https://wiki.tachyony.co.uk/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Wikipedia%3ARead_the_sourceWikipedia:Read the source - Revision history2026-05-15T15:14:11ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.35.5https://wiki.tachyony.co.uk/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Read_the_source&diff=5918&oldid=prevTachyony: Imported page2022-01-18T00:40:07Z<p>Imported page</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{deletion essay|WP:RTS|WP:RTFS|interprets=Wikipedia:Deletion policy}}<br />
{{nutshell|First read the source, then comment.}}<br />
[[File:Person Reading Marathi Wikipedia Brouchre At Book Exhibition.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A diligent Wikipedia editor reading the source first, before launching into an attack on this source just based on the author or publisher's reputation.]]<br />
Be sure to '''read the source''' first, before discussing the credibility and/or application of a given source to an article in [[WP:AFD]]. Failure to read the source can lead to unclear arguments and frustration among those involved in the discussion. Never assume a source does or does not say something based on just reading the title or based on a "snap judgement" of the origin of the source (e.g., a certain publishing company or university press). <br />
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Further, not reading a source can lead others to believe your response is a lie or that you are not being honest. While your intentions may be real and in good faith, your actions may lead others to believe otherwise.<br />
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The solution is simple: read the source first, then discuss your concerns with the source.<br />
==Example==<br />
A hypothetical activist organization, XYZ Activism may have a reputation for putting out "[[cherry picking|cherry picked]], [[spin (public relations)|spin]]-filled articles and reports over the last 20 years. However, the current XYZ report from 2016 being used by another editor may actually use [[WP:Reliable source|reliable sources]] (published university press books and journal articles) and an objective writing style. So you can't dismiss the new XYZ report without reading it, because it might be a solid source.<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in deletion discussions]] <br />
* [[Wikipedia:Don't lie]] <br />
* [[Wikipedia:Honesty]]<br />
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{{Wikipedia essays}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Read the source}}<br />
[[Category:Wikipedia essays about deletion]]<br />
[[Category:Wikipedia essays about building the encyclopedia]]</div>Tachyony