Wikipedia:Don't accuse someone of a personal attack for accusing of a personal attack

Sometimes, Wikipedians argue. Even though we don't have mastodons anymore, human nature is such that sometimes they still all get hot under the collar every now and again, and have a tendency to accuse each other of personal attacks. Whether founded or not, this often leads the attackee (or one of his or her allies) to reply that this accusation is itself a personal attack. And around and around the argument goes, and everyone is now only arguing about arguing.

All of this, of course, accomplishes exactly nothing but to demonstrate the thin skin of editors, chew up the talk page archives (especially that of the Administrators' Incident Noticeboard) and act as a time waster. Editors are urged to return to the discussion of the issue at hand, and to continue writing a useful encyclopedia.

Keeping discussions focused

 * Keep discussions focused.

Staying cool when
Don't make personal attacks, anywhere on Wikipedia.
 * Staying cool when the editing gets hot

Assuming good faith
The principle on which the wiki stands is the assumption of good faith; this is discussed in Five pillars.
 * Assume the assumption of good faith

Co-operate

 * Consensus is determined by the quality of the arguments given on the various sides of an issue, as viewed through the lens of Wikipedia policy.