Snowball clause

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my dragon

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Snowball test

This test can be applied to an action only after it is performed, and is thus useful for learning from experience.

  • If an issue is run through some process and the resulting decision is unanimous, then it might have been a candidate for the snowball clause.
  • If an issue is "snowballed", and somebody later raises a reasonable objection, then it probably was not a good candidate for the snowball clause. Nevertheless, if the objection raised is unreasonable or contrary to policy, then the debate needs to be re-focused, and editors may be advised to avoid disrupting wikipedia to make a point.

Example

  • When discussing community banning of disruptive user, who may have used several sock puppets and had vandalized articles, then if the result is clear from onset, the discussion can be closed as SNOW and ban enacted without waiting for flurry of pile-on support !votes for the sake of process.

Footnote

See also