Hello, and thank you for your interest in assisting with dispute resolution. The dispute resolution noticeboard (DRN) is one of the informal steps in the dispute resolution processes on the English Wikipedia. The main purpose of DRN is to resolve content-oriented disputes between editors. Resolutions obtained at DRN are not formally binding, but are often found to be a useful point of reference for subsequent discussions and actions on the disputed article.
This page is a guide for volunteers who want to assist in dispute resolution at DRN. There are no formal requirements so feel free to begin your participation right away as any editor may comment on any discussion. You are not required to add your name to the list of DRN volunteers before commenting at a dispute, but adding your name to the list below is recommended and helpful for the DRN bot that monitors the status of each case.
If you don't want to commit to being the volunteer of a specific case, you can help at DRN by adding comments to a case or participating at the DRN Talk page. Additionally, one may assist with maintenance tasks such as making sure all parties in the dispute have been notified on their talk page. More experienced users may also make procedural closings, attend to formatting repairs and correct page links and user names.
{{subst:Template:DRN-notice}}
.The filing party is responsible for notifying all participants on their user talk page but the filing party may need to be reminded. Additional reminders may be needed as the case progresses. To remind participants that a DRN case needs their input, post the {{ DRN participation ping}} template on their user talk page as follows:
== DRN case reminder ==
{{subst:DRN participation ping}}
Refer to the DRN participation ping template page for options and details.
As a volunteer, your role is to assist the participants in obtaining a mutually satisfactory resolution of their underlying content dispute. Some suggestions:
In contentious disputes, establishing ground rules may help structure the discussion. Such ground rules might include:
Volunteers should close their cases when they have concluded. A case may be closed as 'resolved' or 'failed' (or 'closed' when there is no clear outcome). To close a case, first set the case status to either "resolved" or "failed" or "closed" within the {{ DR case status}} template. Second, collapse the entire case by enclosing it in an archive box with a comment explaining the reasons for the closure. Example:
== History of Russia case ==
{{DR case status|closed}}
{{DRN archive top|reason=Reason for closing. ~~~~}}
{{drn filing editor|Wiki-editor|00:00, 0 August 2013 (UTC)}}
Filing request and discussion.
{{DRN archive bottom}}
There are three ways to close a case: "resolved", "failed" and "closed". It is also important to remove the <!-- [[User:DoNotArchiveUntil]] 12:00, 1 January 2018 (UTC) -->{{User:ClueBot III/DoNotArchiveUntil|0123456789}}
line when closing a thread so that the bot can archive the closed discussion.
When all involved parties have agreed on a resolution in an unambiguous manner, the case filing may be closed and the DRN case status template changed to "resolved":
{{DR case status|resolved}}
The case status bar should then look like this:
If it becomes apparent that resolution is not possible at this time, mark the case status as "failed". Advise the parties to continue discussing the issue in the article talk page, and/or pursue other methods of dispute resolution such as Request for Comment or WP:ANI. To close a case as "failed" set the DRN case status template as follows:
{{DR case status|failed}}
The case status bar will look like this after closed:
Some cases never reach a clear degree of success or failure and may qualify for a 'general' close. For example the involved parties may lose interest during the dispute resolution process etc. In some instances a case may need to be closed preemptively even before a DRN volunteer accepts the case for discussion. Reasons for a preemptive close may include:
To close a case, edit the DRN case section and place the word "closed" in the case status template, and archive the case with the {{ DRN archive top}} template, as shown in this example:
== Moon landing conspiracy case==
{{DR case status|closed}}
{{DRN archive top|reason=The parties have not had extensive discussion of the issue on a talk page. ~~~~}}
{{drn filing editor|Wiki-editor|00:00, 0 August 2013 (UTC)}}
Filing request and discussion.
{{DRN archive bottom}}
After closing the case status box will look like this:
In closing cases that are not ready for dispute resolution here, volunteers should consider whether the requesting editor is very new and would benefit from some instruction as to the ways of Wikipedia. Volunteers should consider whether we need to try to explain to new editors what talk pages are for and guide them to the relevant areas for discussion.
Awards are available for faithful and meritorious service, and one award is also available to give to participants in a dispute who deserve special praise. See the award page for details. Volunteers are encouraged to distribute awards to those who deserve them.
While serving as a volunteer at DRN, the following templates may be useful:
Full DRN status details
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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. The parameter can be used in {{ DR case status|parameter}} to change the status of a dispute:
stale and inactive are deprecated parameter per Wikipedia talk:Dispute resolution noticeboard/Archive 17#DRN_Case Status Template updating now mapping to needassist, and should not be used on active cases. |
If you volunteer at the noticeboard, even if only for a short period of time, add yourself to the list of volunteers below. This list helps the DRN bot do its job. The list may also be used by editors to find someone willing to help with a DRN case or other dispute resolution issues. If you list your name here, please do so with the intention of taking a case (and seeing it through) or helping with administrative chores here at least one time per calendar month unless you are new to dispute resolution and are indicating that you wish to help here after observing for a month or two.
If you later choose not to participate, please remove your name from this list.
In addition to the adding your name to the list, consider adding the {{ User DRN}} userbox to your user page, or including yourself in Category:Wikipedians who assist at the dispute resolution noticeboard.
If you list yourself here, and later become a party to a DRN case, please specify that you are participating solely as an involved party and not in you usual role of DRN volunteer. This may be done either in your response section of the case filing, and/or in the discussion section of the case filing.
In order to determine the number of current potentially active volunteers, this list may be purged from time to time (but not more often than one time per six months) by any regularly active volunteer calling a roll call and removing the editors who do not respond to that call. A copy of the volunteer list immediately prior to the purge may either be found in the page history here or on the roll calls page. Individuals whose names are removed should feel free to re-add their names to the list, but are requested not to do so unless they are willing to take part in handling cases or assisting in administration at least one time per month. No one is going to be monitoring to see if you live up to that commitment, but we do respectfully ask that you either live up to it or remove your name from the list.
To volunteer, please add your name by copying and pasting # {{User|CrafterNova}}
in the most alphabetically appropriate location below.
Your support is very much appreciated.
Editors who have been active for about the last month (last updated 12 Jan 2024 - feel free to update).
Volunteers who are learning the ropes about the dispute resolution process in this noticeboard. Feel free to move your name to the active section when you feel ready.
Editors who have been inactive for a year (last updated 12 January 2024 - feel free to update).
Hello, and thank you for your interest in assisting with dispute resolution. The dispute resolution noticeboard (DRN) is one of the informal steps in the dispute resolution processes on the English Wikipedia. The main purpose of DRN is to resolve content-oriented disputes between editors. Resolutions obtained at DRN are not formally binding, but are often found to be a useful point of reference for subsequent discussions and actions on the disputed article.
This page is a guide for volunteers who want to assist in dispute resolution at DRN. There are no formal requirements so feel free to begin your participation right away as any editor may comment on any discussion. You are not required to add your name to the list of DRN volunteers before commenting at a dispute, but adding your name to the list below is recommended and helpful for the DRN bot that monitors the status of each case.
If you don't want to commit to being the volunteer of a specific case, you can help at DRN by adding comments to a case or participating at the DRN Talk page. Additionally, one may assist with maintenance tasks such as making sure all parties in the dispute have been notified on their talk page. More experienced users may also make procedural closings, attend to formatting repairs and correct page links and user names.
{{subst:Template:DRN-notice}}
.The filing party is responsible for notifying all participants on their user talk page but the filing party may need to be reminded. Additional reminders may be needed as the case progresses. To remind participants that a DRN case needs their input, post the {{ DRN participation ping}} template on their user talk page as follows:
== DRN case reminder ==
{{subst:DRN participation ping}}
Refer to the DRN participation ping template page for options and details.
As a volunteer, your role is to assist the participants in obtaining a mutually satisfactory resolution of their underlying content dispute. Some suggestions:
In contentious disputes, establishing ground rules may help structure the discussion. Such ground rules might include:
Volunteers should close their cases when they have concluded. A case may be closed as 'resolved' or 'failed' (or 'closed' when there is no clear outcome). To close a case, first set the case status to either "resolved" or "failed" or "closed" within the {{ DR case status}} template. Second, collapse the entire case by enclosing it in an archive box with a comment explaining the reasons for the closure. Example:
== History of Russia case ==
{{DR case status|closed}}
{{DRN archive top|reason=Reason for closing. ~~~~}}
{{drn filing editor|Wiki-editor|00:00, 0 August 2013 (UTC)}}
Filing request and discussion.
{{DRN archive bottom}}
There are three ways to close a case: "resolved", "failed" and "closed". It is also important to remove the <!-- [[User:DoNotArchiveUntil]] 12:00, 1 January 2018 (UTC) -->{{User:ClueBot III/DoNotArchiveUntil|0123456789}}
line when closing a thread so that the bot can archive the closed discussion.
When all involved parties have agreed on a resolution in an unambiguous manner, the case filing may be closed and the DRN case status template changed to "resolved":
{{DR case status|resolved}}
The case status bar should then look like this:
If it becomes apparent that resolution is not possible at this time, mark the case status as "failed". Advise the parties to continue discussing the issue in the article talk page, and/or pursue other methods of dispute resolution such as Request for Comment or WP:ANI. To close a case as "failed" set the DRN case status template as follows:
{{DR case status|failed}}
The case status bar will look like this after closed:
Some cases never reach a clear degree of success or failure and may qualify for a 'general' close. For example the involved parties may lose interest during the dispute resolution process etc. In some instances a case may need to be closed preemptively even before a DRN volunteer accepts the case for discussion. Reasons for a preemptive close may include:
To close a case, edit the DRN case section and place the word "closed" in the case status template, and archive the case with the {{ DRN archive top}} template, as shown in this example:
== Moon landing conspiracy case==
{{DR case status|closed}}
{{DRN archive top|reason=The parties have not had extensive discussion of the issue on a talk page. ~~~~}}
{{drn filing editor|Wiki-editor|00:00, 0 August 2013 (UTC)}}
Filing request and discussion.
{{DRN archive bottom}}
After closing the case status box will look like this:
In closing cases that are not ready for dispute resolution here, volunteers should consider whether the requesting editor is very new and would benefit from some instruction as to the ways of Wikipedia. Volunteers should consider whether we need to try to explain to new editors what talk pages are for and guide them to the relevant areas for discussion.
Awards are available for faithful and meritorious service, and one award is also available to give to participants in a dispute who deserve special praise. See the award page for details. Volunteers are encouraged to distribute awards to those who deserve them.
While serving as a volunteer at DRN, the following templates may be useful:
Full DRN status details
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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. The parameter can be used in {{ DR case status|parameter}} to change the status of a dispute:
stale and inactive are deprecated parameter per Wikipedia talk:Dispute resolution noticeboard/Archive 17#DRN_Case Status Template updating now mapping to needassist, and should not be used on active cases. |
If you volunteer at the noticeboard, even if only for a short period of time, add yourself to the list of volunteers below. This list helps the DRN bot do its job. The list may also be used by editors to find someone willing to help with a DRN case or other dispute resolution issues. If you list your name here, please do so with the intention of taking a case (and seeing it through) or helping with administrative chores here at least one time per calendar month unless you are new to dispute resolution and are indicating that you wish to help here after observing for a month or two.
If you later choose not to participate, please remove your name from this list.
In addition to the adding your name to the list, consider adding the {{ User DRN}} userbox to your user page, or including yourself in Category:Wikipedians who assist at the dispute resolution noticeboard.
If you list yourself here, and later become a party to a DRN case, please specify that you are participating solely as an involved party and not in you usual role of DRN volunteer. This may be done either in your response section of the case filing, and/or in the discussion section of the case filing.
In order to determine the number of current potentially active volunteers, this list may be purged from time to time (but not more often than one time per six months) by any regularly active volunteer calling a roll call and removing the editors who do not respond to that call. A copy of the volunteer list immediately prior to the purge may either be found in the page history here or on the roll calls page. Individuals whose names are removed should feel free to re-add their names to the list, but are requested not to do so unless they are willing to take part in handling cases or assisting in administration at least one time per month. No one is going to be monitoring to see if you live up to that commitment, but we do respectfully ask that you either live up to it or remove your name from the list.
To volunteer, please add your name by copying and pasting # {{User|CrafterNova}}
in the most alphabetically appropriate location below.
Your support is very much appreciated.
Editors who have been active for about the last month (last updated 12 Jan 2024 - feel free to update).
Volunteers who are learning the ropes about the dispute resolution process in this noticeboard. Feel free to move your name to the active section when you feel ready.
Editors who have been inactive for a year (last updated 12 January 2024 - feel free to update).