By whom

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This template indicates that a claim has been made without attributing it to anyone. Problematic language includes:

Many people say ... [by whom?]
Such-and-such has been criticized ... [by whom?]
BDSM practitioners agree ... [by whom?]

The template doesn't mean that the claim is false. It just means that "weasel words" are being used to suggest authority, without actually specifying whose authority.

For example, anyone could edit a page and make a claim such as above. But without backing it up with a reference, the wiki would soon become full of these unsubstantiated claims.

Finally, the phrasing above often leads to passive voice sentences, which are considered bad writing. (see what I did there?) For example:

It has been claimed that ... [by whom?]