Wikipedia:Don't shoot yourself in the foot
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This page in a nutshell: Consider your own behavior before bringing attention to the behavior of others. |
On Wikipedia, it is possible, indeed common, to find people shooting themselves in the foot or being hit by a boomerang after complaining about someone else.
Background
Wikipedia is free for anyone to edit. Of course, if you've spent any time on the Internet, you'll know this means that people will disagree and argue about stuff. We like everyone to get along and
Various noticeboards, especially the
This is called "shooting yourself in the foot". The behavior of a returning boomerang is similar: if thrown incautiously, it can come back to injure the thrower.
There is no "immunity" for reporters
Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.
Seriously. You better be without sin.
A common statement on noticeboards is "this isn't about me, it's about them", as if discussion is restricted to the original complaint, so that discussing the behavior of the original reporter would be "changing the subject". But that isn't the case: any party to a discussion or dispute might find their behavior under scrutiny. A reporter whose behavior is or becomes out of line may find themselves be bludgeoned with their own boomerang.
There's also no "immunity" for commenters
A special kind of boomerang, known as a vexbysterang ("vexatious bystander boomerang"), homes in on people who, though not initially involved in a situation, make pests of themselves in the course of the discussion.[1]
How to avoid shooting yourself in the foot
A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself.
If you are involved in a dispute with someone, try to discuss matters with the other person via their
Responders: Investigate fully
When you encounter a reporter who wasn't blameless in the incident, or who posts a report in the heat of the moment, it's easy to jump to the conclusion that the reporter is the sole problem without looking at the context. Don't ignore Bob's bad behavior while rushing to be the first to tell Alice that her angry response to Bob's provocation is going to boomerang on her.
References
- ^ JG66 (October 19, 2021). "Origin of vexbysterang". Wikipedia.
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See also
- Hoist with his own petard
- The Mote and the Beam
- Unclean hands
- Wikipedia:Advice for hotheads
- Wikipedia:ANI advice
- Wikipedia:Don't call the kettle black
- Wikipedia:Don't spite your face
- Wikipedia:Don't throw your toys out of the pram
- Wikipedia:Give 'em enough rope
- Wikipedia:Two wrongs don't make a right
- Wikipedia:Shoot yourself in the foot, a counterpoint to this essay