User:Andrewa/The MOS is neither optional nor compulsory
 | This is an essay. 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. |
 | This page in a nutshell: The MOS, like any other policy or guideline, can neither be ignored nor rigidly enforced. Ever. |
The MOS does not count
[edit]Like all policies and guidelines, the MOS is not perfect. All editors are not just permitted but are actively encouraged to violate it whenever they believe that to do so would improve Wikipedia.
And that is the policy, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
The MOS does count
[edit]The Wikipedia Manual of Style is a standard to which all edits in the article namespace should ideally comply.
To deliberately and repeatedly ignore the MOS is disruptive and may result in not just reverting but also in sanctions. It is far worse than just wasting your own time, you are wasting the time of other people too.
Nor does the MOS have any less authority because it is a guideline rather than a policy. Its authority, like that of any policy or guideline, comes purely from the level of consensus it represents. See User:Andrewa/Policy or guideline.
But it can work and does
[edit]And it works surprisingly well.
See:
See also
[edit]Attribution
[edit]I, andrewa, hereby authorise any Wikipedian (whether logged in or not) to copy any or all of my contributions to this page to any other page in English Wikipedia with or without attribution. Go for it.