 | 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: At Wikipedia noticeboards, don't pile on. Seek to de-escalate, rather than escalate. |
Wikipedia's dispute resolution system includes some noticeboards that are relatively unmoderated. Discussions there can become free-for-alls that do more harm than good, with toxic piling-on that escalates instead of solving the dispute. Such a toxic culture harms Wikipedia's ability to maintain a collaborative editing environment, in which the best possible content can be created and improved.
It's important to understand the psychology and cultural context that underlies toxic piling on. With a better understanding, editors can avoid giving in to it, and can get things back on track when it emerges.