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{{redirect|WP:READ|the Spoken Wikipedia Project|Wikipedia:WikiProject Spoken Wikipedia}}
{{Essay|interprets=[[WP:Talk page guidelines|talk page conduct]]|WP:READ|WP:READBEFORE|cat=Wikipedia essays}}
{{Nutshell|Familiarize yourself with a discussion before participating in it.}}

[[Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines|Discussions on Wikipedia]] are a collaborative process, and achieving [[Wikipedia:Consensus|consensus]] is easier when editors build off of each other's ideas rather than just jumping in with their initial thoughts. When joining a discussion, it is always best practice to read through the prior comments and familiarize yourself with the context before contributing your own thoughts.

==Why you should read first==
{{quote box|salign=right|source=Proverbs 18:13|1=If one gives answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.}}
* '''The issue might be different than it seems'''. The initial editor might not have presented the issue neutrally, or circumstances may have changed since the discussion was opened. Reading it will allow you to notice this and save you the embarrassment of being called out by others and possibly [[WP:WHACK|whacked with a wet trout]].
* '''Someone else might [[Wikipedia:Editors can change their minds|change your mind]].''' Being open to persuasion is not a sign of weakness, but rather of intelligence. Consider the example of [[John Maynard Keynes]], who when accused of [[Flip-flop (politics)|flip-flopping]], [[q:John_Maynard_Keynes#Attributed|famously replied]] "When my information changes, I alter my conclusions. What do you do, sir?" It's [[Wikipedia:Follow the leader|okay if you disagree]] with others, but you should understand why they have the perspective they have.
* '''Someone else might have [[WP:Avoid repeated arguments|already made your point]].''' If this is the case, you can help prevent the conversation from sprawling by just writing {{tq|[your stance] per [editor]}} or, for less structured discussions, using {{tl|Agree}}. This also saves you the effort of writing out your point and earns you goodwill with the editor you are seconding.

If you don't feel like reading a long discussion, that's alright. But in that case, ''it's often better not to comment at all than to comment while uninformed''. Trust that those who do decide to engage will work things out for the best, and feel good knowing that you've done your small part to help keep the discussion from becoming even more unwieldy.

==Exceptions==
{{Shortcuts|WP:NOTREAD}}
This essay should not be interpreted to mean that an editor who [[WP:BLUDGEONING|bludgeons]] a conversation with [[Wikipedia:Wall of text|long rambling comments]] can force you to read them before you're able to participate. Everyone [[WP:Too long; didn't read|should aspire to write concisely]], and those who fail to do so forfeit the right to others' attention.

As a matter of practicality, there are also some discussions that are just too long to read through. For these, [[Wikipedia:Skim read|skimming]] can still help, and acknowledging that you haven't fully caught yourself up can help others help you if there's anything you missed. If you do go the extra mile and read the whole thing, consider measures that could help others joining after you, such as putting together a summary, [[Wikipedia:Closing discussions|closing]] resolved portions, or [[WP:TALKOFFTOPIC|collapsing off-topic tangents]]. And feel extra-good about yourself.

==Civility==
Please be careful about linking to this essay in discussions. Don't [[WP:AGF|assume]] that an editor has not read your comments just because they do not agree with them. They might just [[Wikipedia:Disruptive_editing#Failure_or_refusal_to_"get_the_point"|be stubborn]], or (gasp) you might not be as persuasive as you think.

==See also==
* [[Wikipedia:Too long; didn't read]], which encourages conciseness
* [[Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines]], which covers other best practices for discussions (the shortcut [[WP:READFIRST]] goes to a bullet point on that page about this essay)
* [[Wikipedia:Contributing to complicated discussions]], which discusses options for such discussions

{{Wikipedia essays|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Wikipedia behavioral essays]]
[[Category:Wikipedia discussion]]

Wikipedia:Read before commenting - Revision history

Tachyony: Imported page