View source for Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in image deletion discussions

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{{Deletion essay|WP:AAFFD||WP:AAIDD|WP:AAIFD|WP:AAXFD|cat=Essays about Wikipedian fallacies|date=July 2011}}
{{Nutshell|Deletion decisions about non-free content at the English Wikipedia are governed by [[Wikipedia:Non-free content criteria]].|The strongest arguments are those that explain clearly how they are based upon that policy.}}

It is important to use the strongest '''arguments in deletion discussions for images and other files'''. [[Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in deletion discussions]] provides advice about how to frame effective explanations of your views in deletion discussions in general, and particularly in [[Wikipedia:Articles for deletion|deletion discussions about articles]]. [[Wikipedia:Files for discussion|Deletion discussions about images and other files]] rest upon some criteria that are particular to those media, sometimes in ways that are unfamiliar to editors who do not frequently participate in such discussions. As a result, there are some special considerations that go into making an effective argument. Understanding these considerations can make it easier to achieve [[Wikipedia:Consensus|consensus]] during these deletion discussions, as well as to avoid conflict.

The use of images at Wikipedia is governed by [[Wikipedia:Image use policy]]. Most images and other digital media used by Wikipedia are [[free content]], and are available at [[Wikimedia Commons]]. However, the English language Wikipedia, in agreement with the [[Wikimedia Foundation]], also allows the use of non-free content, subject to some specific—and important—restrictions. Such content cannot be kept at Commons, but may be uploaded locally. Many deletion discussions of image files at the English Wikipedia, therefore, involve policies pertaining to the use, locally, of non-free content.

The policy on the use of non-free content at the English Wikipedia is given at [[Wikipedia:Non-free content]]. In deletion discussions concerning non-free media, arguments that are based upon the ten [[Wikipedia:Non-free content criteria]] (NFCC) carry the most weight, whereas arguments unrelated to that policy are likely to carry little weight, and should be avoided. Not surprisingly, editors often have strongly held opinions about whether or not an image should be deleted. Consequently, arguments that focus on [[WP:NFCC]] and avoid unrelated matters are also likely to reduce conflict.

The following are a list of arguments that can commonly be seen in [[WP:DP|deletion discussions]] for [[WP:IFD|images]] and which should ''generally be avoided'', or at least, supplemented with some more arguments. This essay should be read along with [[Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in deletion discussions]], which contains many other arguments that should generally be avoided; most of the arguments listed here represent special cases pertaining to non-free content.

Although this essay focuses on arguments concerning non-free media, there are also "arguments to avoid" that apply to free images, discussed [[#Deletion discussions concerning free media|below]].

Please remember that a reason that arguably could be classified as an "argument to avoid" can still have some valid points in it. This essay suggests ways to make such arguments stronger. Also please remember that most editors who participate in deletion discussions, whether advocating for keeping or deleting a given file, are acting in [[WP:AGF|good faith]].

All of the images used in ''this'' essay are ''free'' content.
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==Arguing the editor, rather than the image==
{{anchor|Meetoo}}
==="Just a vote" and "Per nominator"===
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[[File:GIs cross a footbridge in Laghman Province.jpg|thumb|upright|right|In the military, it is appropriate to follow the leader. At Wikipedia, consensus is achieved through discussion.]]
{{See also|Wikipedia:Polling is not a substitute for discussion}}
''Examples:''
* '''Keep''' – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
* '''Delete''' – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)
* '''Keep''' per other editor. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
* '''Delete''' per nom. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

At Wikipedia, [[WP:CONSENSUS|consensus]] is achieved through discussion, rather than simply voting. In a disputed non-free file deletion discussion, it is necessary that the file satisfy ''all ten'' of the criteria listed at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]]. Thus, the most persuasive arguments are those that focus on whether or not the file satisfies all of those criteria, and which actually explain their reasoning. Sometimes, it is appropriate to agree with what another editor has already said, but it is better to explain why you agree, or with what, specifically, you agree.
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{{anchor|Assuming bad faith}}{{anchor|Image spam}}{{anchor|Ripped}}

===Assuming bad faith===
{{shortcut|WP:IMAGESPAM|WP:RIPPED}}
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[[File:Touch of Evil.JPG|thumb|upright|right|Actually, most Wikipedians are not evil.]]
{{See also|Wikipedia:Assume good faith}}
''Examples:''
* '''Keep''' – Bad faith nomination. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
* '''Keep''' – You're disrupting Wikipedia. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
* '''Delete''' – You're disrupting Wikipedia. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)
* '''Delete''' – Image uploaded by spammer. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)
* '''Delete''' – We don't need to rip this image from (source)! – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

[[Wikipedia:No personal attacks]] advises users to "Comment on the content, not on the contributor." That remains just as true when that content is a non-free image or other file, rather than text. Normally, it is best to focus on the ten criteria at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]], without speculating on other editors' motives. For example, one should avoid arguing that an editor simply added text to an article as a "pretext" for including an image. Most editors participating in deletion discussions really do mean well, even if they appear not to understand NFCC, or appear not to understand how the image is valuable to an article. Editors sometimes care deeply about whether or not a file will be deleted, and it is important not to cause unnecessary conflict. If there is really a conduct problem, raise it instead through [[WP:DR|dispute resolution]].

However, there may be times when it is unavoidable to raise issues of bad conduct during a deletion discussion. In these cases, it is best to be certain that your accusations are well-founded and directly relevant to the discussion, and to state them in a polite and unemotional manner. Most importantly, it is best to raise them only as part of your argument, not as its entirety.
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==Misunderstanding the non-free content criteria==
{{anchor|Multiple choice}}{{anchor|Just one}}{{anchor|One criterion}}
===Assuming that meeting one criterion is sufficient===
{{shortcut|WP:MULTIPLECHOICE|WP:JUSTONE}}
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[[File:StateLibQld 1 100348.jpg|thumb|right|Satisfying the non-free content criteria is not like a multiple choice test.]]
''Examples:''

* '''Keep''' – It's fair use. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC) (''said in a discussion where fair use was never raised as a reason for deletion'')
* '''Keep''' – But there's a rationale. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Deletion discussions for non-free files are usually decided by the ten criteria listed at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]]. The existence of a file description page with a usage rationale, [[WP:NFCC#10|criterion 10]], is just one of these. To be kept, a file must satisfy all ten criteria, not just some of them. It is not a multiple choice process, in which checking off just one of the options is sufficient. An editor nominating a file for deletion is generally expected to name, specifically, which criteria the file is believed not to meet. When responding to such a nomination, it is important to pay attention to what the nominator said. Pointing out, for example, that an image satisfies fair use requirements does not constitute a persuasive argument when the deletion nomination is based on something unrelated to fair use. To make the best argument for keeping a file, always address your argument to the specific criterion or criteria that were raised by the nominator or by other editors who have argued for deletion.
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{{anchor|Copyright}}{{anchor|It's copyrighted}}

===Copyright===
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[[File:Copyright.svg|thumb|upright|Copyrighted images may be used if and only if they satisfy our criteria for non-free use.]]
''Examples:''
*'''Delete''' – It's under copyright. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – The file page says that it is in the public domain, but it is actually under copyright. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – The file page says that it is in the public domain, but there is no proof that it isn't copyrighted. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Any file that has an active copyright by someone else, or even appears likely to be copyrighted, must be deleted at Wikimedia Commons. And here at the English Wikipedia, the [[WP:C|Copyrights policy]] is taken very seriously. However, copyrighted non-text material such as image files or other files may be used here under certain strict conditions. The file must satisfy all ten criteria listed at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]], and it must have an appropriate [[WP:NFC#Implementation|non-free use rationale]] on its file page. Therefore, simply arguing that a file must be deleted because it is copyrighted is not a sufficient argument for deletion, even though that might seem counterintuitive. Instead, the appropriate issue is whether or not there is a satisfactory non-free rationale for its use. If there is an error on the file page, the error should be corrected.

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{{anchor|Fair use}}{{anchor|It's fair use}}

===Fair use===
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{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = YES to Fair Use.svg
| width1 = 120
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = 
| image2 = Say NO to Fair Use.svg
| width2 = 120
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| footer = Whatever you say, Wikipedia's non-free content policy is stricter than fair use law.
}}
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – It's fair use. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – It's only used once. Surely, that's fair use. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – This is a list, and there's only one image per character. Surely, that's fair use. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – We could just combine all the disputed images into a single gallery. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

A non-free file must satisfy all ten criteria listed at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]], not just some of them, even if it is only used a single time. Wikipedia, as a free encyclopedia, has decided to make these criteria more strict than what is required by [[fair use|United States fair use law]]. In part, this is because there is a consensus that non-free material should not be used here when free content is available that could serve the purpose just as well. Also, an important aspect of being a free encyclopedia is that other entities should be able to freely reuse content that they find on Wikipedia. We even permit commercial entities to freely reuse content from Wikipedia in bulk, and they should be able to do so without sharing Wikipedia's status as an online service provider that is non-profit, charitable, and educational. Thus, satisfying fair use law is not sufficient to satisfy the requirements at Wikipedia.
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{{anchor|It's free}}{{anchor|Free image}}{{anchor|Gratis}}

===It's free!===
{{shortcut|WP:ITSFREE|WP:GRATIS}}
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[[File:Free Beer.jpg|thumb|200px|right|There is a difference between being given away for free, and being freely licensed.]]
{{See also|Gratis versus libre}}
''Examples:''
* '''Keep''' – This image is free. Anyone can download it from that website. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
* '''Keep''' – Since this image is readily available from many websites, our use is not making a difference in the copyright holder's ability to profit from the image. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

The English word "free" can mean either "for zero price" (like beer being given away for free) or "with few or no restrictions" (like a free license for a file). To be considered "free content" on Wikipedia, a file must satisfy one of the licenses listed at [[Wikipedia:File copyright tags/Free licenses]]. Such content, by definition, is ''not'' non-free content. Non-free content, instead, must satisfy all ten criteria listed at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]].

Often, images that are subject to [[copyright]] can be found somewhere on the web, where it is possible to copy and save them for free (like "free beer"). This fact, by itself, does not prove that the owner of the copyright has relinquished their legal rights under that copyright. Affirmative evidence that the material has been freely licensed is needed to establish that a file is "free" for Wikipedia's purposes.

The [[WP:NFCC#2|second criterion at WP:NFCC]], that "non-free content is not used in a manner that is likely to replace the original market role of the original copyrighted media," is often discussed in this regard. The fact that an image can be obtained for free at some websites often turns out to be trumped by the same image being offered for sale at another location. Wikipedia does not have the right to infringe on someone's market just because others are doing so. If anyone is offering the image for sale, anywhere, it is likely that the image fails criterion two and must be deleted.

On the other hand, widespread availability of an image may, in some circumstances, be evidence that criterion 2 is satisfied, if it can be clearly established that there is no danger of infringing on the original market role. Clearly establishing that, however, is difficult, and discussions about this point can be contentious. It is generally unhelpful to lay blame on another editor for not having adequately considered that a file may or may not still have a commercial value. Instead, try to listen to what other editors are saying, and consider whether they might have put forth arguments that would require you to change your position.

It should also be noted that an image that exists elsewhere on the Internet can sometimes, but not always, be linked to, as an alternative to actually placing the image on Wikipedia. If the other website is operated or licensed by the copyright owner, it is entirely appropriate to provide a link in the "External links" section of the page, or through the use of the {{tl|external media}} template, with a mention in the text that the image can be found there. On the other hand, if another website hosts an image in violation of the copyright, Wikipedia should never provide such a link.

{{anchor|Free by association}}{{anchor|Freesource}}

===Free by association===
{{shortcut|WP:FREESOURCE|WP:GOVSOURCE}}
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[[File:United States Statutes at Large Volume 34 Part 3 image 1 following page 3190.png|thumb|upright|right|Although works that are actually created by the US government are generally in the public domain, make sure first that the work is not copyrighted and reprinted.]]
''Example:''
*'''Keep''' – This image came from a U.S. Government website, which puts all work out in the public domain, and therefore it's free. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

A special case of the "It's free!" argument occurs with respect to images from government websites. This case can also be true for any website that nominally allows its own work to be put into the [[public domain]], but which may also republish others' work.

Many national and state governments have copyright clauses that put work performed by their own employees while performing a work function into the public domain. Thus, there are many free images available from government sources. Editors often do not realize, however, that this does not mean that any media that appears on a government website is in the public domain. Sometimes, the government will republish copyrighted work on their websites or in publications, but this does not change the copyright of the original work. In these cases, there will often be a credit indicating who the original copyright holder is. When making this argument, make sure first that the content really is in the public domain, and do not just assume it.
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{{anchor|Low resolution}}{{anchor|Blurry}}

===Low resolution===
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[[File:BlurryDavid.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Do not adjust your computer monitor. Do remember that non-free content must satisfy all non-free content criteria.]]
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – It's low resolution, so it's fair use. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – This image is too blurry, so we don't need it. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

There can be good arguments that include these points, but arguments that consist ''only'' of these points are likely to carry little weight. As noted above, fair use is not, by itself, a sufficient argument for keeping a file. A non-free file must satisfy ''all ten'' criteria listed at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]]. Being of sufficiently low resolution is very helpful in satisfying [[WP:NFCC#3|criterion 3b]]. However, the file must still satisfy all of the other criteria.

Conversely, it is unreasonable to require that an image be of excellent resolution when we are actually requiring low resolution. If an image is of very low quality (like the one at the right), however, that may reduce its ability to add meaningfully to readers' understanding of the article. This latter point must be resolved by the consensus of editors evaluating how well or poorly the image contributes to the content of the page, and not by an arbitrary threshold of resolution.
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{{anchor|Educational}}{{anchor|It's educational}}

===Educational===
{{shortcut|WP:EDUCATIONAL|WP:ITSEDUCATIONAL}}
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[[File:Student teacher in China.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Images are very helpful in the classroom. They can be helpful on Wikipedia too, but they need to help the reader understand the article, not simply provide information.]]
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – It's educational, so it's fair use. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – It enhances a reader's understanding. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – We're an encyclopedia, first and foremost. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Being educational is, of course, a good thing for an encyclopedia. However the criteria at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]] set a higher standard than just being educational for non-free images and files. [[WP:NFCC#8|Criterion 8]], which ''every'' non-free file ''must'' satisfy, requires that the image not merely be educational, but "significantly increase readers' understanding of the topic". This means, first, that the image must either address something that is discussed in the text of the page, or add in a meaningful and substantive way to the understanding of the overall topic of the page. It is not enough for the image to provide some additional information beyond what the text covers. Secondly, the image must make it significantly easier for the reader to understand what the page discusses, beyond what the text, alone, can convey. The most effective arguments recognize and explicitly address these requirements.

Arguing that an image enhances a reader's understanding of the page gets closer to being a persuasive argument, but a better argument explains ''how'' the image does so, rather than just stating baldly that it does.
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{{anchor|Historic}}{{anchor|It's historic}}

===Historic===
{{redirects|WP:HISTORIC|the list of large-scale disputes that have occurred on Wikipedia|Wikipedia:Historic debates}}
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[[File:Schilling Atelier.jpg|thumb|220px|right|What do the history books say? No matter what they say, the non-free content criteria set specific requirements.]]
{{See also|Wikipedia:Non-free content#Images}}
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – Historic image. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – The event shown in the photo is never going to happen again. Irreplaceable! – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Once again, non-free images must satisfy all ten criteria listed at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]]. Being historic or one-of-a-kind is not, by itself, sufficient. Being of historical importance can, however, be part of a good argument that an image satisfies [[WP:NFCC#8|criterion 8]] (contextual significance), and being unique may be helpful in satisfying [[WP:NFCC#1|criterion 1]] (no free equivalent). It is also important to distinguish between an image that is, itself, historic and notable in its own right (such as the photograph ''[[Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima]]''), and thus is very likely to satisfy criterion 8, and a non-notable image that illustrates an historic event, in which case passage of criterion 8 is a matter of editorial judgment and consensus. There are plenty of conceivable images that show something historic, but which would not "significantly increase readers' understanding of the topic" on a given page, which is what criterion 8 requires. Therefore, do not simply point out that an image shows something historic. To make the most persuasive argument, go on to explain how this historic image increases the reader's understanding of what the article discusses.
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{{anchor|Irreplaceable}}{{anchor|It's irreplaceable}}{{anchor|Hope Diamond}}

===Irreplaceable===
{{redirect|WP:IRREPLACEABLE|the essay about editors|Wikipedia:You are not irreplaceable}}
{{shortcut|WP:IRREPLACEABLE|WP:HOPEDIAMOND}}
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[[File:HopeDiamond1.JPG|thumb|upright|right|The [[Hope Diamond]] is irreplaceable. That doesn't mean that Wikipedia has to store it.]]
''Example:''
*'''Keep''' – It's irreplaceable! – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a repository for rare objects. Thus, it is not Wikipedia's role to be a place to keep unique and irreplaceable images. Arguing that an image is irreplaceable is unlikely to carry much weight in a deletion discussion. Instead, if you can show that the non-free image satisfies all ten criteria at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]], the fact that it is irreplaceable can be helpful in establishing that it satisfies [[WP:NFCC#1|criterion 1]] (no free equivalent). An irreplaceable image can also help satisfy [[WP:NFCC#8|criterion 8]] (contextual significance), by being a particularly useful image to help readers understand the subject of the page.
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{{anchor|Climax scene}}{{anchor|Climactic scene}}{{anchor|Most important image}}

===Climactic scene===
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[[File:Fotothek df roe-neg 0006440 2 036 Drei Pioniere während des Lesens des Filmprosp.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Was it the best episode ''ever''? It still has to pass the non-free content criteria.]]
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – This is the climax scene in that series' episode. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – This is the most important image in that work. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

This is another case of an argument that is weak by itself, but potentially stronger when made as part of a larger point. [[WP:NFCC#8|NFCC criterion 8]] requires that the non-free image "significantly increase readers' understanding of the topic". Therefore, simply stating that the image is climactic, important, or iconic, is not sufficient by itself. Instead, the most persuasive arguments will refer to what the text of the article says, and explain clearly how the image helps the reader understand the subject in ways that cannot be achieved by text alone, and how the article text would be inadequate without this particular image.
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==Misunderstanding burden of proof==
{{anchor|You go first}}{{anchor|Go first}}{{anchor|Couldn't find}}
==="You go first"===
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[[File:Mark Twain Les Aventures de Huck Finn illustration p184.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Telling the other user what to do does not advance consensus.]]
{{See also|WP:BEFORE}}
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – I couldn't find a free replacement. You should first go and find a free image, then delete this once you found one. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – If there's something wrong with the file information, you should have just fixed it. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – I don't have to show that the file fails NFCC. The burden of proof is on you to show that it passes. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

Each deletion discussion is a discussion about an individual file. Whether or not there might exist a free image that could serve the same purpose as the image under discussion, the only issue at hand is whether the non-free image under discussion satisfies all ten criteria at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]]. If the image fails, then it must be deleted now, without waiting to find a replacement. If you believe that the file should be kept, and you cannot find a free replacement, you will have a better argument if you explain, instead, why you believe the file passes NFCC.

It is generally not helpful to achieving consensus to tell another editor what they should have done. Doing so tends to escalate tension, instead of finding a solution. If another editor points out something that is lacking in the file information, try to [[WP:BOLD|fix it yourself]]. If you can, you will then be able to return to the deletion discussion and explain that the criticism of the file is no longer applicable. On the other hand, an editor who is considering whether to nominate a file for deletion based on missing or faulty file information ([[WP:NFCC#10|NFCC criterion 10]]), ought to consider first whether, in fact, it is practical to fix the information oneself, instead of creating the trouble of a disputed deletion discussion.

Burden of proof in a deletion discussion is subject to [[rebuttable presumption]]. It is entirely reasonable for an editor proposing deletion to frame the nomination succinctly, for example: "Fails NFCC#2". Often, there will be no disagreement with such a nomination, and the closing administrator will conclude that the file should be deleted. In such a case, the nominating editor has no further burden. However, if another editor comes along and argues that the file should, in fact, be kept, then there must be discussion to determine who is correct. If the editor arguing for "keep" has made an unconvincing argument that you want to rebut, do not hide behind "burden of proof". Instead, try to explain politely why that argument is flawed. If the argument for keeping is, instead, valid, then the burden effectively shifts to those who still want to delete.
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{{anchor|Said so}}{{anchor|I already said so}}

==="I already said so"===
{{shortcut|WP:SAIDSO|WP:ALREADYSAID}}
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[[File:Angry man.svg|thumb|100px|right|Rather than just repeating yourself, be sure you listened to what the other person said.]]
{{See also|Wikipedia:Drop the stick and back slowly away from the horse carcass}}
''Example:''
*'''Delete''' – I already said why it should be deleted in my nomination statement. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

As stated just above, in [[#"You go first"|"You go first"]], burden of proof in deletion discussions is subject to [[rebuttable presumption]]. An essential aspect of [[WP:Consensus|consensus building]] is listening to other editors' arguments. If, in fact, you already showed why the arguments for keep are incorrect, then [[WP:AGF|assume]] that it wasn't clear to the other editors and explain it again. If the other editors, instead, have demonstrated that there was an error in your deletion nomination, then you should either explain why deletion is, nonetheless, required, or you should acknowledge that they were correct.
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{{anchor|Obvious}}{{anchor|It's obvious}}{{anchor|Like image}}{{anchor|Lousy image}}

==="It's obvious"===
{{shortcut|WP:OBVIOUSLY|WP:ITSOBVIOUS|WP:LIKEIMAGE}}
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[[File:Albert Einstein Head Cleaned N Cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|right|You may be as smart as [[Albert Einstein]], but that doesn't make it clear to anyone else.]]
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – It's obviously encyclopedic! – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – It's obviously just decorative! – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – It's just common sense! – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – It's just common sense! – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – It's a good image! – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – It's a lousy image! – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

In any deletion discussion, an argument that simply asserts that its position is the correct one is likely to carry little weight. Always base your argument, as specifically as possible, on the ten criteria at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]]. Sometimes, it can be frustrating to get another editor to see what is obvious to you, but telling them that it is obvious is unlikely to persuade them, no matter how much it may feel good to say it. Stay calm, and try to explain what you mean, specifically. You can always console yourself in the knowledge of your superior understanding.

Arguments that simply state that an image is good or bad are really just examples of [[WP:ILIKEIT]] or [[WP:IDONTLIKEIT]]. Instead, explain ''why'' the non-free image is good or bad. In particular, address [[WP:NFCC#8|NFCC criterion 8]]: how does the image succeed or fail at significantly increasing readers' understanding of what the text of the page says?
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=="Decorative" arguments==
{{anchor|Decorative}}{{anchor|Just decorative}}{{anchor|Purely decorative}}{{anchor|Looks good}}
==="It's just decorative"===
{{shortcut|WP:DECORATIVE|WP:JUSTDECORATIVE}}
{{redirect|WP:DECORATIVE|decorative images in articles|MOS:IMAGERELEVANCE|decorative icons|MOS:DECORATION}}
{{ATA shortcut notice}}

[[File:Cattleya trianae.jpg|thumb|200px|right|At the article on ''[[Cattleya trianae]]'', this image helps readers understand what the text says. Here at this essay, it really is just decorative.]]
''Examples:''
*'''Delete''' – The image is purely decorative. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – This image adds no relevant information that can't conveyed by free text alone. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – The image makes the page look good. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – The page would look awful without the image. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

[[WP:NFCC#8|NFCC criterion 8]] requires that all non-free images add significantly to "readers' understanding of the topic" of the page. A common shorthand for this idea is that images must not merely be "decorative". However, the imprecision of this word often gets in the way of making a persuasive argument in deletion discussions. There is no mathematical formula for drawing the line between being merely decorative, and being something that adds significantly to understanding. This distinction is a subjective one that can only be made through editorial discussion. Instead of stating baldly that the image is purely decorative, explain how it fails to help our readers understand the page.

Furthermore, the threshold is not, strictly speaking, whether it is ''possible'' to understand the subject matter of the page by relying upon text alone, without the use of the image. Criterion 8 requires that the absence of the image "would be detrimental" to understanding the text. Thus, the issue is not whether the text alone can explain the concept ''at all'', but whether it can explain it ''as well'', without the image. An editor who refuses to "drop the stick" of saying that the page can be understood using text alone may eventually come to be seen by other editors as being disruptive.

Conversely, simply saying that an image looks good can be tantamount to admitting that it is, in fact, only decorative. Remember instead to explain why the image satisfies criterion 8.
{{clear}}
{{anchor|Any image can be described by words}}{{anchor|I don't need an image}}

==="Any image can be described by words"===
{{shortcut|WP:ANYIMAGE|WP:DONTNEEDIMAGE}}
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[[File:DSC 4050-MR-Braille.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Even if it's possible to explain something in [[braille]], that doesn't mean that an image wouldn't help readers understand it better.]]
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – Any image can be described by words. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – I don't need an image to understand this subject. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

Arguing to keep a non-free image on the basis that "any image can be described by words" is unlikely to be persuasive. The deletion discussion is about only one image, and whether it adds significantly to readers' understanding of what the page says ([[WP:NFCC#8|NFCC criterion 8]]). A better argument is to explain how this image accomplishes that goal.

The opposite argument is just as weak. The fact that you, personally, are capable of understanding the text without seeing the image proves very little. The standard, instead, is whether our readers, the general public, will, as a group, tend to understand the content of the page significantly better when the image is included, and whether it would be detrimental to their understanding to omit it. Thus, the threshold is not whether someone can possibly understand the text ''at all'' without the image, but whether the image significantly improves that understanding. Does the image ''really'' add ''absolutely nothing'' to what one understands? If it only adds in an ''insignificant'' way, then explain why that is insignificant, instead of resorting to hyperbole. Doing so will then make it easier for other editors to come to consensus.
{{clear}}
{{anchor|Worth a thousand words}}{{anchor|An image is worth a thousand words}}

===Worth a thousand words===
{{shortcut|WP:THOUSANDWORDS|WP:WORTHATHOUSAND}}
{{ATA shortcut notice}}

[[File:20090211 thousand words-01 cropped.jpg|275px|thumb|right|Whatever it's worth, it still has to pass the non-free content criteria.]]
''Example:''
*'''Keep''' – An image is worth a thousand words. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

"[[A picture is worth a thousand words]]" is an old adage, but in deletion discussions, it is nothing more than an empty cliché. A far better way to make your case is to explain, specifically, how the non-free image satisfies [[WP:NFCC#8|NFCC criterion 8]].
{{clear}}

==Crystal ball fallacies==
{{anchor|Nobody complained}}{{anchor|Nobody complained before}}
===Nobody complained before===
{{shortcut|WP:NOBODYCOMPLAINED|WP:GOTLETTER}}
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[[File:Natalie shrugging.jpg|thumb|140px|right|Hey, don't look at me! Nobody complained before!]]
{{See also|Wikipedia:Requesting copyright permission|Wikipedia:Precautionary principle}}
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – This article has used this image for ages and nobody complained to us about using it. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – I'm sure the creator of the image would want us to use it. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – We have a letter from the copyright owner, saying that we may use this image on Wikipedia. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – This article has used this image for ages and editors never raised this objection before. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Famous last words! Even if the holder of a copyright has not defended that copyright, or appears not to have defended that copyright, they still retain the right to enforce it when they choose. Perhaps they simply have not yet noticed its use on Wikipedia. No editor here has the ability to predict the future. Instead, try to find affirmative evidence that the file has been licensed in such a way that Wikipedia may use it.

Even if we have a communication from the copyright owner, saying that the work may be used on Wikipedia, that is not the same thing as a communication that agrees to [[Wikipedia:File copyright tags/Free licenses|freely licensing]] the work as Wikipedia requires. Any file used on Wikipedia may be re-used elsewhere, so an agreement to use the image ''only'' on Wikipedia is not enough. If you are in a position to ask permission from the copyright holder, do not simply ask for permission for use on Wikipedia, but request free licensing.

Similarly, even if an image has been used on a page for a long time with no editor objecting to its use, that is not a valid argument for keeping. Some pages are viewed infrequently, so this may simply be a case in which the failure to satisfy the NFCC requirements was not noticed until recently. Also, a file may previously have had a valid rationale for use on an article, but has subsequently been moved to a different page, where the rationale is no longer valid, or revisions to the original page have made the rationale obsolete.

A variation of this argument, in which the featured status of the page is invoked, is discussed [[#Audited content|below]].
{{clear}}
{{anchor|Legal predictions}}{{anchor|Would never sue}}{{anchor|Might sue}}{{anchor|Exceptional}}{{anchor|Exceptional circumstances}}

===Legal predictions===
{{shortcut|WP:NEVERSUE|WP:MIGHTSUE}}
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[[File:Trial by Jury - Chaos in the Courtroom.jpg|thumb|280px|right|Well, let's hope it never comes to this, but the issue here is whether the file passes the non-free content criteria.]]
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – They would never sue us. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – They might sue us. We need to lean on the side of caution. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – We are required by the Wikimedia Foundation to limit use to exceptional circumstances. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

You may believe in good faith that the copyright holder would not object to Wikipedia's use of their property, but can you prove it? Saying that they would never enforce their copyright is very unlikely to be persuasive in a deletion discussion. Instead, showing that the file has been appropriately licensed is a much more effective argument.

Just as it is unsubstantiated speculation to claim that someone would not sue us, it is just as speculative to worry that they would. The criteria at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]] have been very carefully vetted, and it is entirely sufficient to demonstrate that the ten criteria have all been satisfied. It is never necessary to set a higher standard than that.

The [[Wikimedia Foundation]], which owns all the servers for Wikipedia and its sister projects, has indeed stated in [[wmf:Resolution:Licensing policy|their resolution on licensing policy]] that use of non-free content on the English language Wikipedia must be limited to exceptional, not routine, use. In that regard, then, the statement that usage must be "exceptional" is factually true. However, such a statement should not be used in deletion discussions as a rhetorical trick to argue for deletion based upon criteria stricter than those listed at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]]. There is a well-established consensus that those ten criteria are appropriate and sufficient to establish that usage satisfies the Foundation's requirements. Nothing further is required.
{{clear}}
{{anchor|Shoulda known}}{{anchor|You should have known}}

===Should have known===
{{shortcut|WP:SHOULDA}}
{{ATA shortcut notice}}

[[File:Poster of Alexander Crystal Seer.jpg|thumb|75px|right|Don't expect other editors to be clairvoyant.]]
''Example:''
*'''Delete''' – You should have known that this image was copyrighted. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

The editor who uploads a file is responsible for correctly filling out the information on the file page, including the information about its licensing status. However, it is possible for an editor who acts in good faith to make an error. By the time a deletion discussion has gotten underway, it is not helpful to assign blame. Other editors, who consider the image to be beneficial to the page, may not have independently looked into whether the file page description is correct, but that does not mean that they have bad intentions. If you find that a file is being used improperly, it is sufficient for you to show that it lacks proper licensing. Making the argument personal will only inflame the discussion and get in the way of consensus.
{{clear}}

=="Otherstuff" arguments==
{{anchor|Otherstuff}}{{anchor|Other image}}{{anchor|Other file}}{{anchor|Other page}}
===Use on other pages===
{{shortcut|WP:OTHERIMAGE|WP:OTHERFILE}}
{{ATA shortcut notice}}

[[File:1932 Mustafa Kemal Etimesgut airport.png|thumb|upright|right|You don't have to look somewhere else just because someone says so.]]
{{See also|WP:OTHERSTUFF}}
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – This other article uses an image like this in the same manner, so should this one. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Delete''' – We don't have images like this in similar articles, so we don't need it here. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

In all deletion discussions on Wikipedia, not just those that are about files, it is never a convincing argument to point to other pages. Each deletion discussion for an image is a discussion of that image only. Correct use of other images elsewhere, or the absence of images elsewhere, has no bearing on the encyclopedic value of the image under discussion. Instead, focus on whether or not the non-free image is useful on the page(s) where it appears, and whether or not the criteria at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]] are satisfied.
{{clear}}
{{anchor|Delete all}}{{anchor|We would have to delete all images}}

==="We would have to delete all images"===
{{shortcut|WP:DELETEALL}}
{{ATA shortcut notice}}

[[File:Janitor.png|thumb|120px|right|We really wouldn't have to sweep all images away.]]
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – Following your argument, we would have to delete all images on Wikipedia. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – But the NFCC criteria are just subjective. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Sometimes, editors who want to delete an image make arguments that would, in effect, justify removal of all images from this project. Some such arguments are, in fact, listed here as arguments to avoid. However, it is usually not helpful in trying to reach a consensus to belittle another editor's comments, as this approach tends to polarize the debate instead. Saying that we would have to delete all images on Wikipedia falls prey to the fallacies that it matters for a deletion discussion whether other files would also be deleted, and that one can predict, crystal ball fashion, what decisions would be made in the future. Instead, simply point out how the other editor is incorrectly applying the criteria at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]].

It is essentially the same argument to complain that the criteria are too subjective. Some of them are indeed subjective, but how they are applied is a matter of [[WP:CONSENSUS|consensus]], which is all the more reason for editors to listen to one another's arguments.
{{clear}}
{{anchor|Audited content}}{{anchor|It's a Featured Article}}{{anchor|It's a Good Article}}

==Audited content==
{{shortcut|WP:ITSFA|WP:ITSGA}}
{{ATA shortcut notice}}

[[File:The wikipedias serious.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Don't try to pull rank. Link to the earlier discussion, and show how the file was already shown to pass the criteria.]]
''Examples:''
*'''Keep''' – This image is used in a Featured Article. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – This image is used in a Good Article. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)
*'''Keep''' – This image was thoroughly evaluated when the page was reviewed for Featured Article. – <span style="color:red">IwannaKEEP</span> 01:01, 1 January 2010 (UTC)

Sometimes, a non-free file that appears in a [[WP:GA|Good Article]] or [[WP:FA|Featured Article]] is nominated for deletion. Such nominations can, understandably, be frustrating for editors who have worked hard to bring those articles to that level of quality, and editors arguing for deletion are advised to recognize that fact. However, simply pointing to the article's status is unlikely to be a persuasive argument. Perhaps the image was added after the page was audited. Even if the image was, in fact, carefully scrutinized during the review of the page, it may not be obvious to the editors arguing for deletion that every one of the ten criteria at [[WP:NFCC#Policy|WP:NFCC]] was already determined to have been met. A much better argument is to provide a link to the actual discussion that occurred when the page was audited, and show that, in fact, the image is already known to meet the specific concern raised in the nomination.
{{clear}}

==Deletion discussions concerning free media==
Although this essay focuses on ''non-free'' content, there are also ''free'' images and other files that are kept, for various reasons, at the English Wikipedia, instead of or in addition to being kept at Commons. Consequently, there can also be deletion discussions of such files at Wikipedia, whether or not they are being discussed for deletion at other projects. Such files are, of course, not subject to the [[Wikipedia:Non-free content]] policy. Instead, they must be shown to be properly licensed according to [[Wikipedia:File copyright tags/Free licenses]]. Below, there are "arguments to avoid" concerning such files. Beyond that, many of the general principles of "arguments to avoid", given at [[Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in deletion discussions]], apply to those deletion discussions. In addition, it is useful to recognize that some of the "arguments to avoid" that are listed above should also be avoided when discussing free material, with the only difference being that the non-free content criteria do not apply.

{{anchor|Unused}}{{anchor|It's unused}}{{anchor|Cobweb}}
===It's unused===
{{shortcut|WP:UNUSED|WP:COBWEB}}
{{ATA shortcut notice}}

[[File:Unused web.jpg|thumb|130px|right|With proper licensing, we don't necessarily need to sweep out all the corners of the project.]]
''Example:''
*'''Delete''' – Image is unused. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

The [[WP:NFCC#7|seventh NFCC criterion]] requires that ''non-free'' content be used in at least one article in order to be kept. However, there is no such requirement for ''free'' images (including those in the [[public domain]]), when [[Wikipedia:File copyright tags/Free licenses|properly licensed]]. Perhaps an article making good use of the image will be created in the future. Editors sometimes point to [[WP:NOTIMAGE]], which states that "Wikipedia is neither a mirror nor a repository of links, images, or media files." However, that policy concerns the use of image files in article space, and prohibits "mere collections of photographs or media files with no text to go with the articles." It does not apply to storage of free files on servers, where there is no shortage of capacity. It is entirely possible that a completely unused free image ought to be deleted if it lacks any potential encyclopedic use, as described at [[Wikipedia:Image use policy#Content]], but in such cases it is better to argue based on the content of the image, rather than on its use.
{{clear}}

{{anchor|No description}}
===There's no description===
{{shortcut|WP:NO DESCRIPTION}}
{{ATA shortcut notice}}
[[File:Paget holmes.png|thumb|130px|[[Sherlock Holmes]] would look beyond a file page to determine an image's encyclopedic value.]]
''Example:''
*'''Delete''' – Orphaned, no description on file page. – <span style="color:red">IwannaDELETE</span> 23:28, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

An image whose encyclopedic purpose cannot be determined is an appropriate deletion candidate. However, the file page is not the only place to look to find information about an image. Has the nominator checked the uploader's contributions immediately following the upload? Often, the next thing a user will do is insert the image into an article. And even if the image was never itself inserted, the uploader's contributions generally will provide clues about what an image is. In sum, the lack of a description on the image page is not fatal.
{{clear}}

==See also==
*[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2008-09-22/Dispatches|"Reviewing non-free images" at ''Wikipedia Signpost'']], a particularly insightful and helpful explanation.
*[[Wikipedia:Non-free use rationale guideline]]
*[[wmf:Resolution:Licensing policy|Wikimedia Foundation resolution on licensing policy]]
*[[Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in discussions]]
*[[Wikipedia:History of non-free content policies]]
*[[Wikipedia:NFCC Criterion 8 debate]], illustrating the history of how the wording of Criterion 8 was arrived at.
*[[Wikipedia:List of policies#Legal]]
*[[Wikipedia:Copyrights]]
*[[WP:MYTHS|Wikipedia:Myths and facts about deletion]]
*[[Wikipedia:Don't overuse shortcuts to policy and guidelines to win your argument]]
*[[Wikipedia:Discussing cruft]]
*[[Wikipedia:Do not call things cruft]]
*[[User:Hiding/Points to note regarding deletion debates]]

{{Arguments to avoid}}
{{Wikipedia essays|building}}

[[Category:Wikipedia essays about deletion]]
[[Category:Wikipedia essays]]
[[Category:Wikipedia essays about building the encyclopedia]]
[[Category:Wikipedia essays identifying problems and/or solutions]]
[[Category:Essays about Wikipedian fallacies]]
[[Category:Wikipedia discussion]]