VRCWiki:Conflicts of interest: Difference between revisions

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'''Conflict of interest (COI) editing''' involves contributing to the VRChat Wiki about yourself, family, friends, clients, employers, or your financial and other relationships. Any external relationship can trigger a conflict of interest. Someone having a conflict of interest is a description of a situation, not a judgment about that person's opinions, integrity, or good faith.
'''Conflict of Interest (COI)''' occurs when an individual has significant affiliations with a project, such as a [[Worlds|World]], Avatar, Prefab, or Community. COI editing refers to the practice of someone closely associated with a project creating or making substantial edits to a page about that project.


COI editing is discouraged on the VRChat Wiki as it can undermine public confidence and may cause public embarrassment to the individuals and organizations being promoted. Editors with a COI may be unaware of how much it has influenced their editing. If COI editing causes disruption, an administrator may opt to place blocks on the involved accounts.
Conflict of Interest is best understood not as a standalone policy but as part of the broader framework of general editor guidelines, alongside principles like [[VRCWiki:Notability|Notability]], [[VRCWiki:Neutral point of view|Neutral Point of View (NPOV)]], and [[wikipedia:Wikipedia:No_original_research|No Original Research (NOR)]]. COI policies work in conjunction with these guidelines to preemptively avoid potential issues before any edits are made. For instance, Notability cannot be self-established, and COI policies reinforce this by preventing individuals or organizations from establishing the Notability of their own projects through page creation.


However, we understand that COI is hard to avoid. Some VRChat users may be the only source of information for worlds, avatars, and tools. It is acceptable for those users to contribute this information. Content should be verifiable if possible, but contributors should use common sense. Avoid advertising and use neutral language to maintain a neutral point of view (NPOV).
It is not assumed that an editor with a COI would create or edit a page with the intention of advertising. However, an editor with a COI is inherently more likely to embellish information, selectively curate content, or [[wikipedia:Wikipedia:No_original_research|treat the page as a primary source]].


Editors with a COI, including paid editors, are expected to disclose it whenever they seek to change an affected article's content. Anyone editing for pay must disclose who is paying them, who the client is, and any other relevant affiliation; this is a requirement of the VRChat Wiki. COI editors are discouraged from editing affected articles directly and can propose changes on article talk pages instead. However, our policy on matters relating to living people allows very obvious errors to be fixed quickly, including by the subject.
== Examples ==
Here are some examples of situations where you would have a Conflict of Interest for a given project:


Editors with a COI should follow VRChat Wiki policies and best practices scrupulously:
* You created the project.
* You were involved in developing, moderating, or facilitating the project in any tangible way.
* You were the sole or initial financial backer of the project (e.g., commissioning the project).


* You should disclose your COI when involved with affected articles.
== Policies ==
* You are discouraged from editing affected articles directly.
The VRChat Wiki enforces '''two core policies''' regarding Conflict of Interest editing:
* You should propose changes on talk pages or by posting a note at the COI noticeboard so that they can be peer-reviewed.
* You should not act as a reviewer of affected articles if there is any dispute on its content.
* You should respect other editors by keeping discussions concise.


Note that no one on the VRChat Wiki controls articles. If the VRChat Wiki hosts an article, others may add information that would otherwise remain little known. They may also decide to delete the article or decide to keep it should someone later [[:Category:Pages Marked for Deletion|request deletion]].
# '''Restrictions on Editing''': Editors who have created a project or made significant contributions to it are strictly prohibited from creating pages about that project. Editors with a substantial COI are limited to making only [[wikipedia:Help:Minor_edit|minor edits]] on pages related to the project.
# '''Enforcement and Consequences''': Pages created in violation of these policies are subject to immediate deletion, with the author being notified through appropriate channels, such as their talk page or Discord (if applicable).


==Paid Editing==
== Situations that are ''NOT'' (necessarily) Conflicts of Interest ==
Conflict of Interest is not always a clear-cut, binary concept but rather a spectrum of proximity and involvement. When an editor with even a slight affiliation to a project considers their potential COI, it is generally wise to err on the side of caution and assume a COI exists to avoid any potential conflicts. However, there are many situations where someone with a potential COI can still make constructive major edits to a project's page, depending on various factors.


Being paid to contribute to the VRChat Wiki is one form of financial COI; it places the paid editor in a conflict between their employer's goals and the VRChat Wiki's goals. The kind of paid editing of most concern to the community involves using the VRChat Wiki for public relations and marketing purposes. Sometimes called "paid advocacy," this is problematic because it invariably reflects the interests of the client or employer.
A useful way to evaluate your potential COI is by considering how easily you could disengage from your affiliation. Simply put, if it's easy for you to "leave" without any impact, your COI is likely minimal. If your involvement is embedded in the project's development or maintenance, then you certainly have a COI.


More generally, an editor has a financial conflict of interest whenever they write about a topic with which they have a close financial relationship. This includes being an owner, employee, contractor, investor or other stakeholder.
In all cases, editors who believe they may have even a minor COI should disclose the details in the edit summary and ensure their contributions adhere strictly to editing guidelines, particularly regarding Neutral Point of View (NPOV).


The VRChat Wiki requires that all paid editing be disclosed. If you receive or expect to receive compensation (money, goods or services) for your contributions to the VRChat Wiki, the policy is:
Here are some examples, roughly ordered from most to least significant COI:


* You must disclose who is paying you, on whose behalf the edits are made, and any other relevant affiliation (on the talk page).
==== Having a personal relationship with someone affiliated with a project ====
* You should make the disclosure on your user page, on affected talk pages, and whenever you discuss the topic.
This situation is difficult to define precisely, as it ranges from "close romantic relationships" to "casual acquaintances on social media." Only you can fully assess the extent of your relationship and determine whether you can or should ethically contribute to the project's page. This is the most sensitive case, requiring careful consideration.
* You are discouraged from editing affected articles directly.
 
* You should propose changes on talk pages so that they can be peer-reviewed.
==== Being a Patreon subscriber, or having made other financial contributions to a project ====
* You should not act as a reviewer of affected articles if there is any dispute on its content.
While financial support for a project reflects a strong interest, it does not necessarily indicate a deep affiliation and can be withdrawn at any time. Although financial supporters may lean toward positive phrasing, they are still independent from the project itself and may not share the same views as those actively involved in creating or sustaining it. Disclosure is recommended, but financial support alone is not a definitive COI.
* You should respect volunteers by keeping discussions concise.
 
==== Being a member of a community ====
This is similar to the case of financial contributors, but with even more independence and flexibility. Community involvement can vary widely, from contributing content and attending events to simply lurking in a Discord server. While these activities fall at different points on the COI spectrum, they are generally of low concern as long as the standard guidelines are followed.
 
==== Having a strong interest in a project ====
Having a general interest in a topic or project is '''not considered a COI and is, in fact, encouraged'''! The Wiki is built on contributions from volunteers who share their time and expertise. While we value those who contribute to any page that needs it, we also encourage editors to focus on topics they are passionate about, as long as they do so in a responsible and balanced manner.
 
== A general example that summarizes it all: ==
Let's assume a hypothetical project in the form of a World called "'''Super Fun World'''".
* '''The creator''' of Super Fun World '''cannot create a page''' about "Super Fun World," but an interested community member can!
* If that community member is also a '''Patreon subscriber''' to the creator of Super Fun World, they should ideally disclose this affiliation in the edit summary when creating the page.
* One of the '''3D modelers''' for Super Fun World spots a couple of typos on the page and corrects them in a '''minor edit'''.
* '''The creator''' of Super Fun World notices an incorrect date attributed to an event hosted in the World and makes a '''minor edit''' to correct it, providing a valid citation if necessary (especially if the original date was a typo).
* A '''hardcore fan''' of Super Fun World reads a new development blog published by the creator and decides some of the information is notable enough to include in the article. They add a new section (or update an existing one) with a neutral point of view, using the blog as a citation.
…and so on! This example illustrates how different levels of affiliation affect editing practices while ensuring adherence to COI guidelines.
 
==Conflict of Interest noticebox==
If an article primarily (or entirely) contains content written by someone with a '''partial''' Conflict of Interest, it will be displayed with the following noticebox:
{{Noticebox/Conflict of interest}}
 
Note, this '''cannot''' be used to circumvent the two fundamental policies. Any pages found to have been created in violation of them, ''even if they contain this noticebox'', will still be eligible for deletion.
 
It can be added to to an article using the following text: <nowiki>{{Noticebox/Conflict of interest}}</nowiki>
 
==See also==
* [[VRCWiki:Guidelines]]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest Wikipedia:Conflict of interest] on Wikipedia
 
[[Category:VRCWiki policies]]

Latest revision as of 15:41, 11 October 2024

Conflict of Interest (COI) occurs when an individual has significant affiliations with a project, such as a World, Avatar, Prefab, or Community. COI editing refers to the practice of someone closely associated with a project creating or making substantial edits to a page about that project.

Conflict of Interest is best understood not as a standalone policy but as part of the broader framework of general editor guidelines, alongside principles like Notability, Neutral Point of View (NPOV), and No Original Research (NOR). COI policies work in conjunction with these guidelines to preemptively avoid potential issues before any edits are made. For instance, Notability cannot be self-established, and COI policies reinforce this by preventing individuals or organizations from establishing the Notability of their own projects through page creation.

It is not assumed that an editor with a COI would create or edit a page with the intention of advertising. However, an editor with a COI is inherently more likely to embellish information, selectively curate content, or treat the page as a primary source.

Examples

Here are some examples of situations where you would have a Conflict of Interest for a given project:

  • You created the project.
  • You were involved in developing, moderating, or facilitating the project in any tangible way.
  • You were the sole or initial financial backer of the project (e.g., commissioning the project).

Policies

The VRChat Wiki enforces two core policies regarding Conflict of Interest editing:

  1. Restrictions on Editing: Editors who have created a project or made significant contributions to it are strictly prohibited from creating pages about that project. Editors with a substantial COI are limited to making only minor edits on pages related to the project.
  2. Enforcement and Consequences: Pages created in violation of these policies are subject to immediate deletion, with the author being notified through appropriate channels, such as their talk page or Discord (if applicable).

Situations that are NOT (necessarily) Conflicts of Interest

Conflict of Interest is not always a clear-cut, binary concept but rather a spectrum of proximity and involvement. When an editor with even a slight affiliation to a project considers their potential COI, it is generally wise to err on the side of caution and assume a COI exists to avoid any potential conflicts. However, there are many situations where someone with a potential COI can still make constructive major edits to a project's page, depending on various factors.

A useful way to evaluate your potential COI is by considering how easily you could disengage from your affiliation. Simply put, if it's easy for you to "leave" without any impact, your COI is likely minimal. If your involvement is embedded in the project's development or maintenance, then you certainly have a COI.

In all cases, editors who believe they may have even a minor COI should disclose the details in the edit summary and ensure their contributions adhere strictly to editing guidelines, particularly regarding Neutral Point of View (NPOV).

Here are some examples, roughly ordered from most to least significant COI:

Having a personal relationship with someone affiliated with a project

This situation is difficult to define precisely, as it ranges from "close romantic relationships" to "casual acquaintances on social media." Only you can fully assess the extent of your relationship and determine whether you can or should ethically contribute to the project's page. This is the most sensitive case, requiring careful consideration.

Being a Patreon subscriber, or having made other financial contributions to a project

While financial support for a project reflects a strong interest, it does not necessarily indicate a deep affiliation and can be withdrawn at any time. Although financial supporters may lean toward positive phrasing, they are still independent from the project itself and may not share the same views as those actively involved in creating or sustaining it. Disclosure is recommended, but financial support alone is not a definitive COI.

Being a member of a community

This is similar to the case of financial contributors, but with even more independence and flexibility. Community involvement can vary widely, from contributing content and attending events to simply lurking in a Discord server. While these activities fall at different points on the COI spectrum, they are generally of low concern as long as the standard guidelines are followed.

Having a strong interest in a project

Having a general interest in a topic or project is not considered a COI and is, in fact, encouraged! The Wiki is built on contributions from volunteers who share their time and expertise. While we value those who contribute to any page that needs it, we also encourage editors to focus on topics they are passionate about, as long as they do so in a responsible and balanced manner.

A general example that summarizes it all:

Let's assume a hypothetical project in the form of a World called "Super Fun World".

  • The creator of Super Fun World cannot create a page about "Super Fun World," but an interested community member can!
  • If that community member is also a Patreon subscriber to the creator of Super Fun World, they should ideally disclose this affiliation in the edit summary when creating the page.
  • One of the 3D modelers for Super Fun World spots a couple of typos on the page and corrects them in a minor edit.
  • The creator of Super Fun World notices an incorrect date attributed to an event hosted in the World and makes a minor edit to correct it, providing a valid citation if necessary (especially if the original date was a typo).
  • A hardcore fan of Super Fun World reads a new development blog published by the creator and decides some of the information is notable enough to include in the article. They add a new section (or update an existing one) with a neutral point of view, using the blog as a citation.

…and so on! This example illustrates how different levels of affiliation affect editing practices while ensuring adherence to COI guidelines.

Conflict of Interest noticebox

If an article primarily (or entirely) contains content written by someone with a partial Conflict of Interest, it will be displayed with the following noticebox:

UserpageCOI.svg
V · EConflict of interest
This page was written by an involved party in violation of the Conflict of interest policy, and may be subject to removal. Once this page has enough edits from varying parties, this notice may be removed.

Consider editing this page.

Note, this cannot be used to circumvent the two fundamental policies. Any pages found to have been created in violation of them, even if they contain this noticebox, will still be eligible for deletion.

It can be added to to an article using the following text: {{Noticebox/Conflict of interest}}

See also