Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in file deletion discussions

This is an essay on the deletion policy. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

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This page in a nutshell: Deletion decisions about non-free content at the English Wikipedia are governed by Wikipedia:Non-free content criteria. The strongest arguments are those that explain clearly how they are based upon that policy.

It is important to use the strongest arguments in deletion discussions for images and other files. Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in deletion discussions provides advice about how to frame effective explanations of your views in deletion discussions in general, and particularly in deletion discussions about articles. Deletion discussions about images and other files rest upon some criteria that are particular to those media, sometimes in ways that are unfamiliar to editors who do not frequently participate in such discussions. As a result, there are some special considerations that go into making an effective argument. Understanding these considerations can make it easier to achieve consensus during these deletion discussions, as well as to avoid conflict.

The use of images at Wikipedia is governed by Wikipedia:Image use policy. Most images and other digital media used by Wikipedia are free content, and are available at Wikimedia Commons. However, the English language Wikipedia, in agreement with the Wikimedia Foundation, also allows the use of non-free content, subject to some specific—and important—restrictions. Such content cannot be kept at Commons, but may be uploaded locally. Many deletion discussions of image files at the English Wikipedia, therefore, involve policies pertaining to the use, locally, of non-free content.

The policy on the use of non-free content at the English Wikipedia is given at Wikipedia:Non-free content. In deletion discussions concerning non-free media, arguments that are based upon the ten Wikipedia:Non-free content criteria (NFCC) carry the most weight, whereas arguments unrelated to that policy are likely to carry little weight, and should be avoided. Not surprisingly, editors often have strongly held opinions about whether or not an image should be deleted. Consequently, arguments that focus on WP:NFCC and avoid unrelated matters are also likely to reduce conflict.

The following are a list of arguments that can commonly be seen in deletion discussions for images and which should generally be avoided, or at least, supplemented with some more arguments. This essay should be read along with Wikipedia:Arguments to avoid in deletion discussions, which contains many other arguments that should generally be avoided; most of the arguments listed here represent special cases pertaining to non-free content.

Although this essay focuses on arguments concerning non-free media, there are also "arguments to avoid" that apply to free images, discussed below.

Please remember that a reason that arguably could be classified as an "argument to avoid" can still have some valid points in it. This essay suggests ways to make such arguments stronger. Also please remember that most editors who participate in deletion discussions, whether advocating for keeping or deleting a given file, are acting in good faith.

All of the images used in this essay are free content.