Jump to content
 







Main menu
   


Navigation  



Main page
Contents
Current events
Random article
About Wikipedia
Contact us
Donate
 




Contribute  



Help
Learn to edit
Community portal
Recent changes
Upload file
 








Search  



























Create account

Log in
 









Create account
 Log in
 




Pages for logged out editors learn more  



Contributions
Talk
 



















Contents

   



(Top)
 


1Responding sensibly
 




2When it isappropriate to say "Please stop that"
 


2.1Forum shopping
 




2.2Incivility
 






3See also
 













Wikipedia:Just drop it






Türkçe
 

Edit links
 









Project page
Talk
 

















Read
Edit
View history
 








Tools
   


Actions  



Read
Edit
View history
 




General  



What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Get shortened URL
Download QR code
Wikidata item
 




Print/export  



Download as PDF
Printable version
 


















From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 


If you do not hold this thorn apple in your hand, it cannot hurt you.

"Just drop it" is a sentiment sometimes voiced during heated or protracted disputes on Wikipedia. It may also be used when one party is advocating a position unpopular with a number of other respondents.

While some users do behave in a tendentious manner, others may be voicing heartfelt concerns. "Just drop it" is not a very useful response in either case.

Responding sensibly[edit]

To win, just walk away.

Some users thrive on arguments, and an admonition to stop arguing just gives them a new thing to argue against ("You can't silence me!"). The simplest approach toward these users is "do not feed the trolls". Such users are playing a game, and telling them to "just drop it" is just hitting the ball back to them. Instead of trying to get in the last word, ignore them and walk off the court.

If other responders choose not to walk away, and instead continue responding, either in agreement or disagreement, that is their right. Unless the conversation is expressly disruptive and turning into a flame war, let the conversation continue unabated, and find somewhere else to focus your energy.

After dropping it, it is equally important to leave it.

When it is appropriate to say "Please stop that"[edit]

Forum shopping[edit]

If a user is dissatisfied with the answers they receive in one forum, the user might decide to take their concerns to another forum. For example, if a user makes an ANI report and finds the users there unwilling or unable to address their concerns, they might choose to post the same concern on a policy talk page, an admin's talk page, Jimbo's talk page, or in several such locations. This constitutes forum shopping and is discouraged. In cases like this, the user should be contacted on their talk page and given an explanation as to why such behavior is considered disruptive. Adding a note to each "shopped" post explaining where prior discussion of the issue took place helps to keep redundant discussion to a minimum.

Incivility[edit]

A user who finds themself in a minority position may resort to personal attacks or some other form of incivility. When an editor makes targeted personal attacks against another user, that editor should be asked politely but sternly to discontinue making personal attacks (any editor may do so, including the one being attacked). If the editor persists in being uncivil, the blocking policy may have to be applied. However, good faith should still be assumed, if possible; people in minority positions may have a valid point that is masked by their frustration. This is especially true when responding to new users, who have yet to learn Wikipedia's standards of contribution and conduct.

See also[edit]


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Just_drop_it&oldid=1196258723"

Categories: 
Wikipedia essays
Wikipedia dispute resolution
Wikipedia essays about inaction
 



This page was last edited on 16 January 2024, at 23:37 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.



Privacy policy

About Wikipedia

Disclaimers

Contact Wikipedia

Code of Conduct

Developers

Statistics

Cookie statement

Mobile view



Wikimedia Foundation
Powered by MediaWiki