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Editors should not take personal offense at healthy disagreements. Sometimes editors feel pique or resentment because of a perceived insult and prolong a disagreement until it becomes a feud. They may even seek friends to support them against perceived adversaries. When unchecked, battling factions may cause serious disruption to Wikipedia.
Healthy disagreements
editGood faith contributors often disagree. Civil disagreement is good because it encourages an interchange of ideas between different points of view. When a disagreement has been fully discussed, editors should either find a compromise or agree to disagree.
Unhealthy disagreements
editOnce each side has had the chance to express their views and respond to the other sides, prolonging a disagreement can damage the community. Signs of a disagreement that has overstayed include:
- Circular arguments
- Inflexibility, inability to compromise or recognize that one might be in the wrong
- Deterioration of civility
- Canvassing for allies
- Expiration of dispute resolution options
- Badgering of perceived opponents
- Use of underhanded tactics in an effort to "win", such as sock puppetry
As a weapon
editUmbrage can be used as a passive-aggressive strategy to dominate others. Oversensitivity to criticism can lead to false claims of personal attacks or harassment. Polite point of view pushing, trolling, and baiting often utilize umbrage. For instance, editors may run to the administrators' noticeboard for incidents at the first hint of disagreement or order discourage anyone from questioning their activities.
Managing
editIf an editor repeatedly causes disruption to Wikipedia because of umbrage, a user conduct requests for comments may help by drawing attention and social pressure. Eventually, editing restrictions, arbitration or community sanctions may be necessary to control passive-aggressive disruption.