Changes

* If criticism is needed, discuss editors' actions, but avoid accusing others of harmful motives.}}

* If criticism is needed, discuss editors' actions, but avoid accusing others of harmful motives.}}

{{Guideline list}}

{{Guideline list}}

'''Assuming good faith''' ('''AGF''') is a fundamental principle on [[Wikipedia]]. It is the assumption that editors' edits and comments are made in [[good faith]] – that is, the assumption that people are not deliberately ''trying'' to hurt Wikipedia, even when their actions are harmful. Most people try to help the project, not hurt it. If this were untrue, a project like Wikipedia would be doomed from the beginning. This guideline does not require that editors continue to assume good faith in the presence of obvious evidence to the contrary ([[List of Latin phrases (E)#exempli gratia|e.g.]] [[Wikipedia:Vandalism|vandalism]]). Nor does assuming good faith prohibit discussion and criticism, as even editors who try to improve Wikipedia may not have the [[Help:Contents|information]] or [[Wikipedia:Competence is required|skills]] necessary to succeed in their good-faith goals. Rather, editors should not attribute the actions being criticized to [[Malice (law)|malice]] unless there is specific evidence of such.

'''Assuming good faith''' ('''AGF''') is a fundamental principle on [[Wikipedia]]. It is the assumption that editors' edits and comments are made in [[good faith]] – that is, the assumption that people are not deliberately ''trying'' to hurt Wikipedia, even when their actions are harmful. Most people try to help the project, not hurt it. If this were untrue, a project like Wikipedia would be doomed from the beginning. This guideline does not require that editors continue to assume good faith in the presence of obvious evidence to the contrary ([[List of Latin phrases (E)#exempli gratia|e.g.]] [[Wikipedia:Vandalism|vandalism]]). Nor does assuming good faith prohibit discussion and criticism, as even editors who try to improve Wikipedia may not have the [[Help:Contents|information]] or [[Wikipedia:Competence is required|skills]] necessary to succeed in their good-faith goals. Rather, editors should not attribute the actions being criticized to [[Malice (law)|malice]] unless there is specific evidence of such.

When disagreement occurs, try as best you can to explain and resolve the problem, not cause more conflict, and so give others the opportunity to reply in kind. Consider whether a dispute stems from different perspectives, and look for ways to reach [[Wikipedia:Consensus|consensus]].

When disagreement occurs, try as best you can to explain and resolve the problem, not cause more conflict, and so give others the opportunity to reply in kind. Consider whether a dispute stems from different perspectives, and look for ways to reach [[Wikipedia:Consensus|consensus]].

When doubt is cast on good faith, continue to assume good faith yourself when possible. Be [[Wikipedia:Civility|civil]] and follow [[Wikipedia:Dispute resolution|dispute resolution procedures]], rather than [[Wikipedia:No personal attacks|attacking]] editors or [[Wikipedia:Edit warring|edit-warring]] with them. If you wish to express doubts about the conduct of fellow [[Wikipedians]], please substantiate those doubts with specific [[Help:Diff|diffs]] and other relevant evidence, so that people can understand the basis for your concerns. Although bad conduct may seem to be due to bad faith, it is usually best to address the conduct without mentioning motives, which might intensify resentments all around.

When doubt is cast on good faith, continue to assume good faith yourself when possible. Be [[Wikipedia:Civility|civil]] and follow [[Wikipedia:Dispute resolution|dispute resolution procedures]], rather than [[Wikipedia:No personal attacks|attacking]] editors or [[Wikipedia:Edit warring|edit-warring]] with them. If you wish to express doubts about the conduct of fellow [[Wikipedians]], please substantiate those doubts with specific [[Help:Diff|diffs]] and other relevant evidence, so that people can understand the basis for your concerns. Although bad conduct may seem to be due to bad faith, it is usually best to address the conduct without mentioning motives, which might intensify resentments all around.