Wikipedia:Don't fight fire with fire

This is an essay.

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: Stay civil, even under the most intense flames.

Even if the Scissor Sisters or Metallica tell you to.

If everyone fought fire with fire, the entire world would go up in smoke.
— Lemony Snicket

As in real life, you may find yourself face-to-face with boorish editors who don't know (or don't believe) they're boors. These editors can be most maddening, especially with their tendency to fly into personal attacks. When this happens, you may find yourself angered and tempted to respond, to throw fire back at the fire-starter. Unfortunately, this is the worst tactic to use: anger breeds more anger, fire more fire. No matter how much you try to show the said boor the error of his ways, he still refuses to see it and regards you as the attacker. In aggressively confronting him, you have allowed the boor to infect you.

So based on these instances, we can conclude that "an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind". Instead of trying to burn the offending user's face, try pouring a nice cold bucket of water over the flames and show them the proper way to behave. After much gentle nudging, they gradually learn how to be civilized Wikipedians. You don't have to fight fire with fire. After all, water works much better.