Wikipedia:Mediation Cabal

This page will never be Wikipedia policy. It does not exist, There Is No Mediation Cabal. Well actually we might do, see below :-)

The Mediation Cabal has a somewhat odd form of organisation, and a quirky way of dealing with things. But problems are much easier to solve when you can laugh about them. :-) The "Cabalists" of the Mediation Cabal actually do wish to help you and this page is meant to be informational, as well as somewhat funny and (hopefully) reassuring.

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[[:|WP:TINMC]]

We are the Mediation Cabal, or maybe we're not, you never know, perhaps there is no such thing. You never know with cabals now, do you? (Well, actually, chances are that we do exist; The Mediation Cabal is intended to be the alpha implementation of the Wikipedia:Mediation (2005) informal mediation proposal).

So, what's this thing all about?

Well, we're glad you asked :-) Whereas the Mediation Committee provides "formal" mediation (officially done as per Wikipedia:Mediation), and the Arbitration Committee produces official resolutions and sanctions, we aren't at all official and are just normal Wikipedians. The job of the Mediation Cabal is basically to provide a friendly hand in resolving disputes without taking it through a formal channel.

Because we are unofficial, we don't impose sanctions on anyone or judge anyone's actions; we are just here help people cool down, provide a third-person view on the matter, be nice to people and advise on how best to bring the problem to an end. And since we don't order anyone to do anything, there is nothing to lose by bringing an argument to us, and everything to gain. We're nice and laid back - no one has to argue their case or prove anything to us.

Whereas the Mediation Committee and the Arbitration Committee "accept" or "reject" requests, we will help anyone who would like us to, so we can nip arguments in the bud before they get to a point where official intervention is necessary (unless the matter has got to the point where we can't deal with it, when we will pass it through the appropriate channels).

Basically, if you (or someone else) is engaged in a bit of a conflict with someone, things are starting to get heated (but not yet a complete nuclear meltdown), or anything else which you think a gentle hand might help with - follow the instructions below to place a request, and a friendly cabalist will be sent to your rescue.

How does making a request to the cabal work?

Making a request for assistance

Step

What to do

I - Insert Template

Click this link and add the following to the bottom of the section:

{{subst:tinmc1 | title=PageName}}

where PageName is the name of the page or pages that the dispute requiring mediation involves. (If this isn't appropriate, just use a title that adequately describes the problem). Click Save Page.

II - Write Request

Click this link again. You will now see that the tag you entered has been replaced with a blank request. Fill out the questions so that we can help you with your problem. Detailed answers are more useful to us than short ones, but this isn't a writing contest and book submissions are not necessary! :-) You can also write other things that aren't on the template if you like. Click Save Page when you are finished.

III - Mediation

One of our fine cabalists will contact you via the method that you specified in order to find out more information about the dispute and agree with you what to do about it. Please note that we all have day jobs, and consequently it might take a little time before we get 'round to speaking to you :-) The cabalist assigned to your request will contact the other parties involved and mediate as appropriate and according to what you requested, working with all people concerned in order to resolve the dispute.

Communicating with the cabal in private

If you would prefer to ask the cabal to help you in private, or have matters relating to a mediation that you think would be best kept between yourself and the cabal, you can contact us in the following ways:

Find us on the #wikipedia IRC channel on Freenode (just ask for Nicholas Turnbull, Kim Bruning or Kelly Martin)
E-mail Nicholas Turnbull: nicholas (dot) turnbull (at) gmail (dot) com (removing address munging).
Kelly Martin can also be contacted by email or instant messenger; her contact methods are listed on her user page.

Tips when making a request

You're probably posting here to try and get someone to Not Be Angry At You. It helps to try to put things in as neutral terms as possible here, and make it possible to contact you by e-mail or Internet Relay Chat (IRC), that way the other person is less likely to feel hurt. :-)

The Cabalists

There is no mediation cabal, and the following people are members of the cabal that doesn't exist: (just kidding!)

Note to aspiring cabalists: This cabal is exceptionally easy to join, if you wish to help out with our effort to provide informal mediation - just add your name to the list above, and we would be honoured to have you on board.

Send for the Cabal! Requests for cabal mediation

(many, many pages (mostly involving the Teen Titans (animated series) or Invader Zim)

Who's involved?: User:Angie Y.

What's going on?: An apparently well-meaning n00b, she likes to add references to her own fanfiction to articles, and likes to create dozens of articles about minor characters from tv shows, then expand them with useless trivia in an attempt to avoid merging a la WP:FICT. Despite several comments by several people on her talk page, she shows no sign of slowing down on any fronts. Between all the reverting of her edits I've been doing and all the merging I'm going to need to do, I'm almost to the point of tearing my hair out. I've been unable to do any work of my own, and she simply refuses to see any point of view except her own (once commenting that an article should not be deleted because, "I wrote it myself").

What would you like to change about that?: I have no quarrel with the user personally, just her edits. User is clearly well meaning, would just like her to acknowledge wikipedia's policies and community consensus as well as WP:FICT, and understand what kind of material belongs in an article (and what article things belong in). Mainly, the thing that needs to happen first and foremost is there needs to be SOME sort of acknowledgement on her part that there ARE issues, instead of her just continuing to do as she pleases.

If you'd prefer we work discreetly, how can we reach you?: My talk page or IRC is fine. --InShaneee 21:10, 25 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Mediator Response

Left a note on InShaneee's talk page and we will go from there. Inter\^Echo 15:04, 11 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Mediation is now underway. Inter\^Echo 10:39, 16 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

This case is solved for the time being. TheoClarke has agreed to mentor Angie. Inter\^Echo 13:53, 31 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

User:Fenice on Wikipedia talk:Infobox standardisation (as well as forks, VFD pages, user talk pages, etc.)

Who's involved?: User:Fenice

What's going on?: I think User:Fenice is totally on tilt over this Infobox thing. On some pages, he (she? I dunno, gonna go with male for the time being) alternates between arguing stridently against standardizing infoboxes, and sarcastically exagerrating on Wikipedia talk:Infobox standardisation.; The dialogue in Wikipedia talk:Infobox standardisation is a trainwreck and Fenice's exagerrated, unsigned comments aren't helping Plus, I'm starting to worry that Fenice is losing perspective, to the point of attacking me for pushing POV when I was arguing for the POV that Fenice seems to hold.; I don't bear any ill will toward Fenice, despite the baffling comments on my talk page; instead I'd rather see him/her helped to calm down and get some perspective.

What would you like to change about that?: Well, I'd like someone to help Fenice calm down and start contributing in good faith, instead of muddying things and attacking everyone who disagrees even on trivial technical points, like the role of VFD as it pertains to proposed policies.; So far, everything I've suggested has been taken as an attack or a push of a POV I don't hold, so I'm at a loss.

If you'd prefer we work discreetly, how can we reach you?: Well, talk comments would be fine, but you can always hit my talk page and leave a note scheduling a meeting on IRC. - A Man In Black (Talk | Contribs) 13:10, 16 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Mediator response

It would seem that Fenice has left Wikipedia. Kelly Martin 22:22, August 16, 2005 (UTC)

That's a shame. I was hoping it wouldn't come to someone storming off. - A Man In Black (Talk | Contribs) 23:15, 16 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Template Test

Mediation requested by: (sign below); ...

Who's involved?: ...

What's going on?: ...

What would you like to change about that?: ...

If you'd prefer we work discreetly, how can we reach you?: ...

Mediator(s) assigned: