Wikipedia:Wikipediology/library/AMA/FAQ

When does one need an advocate?

Advocates can be called upon to provide one with a better understanding of the Wikipedia:dispute resolution process at any stage of a controversy, or really just for a clarification. As we are members involved with disputes if you have any issues with the process itself we would be interested in hearing from you (for this purpose you may choose to get in touch with the Coordinator) or you may feel you are in a dispute and not know what to do. You don't really need to discuss the dispute here, just put a short note on the request for assistance page and tell us that you want to be contacted by an advocate, or review the members statements and contact that member directly on their talk page. If the member is involved with someone else that is on the other side of your particular dispute they may not be able to help you, and if you have difficulty finding an advocate please contact the Coordinator who is there for such situations to try and get some of the members interested.

How does one choose an advocate?

The Association of Members' Advocates is an informal association that endeavors to allow Wikipedians of all kinds and persuasions to interact with the members of the AMA in an open and collegial atmosphere. It is not improper to ask an individual advocate if they wish to help, either privately or as an "official representant" of the member. Should the advocate feel, in their own discretionary opinion, that another advocate would be better suited to handle a particular case, or if their own time constraints or other cases do not permit then the advocate can refer the individual to the informal coordination of the Association.

What do I do if I do not know an advocate?

If an applicant does not know any of the member advocates they may also direct their request directly to the Association (either through the coordinator if someone is currently acting in that capacity, or by making a request on the requests for assistance page.) The coordinator or an AMA member who becomes aware of the request may contact any or all of the advocates as he/she sees fit to discuss the matter. All information that is received by the advocates in the duties of their office shall remain confidential and may not be disclosed by the Advocates to any third parties. This is one of the fundamental ethical principles upon which the association is founded.

What is the relationship between advocates

If there are advocates representing both or multiple sides of a dispute those Advocates shall only communicate with consulting advocates as appointed by the AMA so as to create a Chinese wall between the differing sides of the dispute. When advocates communicate with each other on differing sides of a dispute they do so in an adversarial manner much as in other forms of advocacy as are found in the legal profession, for example. Obviously advocates are only members of the AMA as an association not a business concern and members of the AMA are not otherwise in contact with each other and keep information that they receive from disputants confidential if necessary.

Can an advocate resign from representing me?

While the relationship between an Advocate and a Disputant is a purely voluntary one the Advocate should not do anything that would further jeopardize their Disputant's position. There may be situations unrelated to the representation that require the Advocate to resign. In such a situation it is suggested that the Advocate make inquiries amongst the other members of the association to see if someone else can continue the case. The Advocate may be faced with a situation where they can no longer represent the Disputant (i.e. the Disputant does not cooperate with the Advocate or expresses concern over the Advocate's ability to continue the representation). In these situations, absent any kind of compromise between the Advocate and the Disputant they are trying to represent the Disputant should understand the need for the Advocate to withdraw. In difficult situations a voluntary group of members of the AMA may convene to discuss the problem and review the situation and give the AMA member and their dispute a non-binding advisory opinion about the situation (such opinion would not be an official opinion of the AMA). As well, if the relationship between a Disputant and their Advocate needs mediation there may be a member of the AMA that might be willing to help mediate the difficulties between the parties in a confidential private forum.

If an advocate does anything improper is there any sanction?

...to be continued...

Do the advocates have any special training?

Hopefully there will be training sessions for Advocates in the future. At this time, Advocates are encouraged to be frank in communicating their abilities to represent an individual in such an informal community setting such as mediation and arbitration.

I am grateful for what AMA has done for me, can I help?

You can make a donation to Wikimedia or volunteer in some fashion that helps the Wikipedian community. There are many ways to get involved; you might even want to start your own voluntary association in Wikipedia around some issue or concern that you have. We are a virtual community, anything is possible, just remember "If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, then do not submit it."