Wikipedia:Mediation Cabal

This page will never be Wikipedia policy. It is, by design, entirely informal.

The Mediation Cabal is a real initiative, set up to provide informal mediation for disputes on Wikipedia. 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.

Shortcut

[[:|WP:TINMC
WP:MEDCAB]]

Template:Medcab-infobox 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). The Mediation Cabal provides unofficial, informal mediation for disputes on Wikipedia, and is composed of volunteers who wish to assist people in resolving conflicts.

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 to 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.

Making a request for assistance

Step

What to do

1. Make a link under
"New cases"

Copy the following:

{{subst:medcab1|casename}}

click here, and paste this text at the bottom of the list. Change "casename" to a descriptive name for the case - for example, if the matter was regarding the article on United States of America, you might use {{subst:medcab1|United States of America}}. Click the "Save" button.

2. Make the request page

Copy the following:

{{subst:medcab2}}

and follow the new link that you've just created (it will be red, and be named the title you gave in the last step). You should get an edit screen. Paste this text into the edit window and click Save.

3. Fill out the request

Fill out the questions by editing the newly-created request page, so that we can help you with your problem. 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; however, please try to keep your request as concise as possible since, alas, we don't really have time to read huge essays. Click Save Page when you are finished.

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 around 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.
By the "e-mail this user" link on a cabalist's user page (if there is one)

Cabalists

Below is a list of the cabalists involved in maintaining this wiki page; please note some cabalists don't post here, but will magically rise to the call of mediation simply by having this page on their watchlists. :-)

Note to aspiring cabalists: Simply put this page on your watchlist by clicking the "watch" tab at the top of this page, and help out with anything that interests you. From time to time, you might be assigned to a particular mediation case by someone - if you don't want to take the case on, just say so at the bottom of the request and delegate it to someone else.

Coordinators

Nicholas Turnbull Leader

Current cabalists

Ye Olde Cabalists

Inter Cabalist Emeritus hiatus due to exams
Kelly Martin Cabalist Emerita on leave while serving on the Arbitration Committee
Kim Bruning Cabalist Emeritus retired

Send for the Cabal! Requests for cabal mediation

Unprocessed cases

Stage A: Initial mediator response/preliminary discussion

Stage B: Undergoing mediation

Stage C: Analysis, capitulation and agreement

Recently closed cases