Wikipedia:Offensive material: Difference between revisions
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{{about|the use of potentially offensive words and images in articles|the use of such material on talk pages and project pages|Wikipedia:Civility|the policy against offensive usernames|Wikipedia:Username policy#Disruptive or offensive usernames}} | {{about|the use of potentially offensive words and images in articles|the use of such material on talk pages and project pages|Wikipedia:Civility|the policy against offensive usernames|Wikipedia:Username policy#Disruptive or offensive usernames}} | ||
{{subcat guideline|content guideline|Offensive material|WP:OM|WP:PROFANE | {{subcat guideline|content guideline|Offensive material|WP:OM|WP:PROFANE<!-- BEFORE ADDING MORE SHORTCUTS, see [[Wikipedia talk:Offensive material#Shortcuts]] -->}} | ||
{{nutshell|Wikipedia articles | {{nutshell|While [[WP:NOTCENSORED|Wikipedia is not censored]], Wikipedia articles should only contain offensive words and images for a good reason. Do not use disclaimers.}} | ||
{{Guideline_list}} | {{Guideline_list}} | ||
[[Wikipedia:Five pillars|Wikipedia's encyclopedic mission]] encompasses the inclusion of material that may offend. [[Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not#Wikipedia is not censored|Wikipedia is not censored]]. However, offensive words and [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images#Offensive images|offensive images]] should not be included unless they are treated in an encyclopedic manner. Material that would be considered vulgar or obscene by typical Wikipedia readers<ref group=nb | [[Wikipedia:Five pillars|Wikipedia's encyclopedic mission]] encompasses the inclusion of material that may offend. [[Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not#Wikipedia is not censored|Wikipedia is not censored]]. However, offensive words and [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images#Offensive images|offensive images]] should not be included unless they are treated in an encyclopedic manner. Material that would be considered vulgar or obscene by typical Wikipedia readers<ref group=nb>Here a "typical Wikipedia reader" is defined by the cultural beliefs of the majority of the website's ''readers'' (not active editors) who are literate in an article's language. Clarifying this viewpoint may require a broad spectrum of input and discussion, as cultural views can differ widely.</ref> should be used if and only if its omission would cause the article to be less informative, relevant, or accurate, and no equally suitable alternative is available. | ||
== How to treat offensive material in articles == | == How to treat offensive material in articles == | ||
{{Shortcut|WP:BOWDLERIZE}} | {{Shortcut|WP:BOWDLERIZE}} | ||
In original Wikipedia content, a vulgarity or obscenity should either appear in its full form or not at all; words should never be [[ | In original Wikipedia content, a vulgarity or obscenity should either appear in its full form or not at all; words should never be [[expurgation|bowdlerized]] by replacing letters with dashes, asterisks, or other symbols. However, when quoting relevant material, rendering a quotation as [[MOS:QUOTE|it appears in the source]] cited overrides this style guideline. Where it is necessary to indicate that an alteration is carried over from a quoted source, "{{sic}}" or "[thus in the original]" or a similar phrase, within single brackets, may be used. | ||
Discussions about whether to include a vulgar or explicit image or verbal expression are often heated. As in all discussions on Wikipedia, | Discussions about whether to include a vulgar or explicit image or verbal expression are often heated. As in all discussions on Wikipedia, all parties must practice [[WP:CIVIL|civility]] and [[WP:AGF|assume good faith]]. Labeling content with such terms as "pornography" or responses to content with such terms as "censorship" tends to inflame the discussion and should be avoided. Objective terminology is more helpful than subjective terminology. | ||
[[Wikipedia:No disclaimers in articles|Disclaimers should not be used in articles]] that contain potentially or patently offensive material. All articles are covered by the five official disclaimer pages. | [[Wikipedia:No disclaimers in articles|Disclaimers should not be used in articles]] that contain potentially or patently offensive material. All Wikipedia articles are covered by the five official disclaimer pages. | ||
=="Not censored" does not give special favor to offensive content== | =="Not censored" does not give special favor to offensive content== | ||
{{shortcut|WP:GRATUITOUS}} | {{shortcut|WP:GRATUITOUS}} | ||
A cornerstone of Wikipedia policy is that [[WP:NOTCENSORED|the project is not censored]]. Wikipedia editors should not [[WP:Content removal|remove material]] ''solely'' because it may be offensive, unpleasant, or unsuitable for some readers. However, this does not mean that Wikipedia should include material simply because it is offensive, nor does it mean that offensive content is | A cornerstone of Wikipedia policy is that [[WP:NOTCENSORED|the project is not censored]]. Wikipedia editors should not [[WP:Content removal|remove material]] ''solely'' because it may be offensive, unpleasant, or unsuitable for some readers. However, this does not mean that Wikipedia should include material simply because it is offensive, nor does it mean that offensive content is exempt from regular inclusion guidelines. Material that could be considered vulgar, obscene, or offensive should not be included unless it is treated in an encyclopedic manner. Offensive material should be used only if its omission would cause the article to be less informative, relevant, or accurate, and no equally suitable alternative is available. | ||
Especially with respect to images, editors frequently need to choose between alternatives with varying degrees of potential offensiveness. | Especially with respect to images, editors frequently need to choose between alternatives with varying degrees of potential offensiveness. When multiple options are equally effective at portraying a concept, the most offensive options should not be used merely to "show off" possibly offensive materials. Lead images must be selected with extra caution and should not [[MOS:SHOCK|shock readers]]. | ||
Images or video containing offensive material that is extraneous, unnecessary, irrelevant, or gratuitous are <em>not</em> preferred over non-offensive ones in the name of opposing censorship. Rather, the choice of images should be judged by the normal policies for content inclusion. Per the [[Wikipedia:Image use policy]], the only reason for including any image in any article is [[Wikipedia:IMGCONTENT|"to increase readers' understanding of the article's subject matter"]]. Any image that does not achieve this policy goal, or that violates other policies (e.g., by giving an [[WP:UNDUE|undue or distorted idea of the subject]]), should not be used. For example, because of the ubiquity of smartphones and [[Closed-circuit television|security cameras]], photos or videos showing someone being murdered or otherwise dying may be available, but including those images would usually be considered gratuitous. | |||
{{anchor|least_astonishment}}Images should respect the conventional expectations of readers for a given topic as much as possible without sacrificing the quality of the article. For example, editors selecting images for articles like [[Human body]] have thousands of images of naked bodies and body parts available to them, but they normally choose images that portray the human body in an unemotional, non-sexual [[standard anatomical position]] over more sexual images due to greater relevance to the subject. The more sexual image is not given special favor simply because it is more offensive. Similarly, editors of articles such as [[Car]] do not include images of automobiles with prostitutes posing near them, even though such images exist and "Wikipedia is not censored", due to concerns about relevance. Wikipedia is not censored, but Wikipedia also does not favor offensive images over non-offensive images. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
=== Official Wikipedia policies === | |||
{{Options to not see an image}} | |||
*[[WP:BADNAME|Wikipedia:Inappropriate usernames]] | *[[WP:BADNAME|Wikipedia:Inappropriate usernames]] | ||
*[[WP:Child protection|Wikipedia:Child protection]], an official policy against [[pedophile advocacy]] | *[[WP:Child protection|Wikipedia:Child protection]], an official policy against [[pedophile advocacy]] | ||
*[[WP:CENSOR|Wikipedia:Wikipedia is not censored]] | *[[WP:CENSOR|Wikipedia:Wikipedia is not censored]] | ||
=== Other related pages === | |||
*[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images#Offensive images]] on offensive images | *[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images#Offensive images]] on offensive images | ||
*[[Wikipedia:Pornography]] | *[[Wikipedia:Pornography]] | ||
| Line 38: | Line 41: | ||
** [[:meta:Controversial content]] | ** [[:meta:Controversial content]] | ||
*[[Help:Options to not see an image]] | *[[Help:Options to not see an image]] | ||
*[[m:Should Wikipedia | *[[m:Should Wikipedia use profanity?|Should Wikipedia use profanity?]] | ||
*[[MediaWiki:Bad image list]] | *[[MediaWiki:Bad image list]] | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
{{reflist|group=nb | {{reflist|group=nb}} | ||
}} | |||
Latest revision as of 23:57, 27 May 2026
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| Blue tick | This page documents an English Wikipedia content guideline. It is a generally accepted standard that editors should attempt to follow, though it is best treated with common sense, and occasional exceptions may apply. Any substantive edit to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on the talk page. |
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| File:Walnut.png | This page in a nutshell: While Wikipedia is not censored, Wikipedia articles should only contain offensive words and images for a good reason. Do not use disclaimers. |
Wikipedia's encyclopedic mission encompasses the inclusion of material that may offend. Wikipedia is not censored. However, offensive words and offensive images should not be included unless they are treated in an encyclopedic manner. Material that would be considered vulgar or obscene by typical Wikipedia readers[nb 1] should be used if and only if its omission would cause the article to be less informative, relevant, or accurate, and no equally suitable alternative is available.
How to treat offensive material in articles
In original Wikipedia content, a vulgarity or obscenity should either appear in its full form or not at all; words should never be bowdlerized by replacing letters with dashes, asterisks, or other symbols. However, when quoting relevant material, rendering a quotation as it appears in the source cited overrides this style guideline. Where it is necessary to indicate that an alteration is carried over from a quoted source, " [sic]" or "[thus in the original]" or a similar phrase, within single brackets, may be used.
Discussions about whether to include a vulgar or explicit image or verbal expression are often heated. As in all discussions on Wikipedia, all parties must practice civility and assume good faith. Labeling content with such terms as "pornography" or responses to content with such terms as "censorship" tends to inflame the discussion and should be avoided. Objective terminology is more helpful than subjective terminology.
Disclaimers should not be used in articles that contain potentially or patently offensive material. All Wikipedia articles are covered by the five official disclaimer pages.
"Not censored" does not give special favor to offensive content
A cornerstone of Wikipedia policy is that the project is not censored. Wikipedia editors should not remove material solely because it may be offensive, unpleasant, or unsuitable for some readers. However, this does not mean that Wikipedia should include material simply because it is offensive, nor does it mean that offensive content is exempt from regular inclusion guidelines. Material that could be considered vulgar, obscene, or offensive should not be included unless it is treated in an encyclopedic manner. Offensive material should be used only if its omission would cause the article to be less informative, relevant, or accurate, and no equally suitable alternative is available.
Especially with respect to images, editors frequently need to choose between alternatives with varying degrees of potential offensiveness. When multiple options are equally effective at portraying a concept, the most offensive options should not be used merely to "show off" possibly offensive materials. Lead images must be selected with extra caution and should not shock readers.
Images or video containing offensive material that is extraneous, unnecessary, irrelevant, or gratuitous are not preferred over non-offensive ones in the name of opposing censorship. Rather, the choice of images should be judged by the normal policies for content inclusion. Per the Wikipedia:Image use policy, the only reason for including any image in any article is "to increase readers' understanding of the article's subject matter". Any image that does not achieve this policy goal, or that violates other policies (e.g., by giving an undue or distorted idea of the subject), should not be used. For example, because of the ubiquity of smartphones and security cameras, photos or videos showing someone being murdered or otherwise dying may be available, but including those images would usually be considered gratuitous.
Images should respect the conventional expectations of readers for a given topic as much as possible without sacrificing the quality of the article. For example, editors selecting images for articles like Human body have thousands of images of naked bodies and body parts available to them, but they normally choose images that portray the human body in an unemotional, non-sexual standard anatomical position over more sexual images due to greater relevance to the subject. The more sexual image is not given special favor simply because it is more offensive. Similarly, editors of articles such as Car do not include images of automobiles with prostitutes posing near them, even though such images exist and "Wikipedia is not censored", due to concerns about relevance. Wikipedia is not censored, but Wikipedia also does not favor offensive images over non-offensive images.
See also
Official Wikipedia policies
- Wikipedia:Inappropriate usernames
- Wikipedia:Child protection, an official policy against pedophile advocacy
- Wikipedia:Wikipedia is not censored
Other related pages
- Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images#Offensive images on offensive images
- Wikipedia:Pornography
- Wikipedia:Content disclaimer
- Wikipedia:No disclaimers in articles
- Wikipedia:Rating system, a proposal to warn users of possibly offensive content, rejected in 2004
- wmf:Resolution:Controversial content
- Help:Options to not see an image
- Should Wikipedia use profanity?
- MediaWiki:Bad image list
Notes
- ↑ Here a "typical Wikipedia reader" is defined by the cultural beliefs of the majority of the website's readers (not active editors) who are literate in an article's language. Clarifying this viewpoint may require a broad spectrum of input and discussion, as cultural views can differ widely.