User:Isra1337/Laws of Moronics

The Laws of Moronics

In Science Fiction, the Laws of Moronics are a set of rules written by Sophia which most contributors to online wikis must obey. Introduced before time immemorial, the rules are the expression of Uncyclopedia's mission to create a website that is:

1. a wiki that anyone can edit
2. a wiki that talented people enjoy editing
3. a repository for humor
4. high quality

The Laws of Moronics

Though the rules themselves are expressed only in a complex series of algorithms that only robots can understand, the following are an aproximate rendering of them into English:

0. Use Good Judgement

Remember the point of the site, act in good faith, and use your head. Chances are that if you do, you won't need the other rules to be spelled out.

1. Be Funny

This means writing things that other people will want to read. It doesn't include jokes that other people won't understand because they are about non-notable things; it doesn't include one-liner stubs that no one can expand; it doesn't include long poorly formatted articles that no one can get through; it doesn't include random nonsense; it doesn't include vandalism; it doesn't include changing every instance of a word in someone else's article to "poop"; it doesn't include insulting someone else's aticle; and it doesn't include pissing people off. In case of any other question about what is funny, refer to rule 0.

2. Don't Be a Dick

It isn't your site, it is the community's site, and people want to enjoy themselves when they come here. Be respectful of others. Do cooperate with people; do compromise for the good of the site; do communicate before taking a controversial action; do try to find win-win situations; do provide constructive criticism in a helpful tone; do treat noobs kindly; do offer your help when you can give it. Don't try to piss people off; don't be a prima donna; don't gum up the works; don't do things that affect other people without informing them on the proper forum or talk pages; don't make things hard to resolve; don't create drama; don't make it harder for people to do their jobs or contribute to the site. In case of any other question about what is being a dick, refer to rule 0.

3. Ask

Not sure how to do something? Ask. Want to know why your page was deleted? Ask. Uncertain why a policy prevents you from doing something you want? Ask. Not sure why an admin is editing something in a way you dislike? Ask. Not sure what to do about a conflict you have with another user? Ask.

As long as you are friendly and polite, our users will try to adress any question you have. Asking is especially helpful in cases where we are undergoing change or where we have rules that might not be obvious.

4. Help Things Run Well

There are lots of things people can do to make things harder for the site to work that aren't technically wrong. We're forgiving when people violate this rule, but as you become an experienced user on the site, try to learn how things work and avoid accidentally getting in the way. A good rule of thumb is to ask, "if a bunch of people did what I am doing now, and a few did it carelessly, would it be a problem?" If the answer is yes, decide if what you are doing is really of benefit to the site and make sure you are being very careful. If you have a question about how things work, and what might cause problems for the admins, you can always ask. Admins are usually standing by, and if asking them a question makes them mad, you can shoot them.

5. Follow Procedures

Yes, there's an exception to every rule, but usually you aren't dealing with the exception. In the few instances that we do have a policy here, we probably have it for a reason. Following it will usually make everyone's life easier. On nomination and voting pages, that means reading the rules through when you add something (and yes, they change, so re-read them every now and then). When it comes to deletion and maintenance, it means reading the rules before posting or tagging. Again, if you aren't sure how, just ask and someone can usually point you in the right direction. While not exactly a procedure, we also reccommend reading the beginner's guide, even if you aren't a beginner.

6. Don't Make Drama

No one on this site is forced to be here, and if it stops being fun, people leave. Whenever you have a problem or there is a conflict, keep all of your actions constructive. Do not make personal attacks, do not try to hurt feelings, do not try to get your way by badgering people into leaving or giving up. Conversely, don't be a prima donna, don't start ranting about your rights, don't accuse people of bad faith or conspiracies, don't take things to seriously, and always try to stay focused and on topic whenever you are doing something serious. This is most easily accomplished by not participating in serious things.

The Laws of Super-Moronics

The Laws also have provisions for the wiki's most powerful users. These are refered to as the Laws of Super-Moronics:

7. Be Helpful

You have the power to delete, but will deleting really make the site better? You don't need to leave a comment when you tag or delete, but if you don't, will people act the way you want them to? You have the power to punish, but will that really solve the problem? Maintaining order is good, but orderliness is not the point of the wiki. Being fair is good, but fairness is not the point of the wiki. The point of the wiki is humor. Sometimes that means deleting crap and banning disruptive users, but it also means improving things, helping people whether they know they need help or not, and being friendly.

Welcoming new users, helping with the spelling or format of articles, offering friendly advice, etc could mean the difference between bringing through the author of the next featured article or the next idiot vandal.

8. Be Flexible

The thing about being an admin is that sometimes you can act unilateraly, but do so appropriately. That means being willing to change when disagreement occurs, and it means leaving a sufficient opportunity for someone to notice what you have done and offer their questions and comments before it is too late to do anything about it. For some things this requirement basically precludes unilateral action. For others it just means being transparent and documenting what you've done. If you can, please also follow established procedures where they work.

Don't be upset if people do disagree with what you've done. Someone's disagreement with a particular action isn't a statement about your worth as a human being. Calmly explain why you've done what you've done, and be willing to compromise for the sake of peace. Being human, everyone is wrong sometimes. This time might be one of your times, and it is not a poor reflection on you if it is.

9. There Is No Cabal

Whenever you act without an established and documented consensus, follow the above rules about acting unilaterally. By all means, talk to the cabal and get their agreement if you have an idea, because most ideas can be improved by a little informal discussion, but no matter how many people you talk to through another medium, you do not have a proper consensus. That means you can't support a decision by saying "the cabal agreed with me" because There Is No Cabal.

The one grandfathered exception to this rule is putting up reskin pages, but this should usually done by a senior admin whose responsibilities for updating the main page have already been established.

10. Be Appealing

One of the reasons that admins are afforded such god-like powers is that hopefully we trust their judgment, but also that when there is disagreement, an admin's decision can be appealed to another admin. Try to makes sure this is always possible, that doing so is sufficiently easy and unproblematic, and that the period of time for such an appeal is the longest one appropriate. That means not banning people when another measure would work just as well. It means giving a page time before deletion if there is doubt, and it means not laying down artibrary or dictatorial rules. Specifically, no rule should ever prevent a user from appealing that rule, and no rule should be made that restricts the ability of another admin to take an appeal.

11. Respect Other Admins

Admins have more power than normal users because they have been chosen for their judgment. When a normal user is opped, it is a reflection of a similar vote of confidence in their decision-making skills, and the power differential disappears. That means respecting their judgment even when they are wrong, it means engaging them in dialogue when you have disputes, and it means deferring to them when it is reasonable and helpful to do so.

Admins tend to be busy overworked people who have to deal with a lot of crap. That means that if you want to bully another admin into giving up by being persistant, being annoying, or being abusive, you probably can, and you will probably win. That doesn't mean you should. Always aproach your fellow admins with the aim of getting along, and never do anything that keeps your peers from having their fair say. That includes banning, rules that prevent dialogue, and arbitrary use of power.

See Also

• Uncyclopedia:Vanity Policy
• Uncyclopedia:Deletion Policy
• UN:CM
• UN:10COM
• UN:JOB
• UN:OFFICE