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→My Rules of Thumb
==My Rules of Thumb==
Many of these rules are related and/or corollaries of each other.
#50% of problems on OrthodoxWiki result from editors either '''not reading the [[OrthodoxWiki:Style Manual|Style Manual]] and [[OrthodoxWiki:FAQ|FAQ]]''' or not following them.
#The other 50% of problems are a result of editors '''not bothering to browse the wiki with some seriousness before deciding to contribute'''. It is this group of editors who contribute indirectly to the expansion of the Style Manual and the FAQ, as new tendencies are discovered which lower the overall quality of the wiki rather than raising it.
#Corollary to Rule #2: Whatever you have in mind for the wiki '''has probably already been thought of before''', so look around to see if the article exists already or if it's already been redlinked (i.e., a link to a non-existent article to invite its creation).
#'''Some subjects are always notable''': [[bishop]]s, [[synod|councils]], [[heresy|heresies]], [[saint]]s.
#'''It is better to delete an article than to wait for it to improve.''' Experience has taught me that it is extremely rare that what is essentially a [[Help:Stub|stub]] will ever expand beyond that status, once a few days have passed from its first appearance. Don't believe me? Check out [[:Category:Stubs]].
#The corollary to this rule is that '''it It is better not to start an article at all''' than to contribute a massive number of articles hoping that you or someone else will eventually fill them out.
#'''Presentation matters''' from the moment you first click '''"Save page"'''. There's a reason that '''''Your changes will be visible immediately''''' is printed right below the editing box. If you want a scratch pad, use the [[OrthodoxWiki:Sandbox|Sandbox]] or your personal userspace.
#'''People with an agenda usually ruin the wiki''' or at least attempt to do so. A few actually become normal, useful editors who contribute good articles. Most either end up storming off in a huff or getting banned for refusing to play nice.
#'''Most people think what they're used to is "normal" and "standard."''' This typically results in parochialisms getting writ large into articles. This can be cured with a little research and may even result in personal growth in humility!
#'''Oldbies usually know more than newbies''', at least regarding how best to contribute to OrthodoxWiki. This rule is really true in almost anything in life, but it's been [[w:Eternal September|enshrined on the Internet for years]].