Wikipedia:The Last Word
Wikipedia:The Last Word/header
In Wikipedia, even more than in real life, getting the Last Word in a debate is crucial, as it is the only proof of your argumentative success over competing editors. The following is a useful collection of suggestions on why and how to obtain your right to have the Last Word, however tenaciously your opponent may be trying to rob you of your privilege.
Reasons for getting the last word
Getting the last word means that you win the debate. It also shows your moral superiority, and willingness to stand your ground. This should convince your opponent that you are correct, and will certainly impress your fellow Wikipedians.
It is particularly important to get the last word where you are in some doubts as to the merits of your case. The last word will serve as a clinching argument that will make up for any deficiencies in your logic.
How to get the last word
Often, your opponent will not understand the importance of the last word (abr. TLWTM) and will readily concede the ground to you. However, sometimes your opponent is well aware of this Wikipedian convention and will attempt to wrongfully deprive you of your right. Do not give ground to such intimidation. Pursue your case with fortitude and vigour. If your actual arguments have already been stated on the page, do not fear to repeat them in a slightly different form. CAPITALISING YOUR ARGUMENT, or bolding sections, can be used to give variety if you fear you are being repetitive.
Debates are like boxing matches. Try to make your opponent do the footwork so they get exhausted while you preserve your energy for the final blow Last Word. If they bring any arguments you cannot immediately refute, play dumb and ask for clarification, it helps wear off the adversary's patience. Ask for more sources and better sources (ideally in that order). If they insolently keep providing answers, arbitrarily stop replying for a while.
Elegance is relative. Cheat, if you think you can get away with it. Call in your friends uninvolved users to keep the other party busy and distract from the original debate. Exploit the headstart you have over impudent newbies. Most of them walk into debates like knifers into a gunfight: Easy prey.
In the last resort, it is very advisable to use warning templates as early as possible and to cite any convenient [[WP:POL|policies]] that you think will be useful to your cause. (Vandalism templates are usually the best.) After all, one template says more than a thousand words, and it's an elegant way to get the last word in case the other bastard user just won't concede the ground.
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NB: If your opponent attempts to seize the last word for themselves, be careful to point out the folly of this strategy, perhaps citing this project page. This clever technique allows you to simultaneously regain the last word for yourself while making any sort of reply from your opponent seem in bad faith. |
| “ | I know what you're doing, you are just trying to have the WP:WORD! | ” |
Other complementary tactics
The following are practical enhancements to all TLWTM strategies:
- Remind the little shit that he should abide by Wikipedia:Assume good faith and Wikipedia:No personal attacks. I mean, if you are, why shouldn't he?
- Liberally employ vandalism accusations. It is at least theoretically possible that his edits are vandalism, so there is no reason not to raise this concern.
- Block the jerk, and protect his talk page — then post your comment.
- Don't forget to bring up Jimbo. After all, he's the principal authority and mentioning him will give you an edge. Maybe excluding debates with Jimbo himself, but even then, it's still worth a try.
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NB: any attempt by him/her to deprive you of TLWTM is quite obviously incivil, possibly JUST TROLLING and certainly a UNILATERAL VIOLATION of WP:POINT. RESIST it at ALL costs. |
