User:PorkchopGMX/essay/Don't ignore all the rules
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One of the most important policies on Wikipedia is Ignore all rules (IAR). The entire text of that policy is included below:
| “ | If a rule prevents you from improving or maintaining Wikipedia, ignore it. | ” |
| — Wikipedia:Ignore all rules | ||
This means that even if some of the policies and guidelines are preventing you from improving Wikipedia, go ahead, ignore them and make your improvement. The key phrase here is improving or maintaining, as if that wasn’t there, you wouldn’t probably be improving or maintaining Wikipedia under IAR.
For example, WP:BITE is a behavioral guideline, which should probably be followed. However, there are occasional exceptions (IAR). This doesn’t mean that you can use IAR as a way to WP:BITE every newcomer that exists, that should be discouraged. This is why you should use common sense before using occasional exceptions. Similarly, IAR is not a Get Out of Jail Free card.