diff --git a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java
index ad576d00b..6ab848c50 100644
--- a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java
+++ b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java
@@ -97,6 +97,38 @@ import org.minidns.dnsname.DnsName;
 import org.xmlpull.v1.XmlPullParser;
 
 
+/**
+ * This abstract class is commonly used as super class for XMPP connection mechanisms like TCP and BOSH. Hence it
+ * provides the methods for connection state management, like {@link #connect()}, {@link #login()} and
+ * {@link #disconnect()} (which are deliberately not provided by the {@link XMPPConnection} interface).
+ * <p>
+ * <b>Note:</b> The default entry point to Smack's documentation is {@link XMPPConnection}. If you are getting started
+ * with Smack, then head over to {@link XMPPConnection} and the come back here.
+ * </p>
+ * <h2>Parsing Exceptions</h2>
+ * <p>
+ * In case a Smack parser (Provider) throws those exceptions are handled over to the {@link ParsingExceptionCallback}. A
+ * common cause for a provider throwing is illegal input, for example a non-numeric String where only Integers are
+ * allowed. Smack's <em>default behavior</em> follows the <b>"fail-hard per default"</b> principle leading to a
+ * termination of the connection on parsing exceptions. This default was chosen to make users eventually aware that they
+ * should configure their own callback and handle those exceptions to prevent the disconnect. Handle a parsing exception
+ * could be as simple as using a non-throwing no-op callback, which would cause the faulty stream element to be taken
+ * out of the stream, i.e., Smack behaves like that element was never received.
+ * </p>
+ * <p>
+ * If the parsing exception is because Smack received illegal input, then please consider informing the authors of the
+ * originating entity about that. If it was thrown because of an bug in a Smack parser, then please consider filling a
+ * bug with Smack.
+ * </p>
+ * <h3>Managing the parsing exception callback</h3>
+ * <p>
+ * The "fail-hard per default" behavior is achieved by using the
+ * {@link org.jivesoftware.smack.parsing.ExceptionThrowingCallbackWithHint} as default parsing exception callback. You
+ * can change the behavior using {@link #setParsingExceptionCallback(ParsingExceptionCallback)} to set a new callback.
+ * Use {@link org.jivesoftware.smack.SmackConfiguration#setDefaultParsingExceptionCallback(ParsingExceptionCallback)} to
+ * set the default callback.
+ * </p>
+ */
 public abstract class AbstractXMPPConnection implements XMPPConnection {
     private static final Logger LOGGER = Logger.getLogger(AbstractXMPPConnection.class.getName());
 
diff --git a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/SmackConfiguration.java b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/SmackConfiguration.java
index 4b99bc20f..01f2995a4 100644
--- a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/SmackConfiguration.java
+++ b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/SmackConfiguration.java
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import javax.net.ssl.HostnameVerifier;
 import org.jivesoftware.smack.compression.XMPPInputOutputStream;
 import org.jivesoftware.smack.debugger.ReflectionDebuggerFactory;
 import org.jivesoftware.smack.debugger.SmackDebuggerFactory;
-import org.jivesoftware.smack.parsing.ExceptionThrowingCallback;
+import org.jivesoftware.smack.parsing.ExceptionThrowingCallbackWithHint;
 import org.jivesoftware.smack.parsing.ParsingExceptionCallback;
 import org.jivesoftware.smack.util.Objects;
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public final class SmackConfiguration {
      * The default parsing exception callback is {@link ExceptionThrowingCallback} which will
      * throw an exception and therefore disconnect the active connection.
      */
-    private static ParsingExceptionCallback defaultCallback = new ExceptionThrowingCallback();
+    private static ParsingExceptionCallback defaultCallback = new ExceptionThrowingCallbackWithHint();
 
     private static HostnameVerifier defaultHostnameVerififer;
 
diff --git a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/parsing/ExceptionThrowingCallbackWithHint.java b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/parsing/ExceptionThrowingCallbackWithHint.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..299b21242
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/parsing/ExceptionThrowingCallbackWithHint.java
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+/**
+ *
+ * Copyright 2018 Florian Schmaus.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.jivesoftware.smack.parsing;
+
+import java.util.logging.Logger;
+
+import org.jivesoftware.smack.UnparseableStanza;
+
+/**
+ * Like {@link ExceptionThrowingCallback} but additionally logs a warning message.
+ *
+ * @author Florian Schmaus
+ *
+ */
+public class ExceptionThrowingCallbackWithHint extends ExceptionThrowingCallback {
+
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = Logger.getLogger(ExceptionThrowingCallbackWithHint.class.getName());
+
+    @Override
+    public void handleUnparsableStanza(UnparseableStanza packetData) throws Exception {
+        LOGGER.warning("Parsing exception encountered."
+                        + " This exception will be re-thrown, leading to a disconnect."
+                        + " You can change this behavior by setting a different ParsingExceptionCallback using setParsingExceptionCallback()."
+                        + " More information an be found in AbstractXMPPConnection's javadoc.");
+
+        super.handleUnparsableStanza(packetData);
+    }
+}