Wikipedia:The one question

On Wikipedia, a great deal of virtual ink is spent debating if various policies, guidelines, and essays apply to specific situations or not, or debating secondary questions about whether or not they have sufficient consensus to apply. When you find yourself in that situation, take a step back, ignore all rules, and ask yourself the one question:

Does it make Wikipedia better or not?

Yes → Do it, support the policy, keep the article, unblock, etc.

No → Don't do it, oppose the policy, delete the article, block, etc.

Answer that question first, and then pick whatever policy, guideline, essay, or argument supports the answer. Don't flip the order. If you look at a policy page first, then decide that something is good/bad because that's the conclusion of the policy, you forgot to ask yourself the one question. And you could very well end up supporting an outcome which does not make Wikipedia better.

See also

• Wikipedia:Ignore all rules
• Fifth pillar of Wikipedia
• Wikipedia:Because I can