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{{shortcut|[[WV:Obvious]]|[[WV:NACO]]}}
{{shortcut|[[WV:Obvious]]|[[WV:NACO]]}}


When visitors arrive from far away, locals usually love to give them advice. Unfortunately, this often leads to a temptation to offer advice for ''everything'' under the sun. On Wikivoyage, this translates to ''Respect'' and/or ''Stay safe'' sections a mile long, with the result that actual useful information is buried among principles which most adult readers could be expected to know.
When visitors arrive from far away, locals usually love to give them advice. Unfortunately, this often leads to a temptation to offer advice for ''everything'' under the sun. On Wikivoyage, this translates to ''Respect'' and/or ''Stay safe'' sections a mile long, with the result that actual useful information is buried among platitudes which most adult readers could be expected to know.


To prevent this, Wikivoyage's rule of thumb is '''No advice from Captain Obvious'''. In other words, if the piece of advice is true for every city and country on the planet, it does ''not'' bear repeating in geographic destination articles.
To prevent this, Wikivoyage's rule of thumb is '''No advice from Captain Obvious'''. In other words, if the piece of advice is true for every city and country on the planet, it does ''not'' bear repeating in geographic destination articles.
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* As long as you avoid going outside when a storm is forecast, or when you hear thunder, you'll be fine.
* As long as you avoid going outside when a storm is forecast, or when you hear thunder, you'll be fine.


That said, remember that obviousness must be considered from the [[Project:The traveller comes first|traveller's point of view]], not a local's. Advice useful for a specific country or destination should be mentioned in that article.
That said, remember that obviousness must be considered from the [[Project:The traveller comes first|traveller's point of view]], not a local's. Leaving a minimum 15% tip in restaurants is obvious to Americans, but should be mentioned in the [[United States]] article; never sticking your left hand in communal dishes is obvious to Ethiopians, but should be mentioned in the [[Ethiopia]] article.


Destination articles should mention universal concerns when they are particularly important for the location. [[Pickpocketing]] is a risk in most big cities, but notoriously bad at the most crowded venues in [[Rome]]. Likewise, [[fine dining]] is expensive everywhere, but visitors to [[Norway]] should really check out the price tag before ordering.
For instance, mention that 15% tips in restaurants is customary in the [[United States]], and never sticking your left hand in communal dishes is customary in [[Ethiopia]].

Destination articles should mention universal concerns when they are particularly important for the location. [[Pickpocketing]] is a risk in most big cities, but notoriously bad at the most crowded venues in [[Rome]]. Likewise, [[fine dining]] is expensive everywhere, but visitors to [[Norway]] should really check out the price tag before ordering. Leaving [[public transportation]] seats for the elderly is recommended everywhere, but in [[Japan]], being reluctant to do so would be very embarrassing.


{{WikivoyageDoc|policies}}
{{WikivoyageDoc|policies}}

Revision as of 07:24, 9 January 2025

When visitors arrive from far away, locals usually love to give them advice. Unfortunately, this often leads to a temptation to offer advice for everything under the sun. On Wikivoyage, this translates to Respect and/or Stay safe sections a mile long, with the result that actual useful information is buried among platitudes which most adult readers could be expected to know.

To prevent this, Wikivoyage's rule of thumb is No advice from Captain Obvious. In other words, if the piece of advice is true for every city and country on the planet, it does not bear repeating in geographic destination articles.

Several travel topics, such as the Respect, Stay safe and Stay healthy articles, cover a wide range of more universally applicable information. If it's in any of these, it's unlikely to be needed anywhere else.

Actual examples of advice from Captain Obvious include:

Thank you for showing me the error of my ways, Captain Obvious!
  • Don't flash your valuables in areas which may be targeted by pickpockets.
  • Wear a condom if engaging in sex with a partner you don't know well.
  • A bottle of water costs more at a convenience store than at a supermarket.
  • Locals don't take kindly to their country, customs, language or food being mocked by foreigners.
  • Never speed on the roads.
  • Avoid anyone who appears to be drunk, and avoid drinking too much yourself.
  • As long as you avoid going outside when a storm is forecast, or when you hear thunder, you'll be fine.

That said, remember that obviousness must be considered from the traveller's point of view, not a local's. Leaving a minimum 15% tip in restaurants is obvious to Americans, but should be mentioned in the United States article; never sticking your left hand in communal dishes is obvious to Ethiopians, but should be mentioned in the Ethiopia article.

Destination articles should mention universal concerns when they are particularly important for the location. Pickpocketing is a risk in most big cities, but notoriously bad at the most crowded venues in Rome. Likewise, fine dining is expensive everywhere, but visitors to Norway should really check out the price tag before ordering.