness of an awkward Keep roughly nudging aside the light of deletion.

Summary: After a well-attended deletion nomination has formed valid but opposing points of view by experienced editors, then even the slightest shadow of Keep after adequate commentary (and surely after one relisting) should be enough for the nomination to either be courteously withdrawn by the nominator or Kept by a closer. If a large percentage of experienced commenting editors find value in the encyclopedia's information, then Wikipedia's readers should continue to benefit from that same value.

WP:GNG
claimed or denied, viewpoints presented and arm-wrestled into submission, editors diligently working to improve or disprove the page.

"Keep" arguments often achieve merit as credible adherents reach either a primary or a strong alternate point-of-view which finds editorial agreement. Some do this rather quickly, while others do so after discussion and additional sources clarify a logical "Keep" viewpoint. Rule of thumb maintains that the discussion should end there, no questions asked, the page Kept, and the article allowed to roam free to encyclopedically educate the reading public.

What's obvious to the goose is another obvious to the gander, Vincent van Gnome, 1626, oil on childhood blanket. A closer, hoping to earn eternal respect like Solomon, opts for a meaningless one sentence merge even though many editors cry and rent garments for a Keep. Don't be like Solomon, but more like David, who at least got the girl.

Recognizing a shadow of keep can often save an enormous amount of unneeded bickering, nitpicking, and time sinks which may accompany such discussions. Editors might fight like wild animals (or sugared-up children) when a deletion nomination goes on too long or has one or more relistings (usually an indication that the Shadow of Keep exists). The nominator should then consider kindly withdrawing their good-faith nomination, or a closer could step in early and Keep it. A closer may receive complaints that they have put their thumb on the scale, but everyone knows when the shadow of Keep exists, and an appeal of a properly done rule of thumb closing would likely fail.

Until next time, when the article is nominated for a second, third, or even a fourth deletion attempt. After being saved more often than

WP:COMMONSENSE
to not allow a third or fourth bite of the apple...unless a very good reason emerges. Should triple jeopardy exist on Wikipedia? Rarely.

See also

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