View source for Wikipedia:WikiLove

{{Short description|Project page about a general spirit of collegiality, mutual understanding}}
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'''[[#WikiLove templates to share and other navboxes|{{green|<u>Click here to skip straight to the templates to share!</u>}}]]''' {{Smiley|size=25px}}
{{for|user documentation about the MediaWiki feature|mw:WikiLove}}
{{essay|WP:LOVE|WP:♥}}
{{nutshell|Love thy fellow editor.}}
{{cquote|'''[[Make love, not war]]'''}}
[[File:Wikilove2.png|thumb|right|alt=Impression of red heart with language glyphs inside puzzle pieces similar to Wikipedia Global Logo and with "Wikilove" at bottom|An impression of the abstract concept of WikiLove]]

'''''WikiLove''''' is a term that refers to a general spirit of [[collegiality]] and mutual understanding among [[wiki]] users. It was actually coined over time on the [[Wikipedia:Mailing lists|mailing lists]]. Because people coming from substantially different perspectives work on Wikipedia together – [[religious fundamentalist]]s and [[secular humanist]]s, [[conservative]]s and [[Liberalism|liberals]], etc. – it is easy for discussions to degenerate into [[Flaming (Internet)|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:What Wikipedia is not|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 great knowledge, in mind, if we concentrate on achieving a [[Wikipedia:neutral point of view|neutral point of view]] even when it is difficult, and 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 and its mission as a whole will suffer. Constant flamewars will scare contributors off, [[Wikipedia:Neutral point of view#Bias|biased]] articles will drive readers away, and both will harm our reputation in the long term.

There isn't a secret formula to achieve WikiLove, but here are some key components:
* Follow [[Wikipedia:Etiquette|Wikiquette]] – respect other contributors.
* [[Wikipedia:Encourage the newcomers|Love newcomers even more]], and [[Wikipedia:Please do not bite the newcomers|don't bite them]] – [[Wikipedia:Why create an account?|named]] or [[Wikipedia:IPs are human too|numeric]].
* Follow [[Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines|our policies]] – they make it easier to work with one another.
* [[WP:Assume good faith|Assume good faith]], and [[WP:Assume the assumption of good faith|assume the premise of good faith]].
* Aim for a [[Wikipedia:neutral point of view|neutral point of view]] – write articles that people from all sides can read and agree with.
* [[Wikipedia:Staying cool when the editing gets hot|Stay cool]] – don't react hastily in anger. Instead, [[Wikipedia:Wikibreak|take some distance]] if you're feeling mad.
* [[WP:FORGIVE|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, verbally, or physically do injury, whether by doing it oneself, getting it done by others, or approving it when done by others.
* Remember that your fellow editors are not part of your operating system, or 'genies in a lamp', etc., [[Wikipedia:A nice cup of tea and a sit down|everyone likes to feel appreciated]]. When making a comment, it's often good to start with a thank you or something positive when there is a reason for it, and maybe end with a thank you if making a request. Some examples:
** "Hi, thank you for your comments on my edit, which you reverted. I would appreciate it if you would please look at this version (...) Again, thank you for your time."
** "Hi, and thank you for contributing to the article on [[Bird migration]]. However, I believe you are mistaken about (...) I have edited it for factuality, would you mind reading it again when you can? Thanks again."
** "Cheers on your good work on [[Clothing]]! Since you seem knowledgeable on the subject, could you explain what you meant by (...) I read it, but the meaning wasn't clear from the context.  Perhaps you could make it more understandable to the layman, or provide some links for further study? Thanks!"

Happy editing, and spread WikiLove all over the Internet to users who deserve it!

Some users are strictly against templated "WikiLove" messages. For those who seek to opt out of them, use either the {{[[Template:NoWikiLove]]}} or the userbox {{[[User:Hans Adler/No WikiLove]]}}.

== See also ==
{{Mediawiki}}
{{wikiquotepar|Love}}
{{commonscat|WikiLove}}
* [[mw:WikiLove|WikiLove extension]] (user documentation)
* [[mw:Extension:WikiLove|WikiLove extension]] (admin/developer documentation)
* [[Wikipedia:Wikilove from the press|WikiLove from the press]]
* [[Wikipedia:WikiCrime|WikiCrime]]
* [[Wikipedia:WikiHate|WikiHate]]
* [[Wikipedia:WikiPeace|WikiPeace]]
* [[Wikipedia:WikiWar|WikiWar]]
* [[Wikipedia:Charitableness|Charitableness]]
* [[Wikipedia:No terms of endearment|No terms of endearment]]
* [[:Category:WikiLove templates]]
* [[Wikipedia:Welcoming committee/Welcome to Wikipedia|Welcoming committee - Welcome to Wikipedia]]

==WikiLove templates to share and other navboxes==
{{WikiLove Templates|state=expanded}}
{{Orders, decorations, and medals of Wikipedia|state=collapsed}}
{{Wikipedia community|state=collapsed}}
{{Wikipedia essays|civility|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Wikipedia culture|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Wikipedia dispute resolution|{{PAGENAME}}]]