 | 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. |
The Main Page is the front cover to our encyclopaedia. It is a representation of who we are, what we do and what we have done. As it is arguably the most important page on Wikipedia, the Main Page is fully protected to prevent anyone defacing our front cover. Most Wikipedians are aware of the often cited WP:NOTCENSORED, which states:
| “ | In particular, when a cited quotation contains words that may be offensive, it should not be censored. Words and images that would be considered offensive, profane, or obscene by typical Wikipedia readers should be used if and only if their omission would cause the article to be less informative, relevant, or accurate, and no equally suitable alternatives are available. | ” |
This is effective at ensuring our articles remain neutral—it allows us to report freely on the actions of authoritarian governments and crafty PR firms—but when it comes to the Main Page, the policy falls down.