User:Pythoncoder/IAR

This page discusses the history of WP:IAR.

History
The purpose of Wikipedia is to create an encyclopedia. Our rules serve as a flexible framework to support that purpose, but if rules make you nervous and depressed, then simply use common sense as you go about working on the encyclopedia. Being too wrapped up in rules can cause you to lose perspective, so there are times when it is best to ignore all rules ... including this one.
 * Original version, by Larry Sanger (the first of Wikipedia's original rules to consider, copied to WP:IAR on Apr. 17, 2002): If rules make you nervous and depressed, and not desirous of participating in the wiki, then ignore them entirely and go about your business.
 * Links added, Aug. 26, 2004: If rules make you nervous and depressed, and not desirous of participating in the Wiki, then ignore them and go about your business.
 * Apr. 5, 2005: If rules make you nervous and depressed, then simply use common sense as you go about working on the encyclopedia. Being too wrapped up in rules can cause you to lose perspective, so there are times when it is best to ignore all rules...including this one.
 * In late 2005 and very early 2006, the contents of the page were generally as follows:

Ignoring all rules is about cutting through red tape to construct an encyclopedia. Remember, Wikipedia is not a bureaucracy. Some actions may be reasonable, even if they might be against a strict interpretation of a certain rule. Conversely, some actions that are not expressly forbidden by rule may still be obnoxious and lead to negative consequences. The spirit of the rules is more important than the letter.

On occasion, rules may be disregarded if it is necessary to improve the encyclopedia. Disregarding a rule for other purposes is not good; the corollary to "Ignore all rules" is "Don't disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point". Invoking the principle of "Ignore all rules" on its own will not convince anyone that you were right, so you will need to persuade the rest of the community that your actions improved the encyclopedia.
 * Feb. 2, 2006: Mostly returned to Larry's version, plus mentions of WP:UCS and Wil Wheaton's law.
 * Apr. 22, 2006: If the rules discourage you from improving or maintaining the wiki's quality, ignore them.
 * Aug. 19, 2006: Jimbo Wales drops the hammer saying "IAR is policy, always has been", and edits the pseudo-policy note at the top of the page to match that.
 * Aug. 23, 2006: IAR gets the policy template after 5 long years.
 * Aug. 4, 2007: If a rule prevents you from working with others to improve or maintain Wikipedia, ignore it.
 * Aug. 17, 2007: If a rule prevents you from improving or maintaining Wikipedia, ignore it.