Wikipedia:Dispute resolution noticeboard/Volunteering

This is an informal guide. It is not a Wikipedia policy, and it is not binding in any way.

Hello, and thank you for showing an interest at the dispute resolution noticeboard. This is a guide for people who are thinking of volunteering to help resolve disputes as neutral third parties. While there are no formal requirements for helping and you should feel free to participate right away, by listing your name as a volunteer you become an important part of the Dispute Resolution process. It is often better in disputes to have many different opinions and your input is greatly encouraged. You do not have to be a listed volunteer to help on a dispute. Any editor may add their input. Don't be afraid if there is already another comment on a dispute; go ahead and give your two cents.

First steps

Add your name to the list of volunteers below. This important first step allows the bot to recognize you as a volunteer. This separates you from participants in the dispute so that the first comment by an editor on the list will activate the bots function and automatically open the filing. This will help the bot keep track of discussions. Feel free to state if any sort of dispute interests you more than others.

Add Template:DRN case status to your watchlist so you can keep track of the disputes. This page keeps a listing of all cases currently at DRN, and is updated by a robot every half-hour. It sorts cases by age, and lists the amount of time since a volunteer edited a thread, and the current status of a dispute. It's best to look at the older disputes first where possible, but feel free to start with a thread that interests you or doesn't look too complex.

Review the techniques that can be used to resolve disputes in a variety of different situations. They're listed below.

This user assists at the dispute resolution noticeboard.

Consider adding this to your User page

Consider putting the {{User DRN}} userbox on your user page

Consider adding yourself to the DRN category by placing Category:Wikipedians who assist at the dispute resolution noticeboard on your user page.

Helping with a particular case

OPENING A CASE FILING - If you are the first volunteer to post a comment in the Discussion section, that will cause the case filing to open.

Anyone can volunteer with a DRN case: you don't need to pass a test or have any experience. To find a case, you should review the cases listed at the Dispute Resolution Noticeboard. Locate a case that you are willing to help with. If the case is already open, you can simply post a comment in the "Discussion" section of the case.

Case status

The state of each case is indicated by a rectangular status box at the top of the case. The bot will maintain the status on all but three, which require a volunteer to manually do so (see "Closing a dispute filing" below). The status boxes include the following:

– This request is unassessed.	This marks a new case that needs a volunteer. You do not normally need to manually set this case status (the form wizard will do that automatically when the filing is posted. However, a volunteer can add or re-add this status manually if needed). Before opening a case, read over the parties' opening comments and the article talk page. Assess the situation. Make recommendations on how to resolve the dispute based on the suggestions below.
– This request is receiving the attention of a volunteer.	This marks a discussion that has been opened by a volunteer. DRN works best when multiple editors provide input, so feel free to add a comment even though another volunteer has already commented.
- This request will be archived because it is resolved.	This marks a discussion that was resolved successfully and has been closed. If you feel a case has been resolved, ask the parties if they agree with the resolution. You can also ask for guidance on the DRN talk page. To mark a case "resolved", change the status at the top of the case to `{{DR case status\|resolved}}` and post an explanation at the bottom of the discussion. Any volunteer can mark a case resolved (it does not have to be the same editor that opened the case).
– This request has been closed and no resolution has been reached.	This marks a discussion that was not resolved successfully and has been closed because of inactivity. This may be that the participants couldn't come to a consensus on the issues that were being discussed. The participating editors may have requested that the case should be closed. Dispute resolution was attempted, but the process was not successful. To mark a case as "failed", change the status at the top of the case to `{{DR case status\|failed}}` and post an explanation at the bottom of the discussion.
– This request has been closed and will be archived.	This marks a discussion that has been closed, because the discussion is unsuitable for DRN. This may be that the issues are too complex, that prior discussion has yet to occur, or that another forum like WP:MEDCOM is more appropriate. If you think that any of these are the case, ask a few questions on the thread to see if others agree. Feel free to ask on the DRN talk page too. To close the discussion, change the status at the top of the thread to `{{DR case status\|closed}}` and leave a comment at the bottom of the discussion.
– This request has been inactive for some time.	This marks a discussion that has been opened, but hasn't been commented on by anyone in a day. The noticeboard can clog up with cases if inactive threads are left open. If you see a dispute that's marked as stale, read over the discussion: the dispute may be resolved but hasn't been closed. Otherwise, leave a comment on the thread asking if it still needs assistance.
– This request requires a volunteer's attention.	This marks a discussion that has been opened, but needs assistance from a volunteer.Sometimes a thread gets forgotten, and the participants will continue discussion without the assistance of a volunteer. If the bot notices such a situation, it will flag the thread for attention. It's advisable to ask the participants to hold off discussing the issue any further until you've had time to review the thread and given suggestions based on the situation.

CLOSING A DISPUTE FILING - Once a case has been determined to have ended by a volunteer it requires a manual close. Of the three current options, please determine closing as one of the following:

Pale green colored status as "resolved"= {{DR case status|resolved}}

Coral colored status as "failed" = {{DR case status|failed}}

Light grey colored status as "unsuitable" = {{DR case status|closed}}

To close the filing, edit the DR/N case section by replacing the current status with the one selected. You will also need to collapse the case by using the "DR/N archive top" template (along with the bottom template added to the very bottom of the discussion). To do this you must replace the archiving date under the status (you will see this next to a hidden text  pointing it out to be replaced). Use {{DRN archive top|reason=Put your closing comments here. ~~~~}} in place of the archiving date and add you comments where shown in the template. Add {{DRN archive bottom}} at the very bottom and click "Show Preview" to be sure no mistakes were made. If everything looks good click "Save page".

Advice and encouragement

Here are some things to bear in mind when commenting on a DRN case:

Your mere participation in a dispute can help calm the situation
Questions are one of your greatest tools. They refocus the discussion away from conduct and back towards content.
Summarize the situation back to the participants in your own words, and ask any follow-up questions if you need clarification.
Editors who discuss disputes at this board may be distressed and frustrated. Try to use language that calms down disputes, rather than language that escalates them.
Pay attention to disputant's comments: the core of the dispute may hide between the lines or behind the language and implications.
Try to break down a dispute into smaller chunks, and reach a consensus the issues one by one, starting with the least contentious issues first, and moving onto the more difficult ones later. Parties will sometimes be more open to compromise on larger issues if they've worked together on the little ones.
Keep your answers focused on Wikipedia policy and how it affects the dispute. Disputes can often be solved by gently clarifying policies to editors who haven't yet fully grasped their intricacies.
Address the content issues that editors are disputing before addressing conduct. When editors realize that their content issues are being dealt with thoughtfully and respectfully, conduct issues often disappear.
This noticeboard is a gateway into Wikipedia's dispute resolution system; we don't have to solve every dispute here. If there is a better venue for a dispute, then suggest it.
There needs to be discussion on a talk page about a dispute before it can be brought here. If there hasn't been any discussion, point this out politely to the participants, and close the thread.
If there's an improperly filed thread, don't just close it: try to fix it and help the editor because they may not be familiar with the dispute resolution noticeboard.
You'll make mistakes, and that's OK: we learn to turn mistakes into triumphs. Any mistake you make can be remedied.
Avoid posting comments in the Discussion section until all parties have submitted opening statements. There are situations were such comments are appropriate, such as welcoming statements and procedural notes; or after it becomes apparent that a party will not respond; or comments from editors familiar with the case who won't have another opportunity to provide input.

For additional guidance, post an inquiry at the Dispute Resolution Noticeboard talk page. Also, some additional ideas can be found here.

List of the DRN volunteers

Shortcut

WP:DRVOLUNTEERS

If you volunteer at the noticeboard, even if only for a short period of time, add yourself to the list of volunteers below (it will help the bot who maintains DRN). You can also add the {{User DRN}} userbox to your user page, or alternatively add Category:Wikipedians who assist at the dispute resolution noticeboard to your user page if userboxes aren't your thing. If you list yourself here, but find yourself involved in a dispute being filed at DR/N and wish to participate as one of the disputants, you may still comment and reply but must NOT comment until the case is opened by another volunteer. Alternatively, you may simply choose to remove yourself from the list temporarily so that your "opening comment" does not set the bot into motion to open the case as "Receiving the attention of a volunteer". Your support is very much appreciated. The list may also be used to find someone willing to help with a DRN case.