Wikipedia:Grow a thick skin
 | 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. |
| “ | When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering | ” |
| — Miguel Ángel Ruiz
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On Wikipedia you will find editors with many different backgrounds, nationalities, cultures, areas of interest, style, manners, viewpoints, and ways of interacting.
More likely than not, you will come across an editor who is very different than you, and sometimes you will find that person obtuse, insufferable, and annoying. Don’t take the bait or you could become obtuse, insufferable, and annoying to that person. And the cycle continues and intensifies.
That is why to enjoy Wikipedia as an editor, you need to grow a thick skin. Let the negativity roll off your back like water off a duck.
So it's okay for me to hurt people?
No. You need a thick skin. You also need to remember that on wiki, you'll encounter people in all sorts of situations, with all sorts of abilities. Be kind to other people.
If you hurt someone, even if it was unintentional or you can't even figure out why it bothered the other person (sometimes, the sting in a comment can be subtle), don't tell the other person that they need to grow a thick skin, so they won't be bothered by your occasional callous/thoughtless/hurtful behavior. The goal is for you to have a thick skin, so that you aren't bothered by other people. Don't tell people you've hurt that they need to grow a thick skin so that they won't be bothered by your behavior.