Wikipedia:Avoid Parkinson's Bicycle Shed Effect

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This is an essay, a page containing the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. Essays may represent widespread norms or minority viewpoints, and they may be heeded or not based upon your judgement and discretion.

Shortcuts: WP:BIKE WP:BIKESHED

This page in a nutshell: Don't get hung up on minor details.

Photo by Martin Belam

In his 1957 book Parkinson's Law, or the Pursuit of Progress C. Northcote Parkinson describes a committee that met to discuss the construction of a new atomic power plant. The agenda included three items: approving the plans for the plant, discussing a new bicycle shed for employees, and the refreshment expenses of the Welfare Committee. The committee spent two and a half minutes agreeing the highly complex power plant, forty-five minutes lively debate on the bicycle shed, and a furious debate on the refreshments for and hour and a quarter - eventually unresolved with the matter deferred to a further meeting.

Sadly, this effect can be noted on Wikipedia. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, and theoretically every Wikipedian is working to build an encyclopedia. However, many Wikipedians find their energies diverted by resolving disputes, or commenting on policy issues, or playing politics. These areas should be seen as the "bicycle shed", whilst the encyclopedia should be seen as "Nuclear safety".

In articles, this problem manifests itself in the way an article covers the topic. Sometimes articles fail to stick to the main article topic, but rather discuss minor aspects of the topic, such as usages in popular culture, or a brief list is contained for examples, which soon becomes the focus of the article. It is expected that articles are comprehensive, but they should also balance the information and give weight to areas of discussion in a neutral manner, focussing on presenting the description and application of the topic as the main bulk of the article.

Wikipedia:Avoid Parkinson's Bicycle Shed Effect

See also