Wikipedia:Don't take the bait

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Fish take the bait by instinct; you don't have to.
Know a trap when you see one.

manipulate the civility policy
as a weapon. They may even cite this essay.

In content disputes, a common

badgering the opposition—while carefully remaining superficially civil—until someone lashes out. They then complain to an administrator. Time-pressed administrators may look only at specific edits
without delving into the background that led up to the incident, resulting in a warning or block for the targeted editor. Most discouraging of all, this tactic is nearly risk-free. There rarely are negative consequences for those who use it, in part because a pattern of ongoing provocation can't easily be explained following the usual "diffs please" request. Sometimes these are after one particular individual and sometimes they're just after anyone who will take the bait.

Don't take the bait. You are under no obligation to react to goading. Avoid the temptation to get in

Don't tell the provocateur that they aren't welcome
, as this can be used against you. Let them have the last word. Let them jump and shout. They may get louder and louder, but the silent treatment always works in the end. Don't take the bait. Just swim away.

You have a right to remain silent. The same general principles apply if an editor is simply wasting your time. Perhaps they are feigning misunderstanding to drag you into a repetitive talk page morass. For heaven's sake don't accuse them of doing that. Just don't respond. You have an absolute right to walk away from any discussion if you feel it is becoming circular or repetitive, or not respond to any comment directed at you.

See also