User:Randy Kryn/Rule of thumb
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Summary: After a well-attended deletion nomination has formed valid but opposing points of view by experienced editors, then even the slightest shadow of Keep after adequate commentary (and surely after one relisting) should be enough for the nomination to either be courteously withdrawn by the nominator or Kept by a closer. If a large percentage of experienced commenting editors find value in the encyclopedia's information, then Wikipedia's readers should continue to benefit from that same value.
Wikipedians shape language into "just the facts, ma'am", and excel at focusing societal and civilizational reality into articles and images. First and foremost, or second and kind-of important, the nominator and closer should keep in mind that fellow Wikipedians have put their attention, interest, and sense of initiative into either creating or editing the nominated page. Most WP:BEFORE-adherent nominations correctly end in a deletion after going unopposed. Yet many well-contested discussions occur: WP:GNG claimed or denied, viewpoints presented and arm-wrestled into submission, editors diligently working to improve or disprove the page.
"Keep" arguments often achieve merit as credible adherents reach either a primary or a strong alternate point-of-view which finds editorial agreement. Some do this rather quickly, while others do so after discussion and additional sources clarify a logical "Keep" viewpoint. Rule of thumb maintains that the discussion should end there, no questions asked, the page Kept, and the article allowed to roam free to encyclopedically educate the reading public.
Recognizing a shadow of keep can often save an enormous amount of unneeded bickering, nitpicking, and time sinks which may accompany such discussions. Editors might fight like wild animals (or sugared-up children) when a deletion nomination goes on too long or has one or more relistings (usually an indication that the Shadow of Keep exists). The nominator should then consider kindly withdrawing their good-faith nomination, or a closer could step in early and Keep it. A closer may receive complaints that they have put their thumb on the scale, but everyone knows when the shadow of Keep exists, and an appeal of a properly done rule of thumb closing would likely fail.
Until next time, when the article is nominated for a second, third, or even a fourth deletion attempt. After being saved more often than Rapunzel or Rasputin, by the time a page survives a first relisting or a second dog and pony show the Shadow of Keep and Rule of Thumb should mix with WP:COMMONSENSE to not allow a third or fourth bite of the apple...unless a very good reason emerges. Should triple jeopardy exist on Wikipedia? Rarely.