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Wikipedia Policies

Wikipedia is a collaborative online encyclopedia that operates under a series of policies and guidelines. These rules are fundamental to maintaining the integrity and quality of the content on the platform, which is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. The policies have developed over time as the site has grown and evolved, reflecting the community's consensus on best practices for contributing to the platform.

Overview of Policies and Guidelines

Wikipedia's policies and guidelines are designed to guide the actions of the editors who contribute to the encyclopedia. Though they are not strict rules, they are standards that editors are normally expected to follow. The policies establish a framework for creating reliable and verifiable content, while guidelines provide more specific advice on how to handle particular situations.

Core Policies

The core policies of Wikipedia are foundational to its operation:

  1. Neutral Point of View (NPOV): This policy mandates that all articles must be written without bias, presenting views fairly and without advocating for any viewpoint.

  2. Verifiability: Information added to Wikipedia must be verifiable, meaning it must be possible to check the information against a reliable source. This is often marked by editors with "[citation needed]" tags when unsourced statements are present.

  3. No Original Research: Wikipedia does not publish original thought or new theories. All material must be attributable to a reliable, published source.

Guidelines

While policies are essential rules that must be followed, guidelines are best practices supported by community consensus. Examples include:

  • Manual of Style: A set of rules for writing and formatting Wikipedia articles.
  • Conflict of Interest: Guidelines to prevent biased editing due to personal connections or financial interests.

Evolution of Policies

Over the years, as Wikipedia expanded in both size and scope, the number of policy and guideline pages has grown. By 2008, there were 44 policy pages, and 248 guidelines, reflecting an increase in complexity as the community addressed new challenges. The English Wikipedia, as one of the earliest and largest editions, has often been at the forefront of developing new conventions and ideas that have been adopted by other language editions.

Governance and Dispute Resolution

Wikipedia is largely self-governing, with a community-based approach to handling disputes and maintaining order. Disputes among editors can arise, and there is a structured approach to addressing these, often involving discussion and negotiation. In certain cases, bots are employed to enforce Wikipedia policies, ensuring compliance with the established rules.

Role of the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation holds certain legal rights, including intellectual property rights over the content on Wikipedia. Although the foundation supports the community by providing infrastructure and legal oversight, the day-to-day operation and governance of Wikipedia is primarily managed by its users.

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