WikiLove is a term coined over time on the
Wikipedia:Mailing lists that refers to a general spirit of collegiality and mutual understanding. Because people coming from radically different perspectives work on Wikipedia together -- religious fundamentalists and secular humanists, conservatives and leftists,
etc. -- it is easy for discussions to degenerate into
flamewars. But we are all here for one reason: We love accumulating, ordering, structuring, and making freely available what knowledge we have in the form of an
encyclopedia of unprecedented size.
Wikipedia is not just another discussion forum -- it is a project to describe and collect what we know.
If we keep this common goal, this love of knowledge, in mind, if we concentrate on achieving a neutral point of view even when it is difficult, if we try to actually understand what the other side has to say, then we can reach the state of "WikiLove". If we fail to achieve WikiLove, this will only mean that the encyclopedia as a whole will suffer. Constant flamewars drive contributors away, POV articles drive readers away, and both harm our reputation in the long term.
There is no secret formula to achieve WikiLove, but there are key components:
- Follow Wikiquette -- respect other contributors
- Follow our policies -- they make it easier to work with one another
- Aim for a neutral point of view -- write articles that people from all sides can read and agree with
- Forgive and forget -- remember, this is the Internet. Don't allow yourself to be hurt; do try to accommodate other people's views. Rather try to follow the spirit of Ahimsa: neither mentally, orally, or physically do injury oneself, get injury done by others, approve injury done by others.
Follow this advice, and give someone you WikiLove a WikiHug today!