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{{Behavioral essay|WP:HYPOCRISY|WP:IRONY|WP:POT|WP:POTKETTLE|WP:KETTLE|WP:PKB}}
{{nutshell|The disruptive behavior of another editor is not an excuse for your own disruptive behavior.}}
[[Image:Black-pot.jpg|thumb|left|136px|A black pot]]
[[File:Old Black Kettle.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A black kettle]]

[[The pot calling the kettle black|'''Don't call the kettle black''']]. The kettle may or may not be black, but attacking it for its blackness will only draw attention to your own blackness, which in turn undermines your position.

It happens quite often on Wikipedia that an editor makes a post to remind others of [[WP:CIV|civility]] but writes it in an uncivil tone. Occasionally, someone will call other people names while at the same time reminding them to not make [[WP:NPA|personal attacks]]. And of course there are always those that [[WP:ABF|assume]] that others aren't assuming [[WP:AGF|good faith]], or people in an edit war that claim that no, it's the ''other'' party that's edit warring.

'''The hypocrisy is simply staggering.''' "Yes, but he started it" is a poor excuse and will not shield you from any of the consequences of your behavior. Just don't do it. Also remember that [[The Mote and the Beam|a mote and a beam]] are not the same size, and try not to be the beam.

When reminding another user of a policy or guideline regarding behavior, it is well-advised to consider whether you yourself have been following the rule in question. Otherwise, tedious [[Wikipedia:Don't accuse someone of a personal attack for accusing of a personal attack|arguments ''about'' arguing]] are likely to ensue.
{{-}}

==Testing the limits==
This phenomenon is quite common with the "test the limits" crowd. Often, a user will go out of his or her way to [[WP:GAME|game the system]], making changes which are against the [[Wikipedia:Use common sense|spirit]], if not the [[WP:IAR|letter]] of the law. This user will, often purposely, goad other Wikipedians into response with an aggravating propensity to [[Wikipedia:Suggestions on how to ignore all rules|bend the rules]], and will of course immediately accuse the other Wikipedians of incivility. This type of user ranges from the more intentional to the more [[benign]].

Users are encouraged to [[Wikipedia:Staying cool when the editing gets hot|keep a cool head]] and discuss on talk pages first.

==See also==
{{wikt|pot calling the kettle black|people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones}}
* [[Wikipedia:Assume good faith]]
* [[Wikipedia:Assume the assumption of good faith]]
* [[Wikipedia:Don't shoot yourself in the foot]]
* [[Wikipedia:Passive Aggressive]]
{{Wikipedia essays|civility}}

[[Category:Wikipedia culture]]
[[Category:Wikipedia dispute resolution]]
[[Category:Wikipedia essays identifying problems and/or solutions]]
[[Category:Wikipedia behavioral essays]]

Wikipedia:Don't call the kettle black - Revision history

Tachyony: Imported page