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This page is an official policy on GuildWars Wikia. It has wide acceptance among editors and is considered a standard that all users should follow. Please use the talk page to propose changes. |
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Be BOLD![]
The GuildWiki community encourages users to be bold when updating pages. Wikis like ours develop faster when everybody helps to fix problems, correct grammar, add facts, make sure the wording is accurate, etc. We expect everyone to be bold and help make GuildWiki a better place. GuildWiki not only allows you to add to, revise, and edit the article — it wants you to do it. It does require some amount of politeness, but it works. You will see. Also, of course, others here will edit what you write. Do not take it personally. They, like all of us, just want to make GuildWiki as good as it can possibly be.
Also, when you see a conflict in a talk page, do not be just a "mute spectator". Be bold and drop your opinion there, or ask people to calm down.
… but don't be reckless.[]
Though the boldness of contributors like you is one of GuildWiki's most precious assets, it is important that contributors do not edit recklessly. "Being Bold" does not excuse a disregard for verifiability or the other guidelines and policies. However, any changes you make that turn out badly can be reverted, often quite painlessly. It is important not to be insulted if your changes are reverted or edited further. Although users often display ownership of the articles they've written, we all understand that Guildwiki is a place of collaboration. The BOLD, revert, discuss cycle is one popular way to use the "Be Bold" approach responsibly, especially when other editors have questions over your ideas.
The unintended consequences of certain significant changes can be more lasting, for better or for worse. This includes changes that are difficult to undo for technical reasons, like renaming the articles, creating new categories (see below) or other non-article pages, etc. Such edits are often warranted but please be sure you know what you are doing and feel free to ask for advice.
Also, substantial changes or deletions to the articles on complex, controversial subjects with long histories, such as the Wammo or Mending, should be done with extra care. In many cases, the text as you find it has come into being after long and arduous negotiations between Guildwikians of diverse backgrounds and points of view. A careless edit to such an article might stir up a hornet's nest, and other users who are involved in the page may become defensive. If you would like to make a significant edit to an article on a controversial subject (not just a simple copyedit), it is a useful idea to first read the article in its entirety and skim the comments on the talk page. On controversial articles, the safest course is to find consensus before making changes, but there are situations when bold edits can safely be made to contentious articles, always use your very best editorial judgment in these cases and be sure to read the the talk page.
Non-article namespaces[]
Although it is generally fine to be bold in updating articles, it is easier to cause problems in other namespaces by editing without due care. The admonition "but do not be reckless" is especially important in other namespaces.
Being bold in updating or creating categories and templates can have far reaching consequences. This is because category changes – and even more so template changes – can affect a large number of pages with a single edit. Templates, moreover, may have complex source code that can easily be broken by untested changes. Because of these concerns, many heavily used templates are indefinitely protected from editing. Before editing templates or categories, consider proposing any changes on the associated talk pages.
It is generally recommended that you not edit another Guildwikian's user page, or comments left on talk pages (other than your own, and even then do not be reckless). Fixing vandalism is nearly always welcome, even on user pages; specific users will let you know if they find your changes inappropriate.
Related articles[]
- GuildWars Wikia:You are valuable
- GuildWars Wikia:Only revert once
- Template:User Bold (user box)
- Wikipedia:Be bold
- "It's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission."