LOST:Neutral point of view

From LOST

[edit] Neutral Point of View

The LOST Wikia has a Neutral Point of View Policy similar to that of Wikipedia.

According to Jimbo Wales, the founder of Wikipedia: "The neutral point of view attempts to present ideas and facts in such a fashion that both supporters and opponents can agree. Of course, 100% agreement is not possible; there are ideologues in the world who will not concede to any presentation other than a forceful statement of their own point of view. We can only seek a type of writing that is agreeable to essentially rational people who may differ on particular points.

"Perhaps the easiest way to make your writing more encyclopedic, is to write about what people believe, rather than what is so. If this strikes you as somehow subjectivist or collectivist or imperialist, then ask me about it, because I think that you are just mistaken. What people believe is a matter of objective fact, and we can present that quite easily from the neutral point of view."

[edit] Neutral Point of View on the LOST Wikia

Although the world of Lost is fictional, it may inspire strong feelings. Some interpretation may be necessary in order to write a thorough and complete article; however, please avoid making value judgments about the characters or events on the show. Instead, report as accurately and completely as possible what happened without taking sides.

Instead of: Locke acted like a 3-year-old having a tantrum.

Write something like: Frustrated at his own powerlessness, Locke threw the dishes to the floor.

Of course Lost does not exist in a vacuum, and it may be appropriate to report on such things as fan response and real-life influences on the creation of the show. When writing on fan response, it is best to include as many different sides as possible, including that of the show's creative team, if available. Remember that if a controversy is important enough to be included here, it more than likely has at least two strong opposing arguments.

Instead of: Fans love the websites because they can't get enough Lost.

Write something like: Some fans enjoy the websites as additional entertainment between new episodes; others, however, feel that they should not need to see anything other than the show itself to understand the plot of the show.

However, do not dress up your personal opinion as fact by claiming that "many fans" share it, unless you have a source to back up the claim. Likewise, do not make claims about what the show's creative team thought or intended unless it was stated on the record (interviews, podcasts, and DVD commentary are good sources). If you see a similarity between scenes or to another work, simply note it under "Background Information"

Instead of: Everyone knows the numbers are the key to the entire show.

Write something like: Writer David Fury stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that the show's producers did not have an ultimate plan for the numbers.