 | This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
 | This page in a nutshell: Individual editors, and even groups of editors, are sometimes wrong. Consensus at a given article may be at odds with the will of the community at large. Strive for "rightness". |
As Wikipedia has matured, the inevitable development of policies, guidelines and manuals has proliferated to the point that newcomers often find the experience of editing on Wikipedia to be overwhelming. Wikipedia has tried to combat the growth of bureaucracy and elitism by instituting a number of policies which are intended to make it possible for a community of editors to coexist peaceably with a variety of interests, perspectives, and philosophies about how Wikipedia should work.
However, ultimately, the goal of writing a reliable encyclopedia is one that cannot be left to the arbitrary consensus of whichever editors decide to let their voices be known. Tendentious and disruptive editors too often are given a pass without those accommodating them keeping the best interest of verifiability, reliability, or neutrality of Wikipedia in mind. In the interest of maintaining harmony, the fundamental goal of writing an encyclopedia is compromised.