LifeWiki:Be kind

We require that all users be kind in discussions. This is in order to avoid discussions from derailing from civilly discussing an article's content, to randomly calling each other NAZIS! for no apparent reason. Note, being kind, in this case, does not necessarily mean to be nice. You are not required to be extremely nice to everyone, just don't be unkind. This policy documents a few important things to note with regards to being kind.

Avoid personal attacks
A personal attack is any statement deliberately intended to attack someone. Comment on content, not contributors. Examples of personal attacks include, but are not limited to: discriminating against someone because of their age, sex, or gender identity, threats, especially legal threats and death threats, "casting aspersions", which refers to making baseless accusations against an editor, or linking to external sites that do anything previously listed. Users who persistently make personal attacks will likely be blocked.

Harassment
Harassment refers to repeated actions intended to intimidate, offend, or threaten an editor. There are a few forms of harassment common on wikis, and here are a few of them: Harassment should be reported to administrators, and preferably privately via Special:Contact.
 * 1) Wikihounding. This refers to, essentially, the wiki equivalent of stalking, repeatedly trying to join discussions that an editor is involved in order to confront them or inhibit their work.
 * 2) Persistent threats. Legal threats and threats of harm are especially taken very seriously, and editors who make them persistently will very likelily (is that a word) get blocked, or even banned.
 * Doxing or outing. This refers to deliberately posting (or threatening to post) another editor's personal information, and is a severe form of harassment, under the condition that the victim has not voluntarily posted their personal information on-wiki in the past. Please report outing to an administrator as soon as possible via Special:Contact who can remove the edit from public view, prior to requesting the permanent removal of the edit from page histories.

Assume good faith
Unlike the other sections of this policy, this section is non-binding, but still should be adhered to as much as possible; basically, you won't get blocked simply because you called someone a "vandal" once. The meaning of "assume good faith" is basically, assume that an editor is here to help the wiki; not to harm it.

Please do not bite the newcomers
Assuming good faith is far more important when dealing with newcomers, for two reasons: We refer to assuming bad faith on the part of newcomers as "biting" them, and it is prohibited. Instead, it is better to inform them of proper policies and guidelines in order for them to become aware of them.
 * 1) Assuming bad faith on the part of newcomers could drive them away, and
 * 2) It is far more likely for newcomers to be simply unaware of policies, than for them to be deliberately violating them.

Ignorantia juris
The Latin phrase ignorantia juris means "ignorance of the law", and it is traditionally believed that it should not excuse criminals, but on wikis, it actually may excuse editors from blocking. The point is that a large number of users are simply unaware of our policies, and we should make them aware of our policies instead of forcing them to comply by threatening to block them.

Bad faith
There are some users that actually are here to abuse or vandalize, but make sure that there is strong evidence in favor of bad faith before assuming it. Also remember to adhere by the other parts of this policy while dealing with them. Still behave calmly in order to determine what course of action is required, and contact an administrator for assistance if necessary.

Assume the assumption of good faith
Accusing others of bad faith could be seen as a personal attack, so you should generally avoid doing so, and also avoid assuming that others have assumed bad faith towards you. This will likely not resolve the dispute, but simply make it worse.

Dispute resolution
When dealing with an uncivil editor, make sure to attempt to resolve a dispute with them. Here are the best options:
 * 1) Contact the editor directly and try to determine why exactly the editor is uncivil. Remember to be very calm while discussing with them, even if you yourself are frustrated. If that doesn't work, then you can
 * 2) Report the user to the administrators' noticeboard, where an administrator can help you resolve the dispute.
 * 3) If that doesn't work, report the user to LW:ANI, where other users can determine how to resolve the dispute once and for all.
 * 4) If even that doesn't work, then... wait until we have an Arbitration Committee.