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.
Wikipedia is no place for humour. Everything is very serious here and we are all terrifically important.
Sometimes, it is important to realize that Wikipedia can wait. Wikipedia is
always a work in progress. Oftentimes, what seems like an urgently needed edit or an immediate cause for deletion does not need to be acted on at the very moment. It is often this realization that can keep us
cool or prevent us from
exploding. Believe it or not, there are things more important than Wikipedia. Realizing this can keep us
civil and allow us to
assume good faith.
Here are a few points to keep in mind:
Have patience; all good things come in time. Like Rome. Or the
Apocalypse.
Don't lose perspective; Wikipedia is just a website, after all.
Prevent burnout; go read a book or watch TV. Or tend to your children?
Not everything on Wikipedia is urgent.
Corollary: Just because something on Wikipedia is not urgent doesn't mean it shouldn't be done. Just not now.
So please, heed our advice. If you find your
WikiStress level going through the roof and your cat is rubbing up against your legs demanding to be fed, close out
Huggle. Stop constantly reloading your watchlist. Go forth and enjoy
real life. Do something else.
Then, come back and update the page about whatever it was you did.
Commentary
Below are comments from editors who have stopped by, relaxed a bit and reached into the
Zen part of their Wikisouls to share with you these pearls of wisdom. Please feel free to leave your own comment below the last listed.
The desire to see something done yesterday causes more heart attacks than anything else does. If this is wrong, please correct it. Tomorrow.
Collect (
talk)
14:38, 19 May 2009 (UTC)reply
Real life is more important than Wikipedia. If you find yourself brushing off other obligations to make that final edit, you may be an
addict. Stop. Breathe. Move away from your computer. I'll write more, but my boss just called me into a meeting.
Vicenarian (
talk)
20:55, 19 May 2009 (UTC)reply
zOMG! Are you all crazy! Teh wiki must be completed – and soon!! For if it is not completed, we will have nought to show for our day save sweat and an awful lot of tears.... – B.hotep •
talk•
11:39, 10 July 2009 (UTC)reply
I hate that {{humor}} template! I've replaced it with the much cooler {{User:Yomangan/Humour}}. (In the spirit of this essay, the change took years and years to get done, just like the Cologne Cathedral.)
Frutti di Mare21:29, 18 March 2012 (UTC).reply