 | This is an essay on civility. 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: Most people have an idea of what is rude and what isn't. However, sometimes people intentionally attack others, for personal satisfaction or another reason. Instead of letting yourself do this, be civil and respectful to others. |
When a discussion on a talk page becomes heated, it is easy to confuse being rude with sharing your opinions. We want to get our points across, so we try whatever we can to get another person to agree with us. Also, the stress of editing and trying to improve Wikipedia can sometimes get the better of us. Other times, people are intentionally rude so they can receive a reaction and make the other person frustrated. This kind of behavior is inappropriate, immature, and can be hurtful, especially to newcomers. If you are unsure if something you write will hurt or offend someone else — don't write it.