Wikipedia:Mediation Committee

The Mediation Committee is currently backlogged with requests, due to a shortage of available mediators and an increased number of requests. New requests will be accepted and assigned as mediators become available. Parties should be aware that there may be a significant delay in having a mediator assigned. Individuals interested in joining the committee should see the Committee page.

For an introduction to mediation, see Wikipedia:Mediation

The Wikipedia mediation committee was set up in January 2004 to assist in resolving disputes between users. It is part of the dispute resolution process on Wikipedia.

If mediation fails, the dispute will normally be referred to the Arbitration Committee for binding resolution. The role of the mediation committee is explicitly to try to resolve disputes to the mutual satisfaction of all, and not simply a first step towards banning or for vetting candidates for the Arbitration Committee to ban. Mediation is instead an honest attempt to resolve the problem. The parties in dispute should understand that any concerns they have will be given a fair hearing.

The specific ways in which this committee serves the community is continuously developing, as the work proceeds and the needs of the community change.

Members of the Mediation Committee

 For details on each member and for mediators emeriti, see here.

1. Mdann52 (talk · contribs · email)
2. Sunray (talk · contribs · email)
3. The Wordsmith (talk · contribs · email)
4. TransporterMan (talk · contribs · email)

   ↳ Chairperson: Sept 2014 – current.

5. WGFinley (talk · contribs · email)

   ↳ Not actively mediating.

6. Guanaco (talk · contribs · email)

Active but temporarily away

1. Keilana (talk · contribs · email)

Inactive

• Anthere - anthere9 AT yahoo.com - unlikely to have time to mediate while on the board, but still interested of course.
• Bcorr - Bcorr AT umich dot edu
• ClockworkSoul - clockworksoul AT optonline D0T net - Unable to take the time to take cases right now, but available for policy discussion.
• Dante Alighieri dalighieri "at" digitalgrapefruit "dot" com - on sabbatical as of Nov 16, 2004
• Danny 20:53, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC) - daniwo50 AT aol DOT com
• Guanaco - Email
• MacGyverMagic - Still available for reform discussions.
• TUF-KAT - tucci528 AT yahoo.com

Former members

• Alex756 (as an informal advisor)
• Ambi - elected to the Arbitration Committee in December 2004
• Angela - I don't currently have time to take on long cases though am still willing to do short term mediations on IRC.
• Catherine - I am able to contribute more to Wikipedia in other areas
• Cimon 08:03, Jun 9, 2005 (UTC) - resigned
• Ed Poor - Resigned, December 2005
• Grunt - elected to the Arbitration Committee in December 2004
• Jwrosenzweig - my username (which appears to the left) @yahoo.com - making sense of his own life before he tries to mediate the lives of others
• Ldan - Left Wikipedia
• llywrch - Geoff Burling - llywrch AT agora.rdrop.com - resigned
• moink - resigned
• Neutrality - elected to the Arbitration Committee in December 2004
• Redwolf24 - resigned, 07:25, 10 February 2006 (UTC)
• Sam Korn - elected to the Arbitration Committee in January 2006.
• sannse - elected to the Arbitration Committee in December 2004
• Vancouverguy - Left Wikipedia

The first "Wikiquette committee" members were appointed by Jimbo Wales in December 2003.[1] VancouverGuy was also appointed, and Alex756 agreed to be the committee's advisor, but Vancouverguy later left Wikipedia, Alex756 started the Association of Members' Advocates. Ldan has likewise been inactive on Wikipedia.

Who is the chair?

User:Essjay is the elected chairman as of February, 2006.

The role of the chair, or co-chair, is one of coordination and facilitation, not of supervision. The role does not imply hierarchy or authority within the committee but allows a sufficient degree of formality so that we have a way of saying "Here's the outcome of the mediation". Appointment to the chair position is rotating every few months. Any member of the committee can apply to be co-chair, and will have to be approved by the other members.

All mediators can participate in any committee-related tasks, not only the chairs. Mediators are independent in their choice of whose case to mediate, and how to mediate. Typical roles of the chairs include ensuring that mediators are trained and standards upheld, that mediation requests are answered and that everyone is consulted on important decisions. They may also act as spokesperson for the committee for formal announcements (for example, to announce the failure of a major mediation and the transfer of the case to arbitration).

Former chairs have been Redwolf24, User:MacGyverMagic, Jwrosenzweig, Bcorr, Danny, TUF-KAT and sannse.

How does one become a member of the committee?

1. Read through the Wikipedia:Mediation pages and familiarize yourself with the procedure of mediation to see if it is something you would like to do.
2. Add your name in the nominations section below, at the bottom please.
3. There is no strict voting procedure, but other users may comment on the nomination if they wish.
4. A user shall become a mediator after an unspecified period of time as long as there is no opposition from the Mediation Committee, no veto from Jimbo, and general agreement from the community.

Once accepted, the mediator is welcome to join the mediation mailing list.

Nominations for mediator

Old nominations are archived at Wikipedia:Mediation Committee/Old nominations.

• To add a nomination, use {{subst:medcom-nom|username=MediatorWannabe|comment=I want to be a mediator because... ~~~~}}
• Currently unassigned mediation requests can be found at: Wikipedia:Requests for mediation/Open Tasks. Applicants are encouraged to select an unassigned mediation and volunteer to mediate for it; this allows the committee to review the candidate's performance, and provides the candidate an opportunity to experience mediation firsthand.

Drini

Drini (talk • contribs) I want to contribute to improve the atmosphere of wikipedia. I'm known to be firm, but I try (and I believe I achieve it) to never be uncivil. Given that I keep my head cool in the midst of the heat, I'm willing to listen parties and help wikipedia with mediations -- ( drini's page ☎ ) 05:34, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

Mediation committee:

• Neutral for now, as always. Have you ever been involved in informal Wiki-mediation, and if so, where? Ral315 (talk) 06:16, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

Informally being "a meditatior", I don't think so, I'd say no, although I've been part on an RFAr already: Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Rktect/Evidence but that won't count either since I was part, not mediator. -- ( drini's page ☎ ) 07:21, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

• Comment/Suggestion: I have a proposal, it's one I've been considering for a while. I'd like to encourage all individuals who would like to join the committee to take an active request and mediate it. That will allow us to see how they do, and will allow them to see what we do. I encourage Drini to pick out one of the active mediations that does not have a mediator assigned and volunteer to mediate it. This helps us tremendously, as we are up to our ears in cases, and gives the nominee the opportunity to see firsthand what mediation is like. Essjay ^{Talk • Contact} 05:28, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

yeah, greeat suggestion. I'll follow it -- ( drini's page ☎ ) 05:36, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

Outside opinions:

Comments:

Thesocialistesq

Thesocialistesq (talk • contribs) I've been editing Wikipedia for about two years now, and i've been a member since November. I've done a very little with mediation in the past and i was rather apprehensive about nominating myself until i saw there was a shortage... Though i may not have the experience, i delight in problem-solving things like this, i have the time and i'll serve faithfully. Thesocialistesq 04:47, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

Mediation committee:

• Comment: As with Drini, above, I strongly encourage you to take an unassigned mediation (pick from the list under "To Be Assigned" on Wikipedia:Requests for mediation/Current and leave me a message that you'll take it). Essjay ^{Talk • Contact} 07:35, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

Done and done. Thesocialistesq 03:53, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

Outside opinions:

Comments:

KnowledgeOfSelf

KnowledgeOfSelf (talk • contribs) I want to be a mediator because...I'd like to join the mediation committee, based on my past experiences as a peer mediator in high school. With those experiences I believe I have the right temperament to be on the mediation committee. I have successfully mediated a dispute Wikipedia:Requests for mediation/Daredevil, and I would like to continue to help out as much as I can. KnowledgeOfSelf 11:40, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Mediation committee:

• Support without reservation. Work on Daredevil was exemplary. Essjay ^{Talk • Contact} 11:50, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

Outside opinions:

• KnowledgeOfSelf has the temperament and good will needed for this position in my opinion. His work at the above mentioned request for mediation indicates good experience in this area as well. Definitely a fine addition to the medcom. Banez 12:20, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
• I've watched KnowledgeOfSelf work as a mediator on this recent case, and seen his community interaction in general. I feel he does an excellent job of remaining calm and logical, and would be a nice addition to the medcom. pschemp | talk 16:53, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
• From my own personal experience, I know that KnowledgeOfSelf is a very kind and caring individual. He also comes across as perceptive, thougtful, and rational, great qualities for any mediator to have. I've seen his work on Daredevil, and in Wikipedia in genreal, and believe that he would be a valuable addition to MedCom.--Shanel 23:31, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
• Mr. KOS already has a good track record on mediation. If made part of the medcom, his clarity, rationality and open minded fairness will be invaluable. I also believe he will apply appropriate measures in final decisions. --Alf ^melmac 19:45, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Comments:

MyNameIsNotBob

MyNameIsNotBob (talk • contribs) I am interested in becoming a mediator as I have been doing further research in to the dispute resolution process as a result of an active dispute and noticed that there is a backlog of mediators. Since I strongly believe in wikipedia, I'd like to see if I can help out in this way. MyNameIsNotBob 07:06, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Mediation committee:

• Oppose. He's been around for nearly two years, but has less than 600 edits, with 64 to the article talkspace and 53 to the usertalk space. I'm not one for editcountitis, but I'm not convinced there is evidence of a history or ability with dispute resolution. I'd like to see some more involvement before requesting to join the committee; the MC is a position of community trust, and I'm just not sure there is enough to really have a demonstration of that trust. The candidate is welcome to take an active mediation if he would like, to demonstrate his abilities. Essjay ^{Talk • Contact} 07:11, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
• Respectfully oppose as well. I would tend to believe that mediators should be administrators, or have a good reason why they're not. I say this because that's one of the better ways to judge community trust. Ral315 (talk) 20:34, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Outside opinions:

Comments:

Some external mediation organizations

• The Association for Conflict Resolution
• US Dept. of Agriculture Mediation Program
• National Association for Community Mediation
• New York State Dispute Resolution Association
• Conflict Resolution Network Canada
• Mediate.com
• Online Journal of Peace & Conflict Resolution

See also

• Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee
• Wikipedia:Requests for mediation
• Association of Members' Advocates
• Wikipedia:Mediation Cabal