Wikipedia:Don't bludgeon the process

This is an explanatory essay about the disruptive editing and conduct policies. This page provides additional information about concepts in the page(s) it supplements. This page is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community.

Shortcuts WP:BLUD WP:BLUDGEON WP:BLUDGEONING

This page in a nutshell: It is not necessary or desirable to reply to every comment in a discussion. The more often you express the same ideas in a discussion, the less persuasive you become. Dominating a discussion is a violation of the disruptive editing behavioral guideline and can get you blocked.

Bludgeon: To beat powerfully with an object of great mass.

In Wikipedia terms, bludgeoning is where someone attempts to force their point of view through a very high number of comments, such as contradicting every viewpoint that is different from their own. Typically, this means making the same argument over and over and to different people in the same discussion or across related discussions. This can happen on a talk page, deletion discussion, or... realistically, in any discussion on Wikipedia. This behavior and conduct is undesirable, considered a form of disruptive editing, and is usually seen and reported as such when observed by other editors who are involved in the same discussion.

To falsely accuse someone of bludgeoning is considered uncivil, and should be avoided. Everyone should have the chance to express their views within reasonable limits. Sometimes, a long comment or replying multiple times is perfectly acceptable or needed for consensus building.