drop The Stick And Back Slowly Away From The Horse Carcass

This is an essay on the Disruptive editing 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 Wiki's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

Shortcuts WP:STICK WP:HORSEMEAT WP:DEADHORSE WP:DROPTHESTICK WP:DTS

This page in a nutshell: If a debate has died, don't revive it.

You may have won the debate, you may have lost the debate, or you may have found yourself in a long, drawn-out draw. At this point you should drop the stick and back slowly away from the horse carcass.

If a debate, discussion, or general exchange of views has come to a natural end through one party having "won" or (more likely) the community having lost interest in the entire thing, then no matter which side you were on, you should walk away.

If you don't, if you continue to flog the poor old debate, if you try to reopen it, if you continually refer to old news, if you parade your triumph in the faces of others ... you're not really winning friends and influencing people. Instead, you are annoying everyone nearby.

• If you have "won"‍—‌good for you. Now go about your business; don't keep reminding us that your "opponent" didn't "win".
• If you have "lost"‍—‌sorry, hard luck. Now go about your business; don't keep reminding us that your "opponent" didn't actually "win" because of ... whatever.
• If the debate died a natural death‍—‌let it remain dead. It is over, let it go. Nobody cares anymore. Hard to stomach, but you're going to have to live with it.

So, the next time you find yourself standing over the body of a clearly deceased horse: please don't beat it. It won't help. There is no way to beat a dead horse back to life. Let the poor animal rest in peace.