User:Valjean/sandbox

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Based on comments in Wikipedia talk:Neutral point of view#How to not take sides (reply to a question). (June 3, 2024)

Wikipedia "appears to take the side" of mainstream RS over unreliable sources or no sources by allowing RS to get the due weight they deserve. Wikipedia stays neutral by not interfering with what RS and by enabling RS to voice their views without the interference of editorial bias.

The very existence of WP:RS nails "Reliable Sources" ("Theses #96") fast to the PAG door

as foundational to how we operate. Article content should reflect what RS say, and the bias found in RS should shine through, as we are not allowed to censor or neuter the bias and opinions of a RS. Editors must not get in the way. OTOH, Wikipedia does not take a side when there is a difference of opinion between RS. Then we "explain the sides, fairly and without editorial bias."

Develop this into an additional section at NPOV. Currently we say:

"Articles must not take sides, but should explain the sides, fairly and without editorial bias."

Proposed on 18:27, 3 June 2024‎

Proposed new section:

Does Wikipedia "take sides"?
The nutshell of NPOV says: "Articles must not take sides, but should explain the sides, fairly and without editorial bias."
But what about when it appears that Wikipedia "takes a side" and is "biased" toward that side? How can that even happen? It all depends on whether or not there is any significant disagreement between reliable sources. In either case, Wikipedia remains neutral and lets reliable sources speak.
When there is no significant disagreement between reliable sources, Wikipedia appears to take the side of mainstream reliable sources (over the views in unreliable sources) because it allows reliable sources to get the full due weight they deserve (unreliable sources have zero due weight). Wikipedia stays neutral by not interfering with what reliable sources say and by enabling them to voice their views without the interference and distortion of editorial bias.
By contrast, when there is a significant disagreement between reliable sources, Wikipedia does "not take sides, but should explain the sides, fairly and without editorial bias".
The NPOV policy requires articles to fairly and proportionately represent the views published in reliable sources. It does not permit editors to "correct" or remove biases they see in sources, or to allow their own beliefs and opinions to "get between" the sources and the article content. Editors should put their own opinions aside and "stay out of the way" by neutrally documenting what a source says, including its opinions and biases. That means that when editors edit neutrally, Wikipedia content will reflect the biases found in reliable sources, and that form of bias is okay. It is "editorial bias" that is wrong.

Let's brainstorm this. -- Valjean (talk) (PING me) 18:27, 3 June 2024 (UTC)