Wikipedia:Mediation Cabal

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

Follow the three steps below:

Step What to do 1. Make a link under "Send for the Cabal! Requests for cabal mediation" 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.

If you cannot edit Wikipedia

If you are currently blocked from editing Wikipedia, or you are having difficulty in using Wikipedia, you are equally welcome to request our help in resolving a dispute you're involved in. Just use one of the methods listed below under "Private contact methods" and the cabal member who processes your request will create the mediation page here on your behalf. If you are using a different method to request mediation, please answer the following questions in your communication:

• Where is the issue taking place?
• Who's involved?
• What's going on?
• What would you like to change about that?
• How can we contact you?

We will respond to your request via your indicated contact method, copying our responses to the mediation page here unless you have asked us not to.

Private contact methods

If you would prefer to communicate with someone from the Mediation Cabal in private for any reason, you can contact us via the following methods:

• You can e-mail the Coordinator, Nicholas Turnbull, at nicholas (dot) turnbull (at) gmail (dot) com (removing address munging).
• By the "e-mail this user" link in the "toolbox" sidebar to the right of a cabalist's userpage. If this link does not exist, the person does not have an e-mail address set for their account.
• Find us on the #wikipedia IRC channel on Freenode.

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

Current cabalists (mediators)

You can contact these people below if you need assistance on Wikipedia relating to the Mediation Cabal or to a specific mediation issue.

• Aranda56
• Bonaparte talk
• Cyde Weys (aspiring cabalist)
• Evilphoenix
• Fasten
• FrancisTyers (newbie)
• Izehar ^(שיחה)
• Karmafist (contact my talk page!)(note: I consider myself only semi-active here, so I apologize in advance if I can't speedily respond)
• Nicholas Turnbull
• Olorin28 (Not really active right now... though if requested I can take some cases Olorin28 21:01, 1 January 2006 (UTC))
• Rob Church
• Steven McCrary-taking no new cases, currently full SteveMc 02:25, 6 January 2006 (UTC)
• Tznkai (I blame Kim)
• Wgfinley (I'm baaaaack)

Ye Olde Cabalists

• Dan100 Cabalist Emeritus retired
• Inter Cabalist Emeritus open for requests, although may take a little time to answer
• 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

Closed Cases Archives: Volume I, Volume II

Cabalists, when updating status notes, please leave a time stamp by typing ~~~~

• 06 12 2005 Alienus and Loxley edit war over Dennett and Philosophy of the Mind - in mediation, mediator evaluation written 20:25, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

• 11 12 2005 Natalinasmpf on Communism - active 15:56, 26 December 2005 (UTC)

• 12 12 2005 Naming conventions (subnational entities) - mediation at RfC completed. karmafist 07:40, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

• 12 12 2005 Biography for Jim Hightower - still awaiting response to mediator's questions, have posted notes regarding an edit war that is happening now. Steven McCrary 14:27, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

• 14 12 2005 Down to Earth Computer Science - editors responded, case is settled, waiting until 01-07-06 for further comment, then close. SteveMc 17:29, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

• 14 12 2005 Vizcarra and User:Mailyn - mediator response given (Internal comment)

• 24 12 2005 Immortal Technique - initial approaches made 15:44, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

• 25 12 2005 King Abdullah of Jordan - in mediation, clarifications requested Dan100 (Talk) 20:59, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

• 25 12 2005 image_deletion - probing a little, to check I won't miss any underlying issue, prior to proposing a means for resolution. Rob Church ^Talk 14:04, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

• 26 12 2005 Stuyvesant High School - request for more information 15:55, 27 December 2005 (UTC); Assistance would be very greatly appreciated. --BenjaminTsai ^Talk 07:21, 31 December 2005 (UTC) Please help.. --BenjaminTsai ^Talk 16:57, 2 January 2006 (UTC) in mediation --Fasten 10:39, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

• 27 12 2005 Jehovah's Witnesses -- mediator closed prematurely, reopened following responses. SteveMc 18:29, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

• 27 12 2005 Mark K. Bilbo case closed Bonaparte talk 18:09, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

• 27 12 2005 Second Law of Thermodynamics in mediation Bonaparte talk 18:09, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

• 29 12 2005 Alpha Phi Alpha in mediation, clarifications requested -- Bonaparte talk 18:07, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

• 29 12 2005 Interstate 76 (east) in mediation with Steven McCrary 15:28, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

• 29 12 2005 Brian Chase in mediation --Fasten 15:45, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

• 1 01 2006 source inclusion in Jayendra Saraswathi in mediation --Fasten 21:53, 1 January 2006 (UTC) ^talk

• 1 01 2006 Battle of Guadalete this appears to be an edit war with an anonymous, unknown IP number, not (yet) a case for mediation. --Fasten 14:46, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

• 1 01 2006 Skull (symbolism) mediator responded, case closed. - FrancisTyers 23:58, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

• 2 01 2006 St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (Saint Louis) mediatior responded. Izehar 23:42, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

• 3 01 2006 Big_Brother_(Australian_TV_series) in mediation. - FrancisTyers 17:10, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

• 3 01 2006 Johann Sebastian Bach (dispute resolved?) Cyde Weys _vote^talk 13:55, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

• 4 01 2006 tired light yes in mediation with Steven McCrary, sorry I failed to mark before now. thanks Fasten. SteveMc 23:37, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

• 6 01 2006 Jehovah's Witnesses - New World Translation in mediation - FrancisTyers 17:37, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

• 7 01 2006 Anarchism in mediation - FrancisTyers 01:16, 7 January 2006 (UTC)