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Forums: Index > Wiki discussion > Statement on Edit Stealing
Hi Folks,
As a part of a recent investigation, I'm posting this here as a guide as to how to deal with "edit stealing"
- "Edit Stealing" is the wiki equivalent of "claim jumping". It is posting an edit that others are discussing ahead of anyone else in order to claim credit for the edit. This discussion is most likely to be happening in chat, but could be occurring on a talk page or forum page, or even off site.
- Edit stealing is definitely bad form and not encouraged. It is not going to win you friends, and may result in enforcement action.
- When edits are being discussed no edit should be performed (except to revert to the status quo position) unless unrelated to the issue being discussed, until a consensus position on what change is made, and who should make the change, is achieved.
- If there is any doubt as to who should make the change, the presumption should always go to the proposer being responsible for the change.
- Before any enforcement action is taken, the event should be viewed by the investigating/acting user through the prism of good faith - perhaps the user is new or inexperienced in editing and doesn't realize what they're doing is wrong, or is just trying to be helpful. Disuss the situation with the user.
- Where the user is acting in good faith, there can generally be no wrong. The user should just be informed why "edit stealing" is bad, and as long as there are no re-occurrence, then there is nothing further to worry about.
- Where the user knows better, or where bad faith exists, something can be done.
- In the case of chat, this as "going out of your way to irrtate others". If that sounds familiar, its because its a part of the definition given of "being a dick".
- In general wiki conduct, its arguably not being polite (guidelines for better user conduct), and being rude (Talk, Forum and blog pages).
- "Do not copy the content of other (sites AND) authors and try to pass it off as your own" is in our definition of plagiarism as posted. Whilst its controversial to call it plagiarism, it is definitely passing off another's work as your own.
- What to do - All Users
- If someone is discussing an edit, don't jump in and make it yourself without permission
- Do be a part of the conversation to improve the content
- Dont make any changes yourself until the final form is agreeed
- Get everyone to agree on who should make the edit - it should usually be whoever proposed it
- If you are aware of any issues, please bring it to the attention of an enforcement rights user (Admin, etc).
- What to do - Rules Enforcement users
- Start with the presumption of good faith. Is there any reason to believe there is none?
- Teach and Warn, rather than ban, where good faith is possible.
- Use the rules to block if required.