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This is an essay, a page containing the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. Essays may represent widespread norms or minority viewpoints, and they may be heeded or not based upon your judgement and discretion. |
Common sense is often used to justify opinions and decisions. However, Wikipedians come from diverse ethnic, religious, political, cultural and ideological backgrounds and have vastly different beliefs on everything from science to shoe shopping. Other editors are likely to ascribe vastly different meanings and values to words and concepts than you. Paradoxically, written agreements and guidelines are the only sense that we have in common.
When advancing a position or justifying an action, base your argument on existing agreements, foundation issues and the interests of the encyclopedia, not your own common sense.
See also
- Wikipedia: Use common sense
- Wikipedia:Reduce confusion by following policy
- Wikipedia is not a bureaucracy
- Wikipedia's Neutral Point of View
