 | This is an essay on the conduct policy. 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: Don't pepper your comments throughout a discussion. Hold the pepper and make a few summary comments instead. |
Consider these two example discussions in which UserYou responds in two different styles:
EXAMPLE A (peppering) Comment: I think X. Editor 1 0:15, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: What about Y? UserYou 0:30, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: I agree with X but not Y, but I also think Z. Editor 2 0:45, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
- Why not Y? Y has these benefits over Z... UserYou 0:55, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: Not sure about Y; agree with X and Z. Editor 3 1:00, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
- X and Z are poor choices. Y is better, here's why... UserYou 1:10, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: Agree with Y and Z. Editor 4 1:15, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
- We shouldn't do Z and Y, we should only do Y, because... UserYou 1:25, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: I disagree with X, Y and Z less so. Editor 5 1:30, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
- What do you disagree with about Y? UserYou 1:40, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: Maybe Y but definitely not X or Z. Editor 6 1:45, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
- I agree with this editor, let's try Y. UserYou 1:55, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: I'm sick of this conversation. Editor 7 2:00, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
- Me too! Can we try Y and close this discussion? UserYou 2:10, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: Let's try X and Z but not Y. Editor 8 2:15, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
- I disagree. Y is better than X and Z because... UserYou 2:20, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: I think Y and Z. Editor 9 2:30, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
- Z can't work with Y, see my reply to Editor 4 above. Let's try Y and close this discussion? UserYou 2:45, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
EXAMPLE B (hold the pepper) Comment: I think X. Editor 1 0:15, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: What about Y? UserYou 0:30, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: I agree with X but not Y, but I also think Z. Editor 2 0:45, 26 January 2019
- Clarifying question about Z? UserYou 0:50, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
- Clarifying answer. Editor 2 0:55, 26 January 2019
Comment: Not sure about Y; agree with X and Z. Editor 3 1:00, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: Agree with Y and Z. Editor 4 1:15, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: I disagree with X, Y and Z less so. Editor 5 1:30, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: Maybe Y but definitely not X or Z. Editor 6 1:45, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: I'm sick of this conversation. Editor 7 2:00, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: Let's try X and Z but not Y. Editor 8 2:15, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: I think Y and Z. Editor 9 2:30, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
Comment: It's been suggested we try both Y and Z but that won't work because [reasons]. I think Y is better than Z because [reasons]. Let's try Y and close this discussion? UserYou 2:45, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
In Example A, comments are sprinkled like pepper across the page (the worst case, peppering the page with personal attacks and such, is "salting the page"). In Example B, there's one question inline, but the bulk of the response is made in a single follow-up comment, rather than inline ("hold the pepper"). The point is pepper makes everyone sneeze! Hold the pepper!