Note: There is presently some uncertainty as to events surrounding this announcement, and whether it has been determined by the Arbitration Committee in its decision-making capacity. It is not expected that ArbCom will clarify the matter in the near future. The current status of this page is "on hold" [1] |
Following a June announcement by the Arbitration Committee, the Arbitration Committee presents some views on consensus seeking processes, and urges users in the community to consider the proposals presented to address inertia, stasis, and problems currently seen in difficult dispute resolution cases, that can be traced back in part to problems of consensus-seeking approaches.
Consensus is central to the community, the Wiki ethos, and our project. Wikipedia is a " grass roots" organization whose strength derives directly from the ability of its volunteer editors to work well together, and where within reason, any user who edits well and gains a modicum of repute, has equal say on content matters, and is encouraged to conduct themselves to a high standard as an administrator, or to seek RFA if they wish it.
Any entrenched systemic problem that seriously affects the fundamentals of consensus seeking is therefore worthy of most serious attention.
The following is our analysis, and (following reflection) our suggestion to the community.
There are two main areas identified where the community seems to commonly have difficulty with our consensus-seeking approaches. Both are extremely frustrating and wasting of volunteers' time and their goodwill:
These two classes of consensus problems seem structural in nature, involving to "how we operate consensus", rather than the actions of specific (namable) disruptive users.
In many matters, consensus is taken care of by principles such as " Be Bold", or Bold, revert, discuss, which encourage users (correctly) to evaluate their own views and consider others' views as well, and then if appropriate, act thereafter. The principle is, Wikipedia is a wiki - if it is undesirable, then others will revert or seek discussion, following which an amended decision is made. This breaks down or is difficult at times, and the above two scenarios can be common problems.
Whilst some may feel these are by nature insuperable, we note that actually, neither is especially difficult (although they may require work - no surprise). Both of these are routinely solved on the wiki, and have been on more than one occasion in the past. So it is possible; the know-how is there.
We recommend the community that some users may consider proposing some kind of process, similar in style (and perhaps with assistance from) the Mediation Committee and Cabal members, to assist with consensus-seeking processes on the wiki, a form of "consensus commission" similar to some electoral commissions, that assist in ensuring the process works well and is overseen by users with experience in helping consensus form.
This would save cases coming to Arbitration, which we can often do little with except remove or restrict blatant disruptive editors and say to all concerned, "now go away and talk properly" (which they could have done anyway in the first place).
A possible draft approach follows as a starting point.
A "Consensus Commission" (or other name) would be created. Its role would be to act as a resource and help-point, for wiki-issues where help is needed to reach a consensus, or for an uninvolved user to review and close a discussion (in a manner similar to WP:SSP, WP:AFD and WP:DRV closes), and determine whether a consensus appears to have been reached. An appeal method might be needed, perhaps {{debate close appeal}} similar to {{unblock}} and with anti-abuse provisions, but that's something we have on most processes.
Like the Mediation Committee, the consensus commission would have no "formal" authority to bind parties. It would have a noticeboard where users may link to sections (project or talk page) where 1/ a discussion has taken place and needs review and a closure, or 2/ a problem is stated in neutral terms needing a neutral independent consensus seeking process to be facilitated. (An alternate possibility is the use of a tag such as {{
Discussion close request}}
linking into a patrollable category, which any user may post to the same effect.) It would probably have a core of dedicated users (as MedCom and MedCab do) and a number of users who wished to patrol independently at their will.
If the inquiry is a simple request to close, then closure would be easy by anyone who wished, and the function of the Commission and its noticeboard or category would simply be to publicize and promote discussions needing clarity and closure. It would also be a resource, if agreement was reached to engage editors with consensus-seeking experience, on complex disputes. In these cases a member (or members) would work with parties as a kind of guide, mentor, advisor, or mediator, to
As Arbitrators, we do not propose to create this process, but we do feel it would be an exceptionally positive and worthwhile endeavor for any users wishing to. Our approach is one suggestion, but it's open to modification. Whatever the outcome, some way to handle these cases, and help others needing resources, advice, and help with them, would be good for the project.
FT2 (
Talk |
email) 14:29, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
For and on behalf of the Arbitration Committee
Note: There is presently some uncertainty as to events surrounding this announcement, and whether it has been determined by the Arbitration Committee in its decision-making capacity. It is not expected that ArbCom will clarify the matter in the near future. The current status of this page is "on hold" [1] |
Following a June announcement by the Arbitration Committee, the Arbitration Committee presents some views on consensus seeking processes, and urges users in the community to consider the proposals presented to address inertia, stasis, and problems currently seen in difficult dispute resolution cases, that can be traced back in part to problems of consensus-seeking approaches.
Consensus is central to the community, the Wiki ethos, and our project. Wikipedia is a " grass roots" organization whose strength derives directly from the ability of its volunteer editors to work well together, and where within reason, any user who edits well and gains a modicum of repute, has equal say on content matters, and is encouraged to conduct themselves to a high standard as an administrator, or to seek RFA if they wish it.
Any entrenched systemic problem that seriously affects the fundamentals of consensus seeking is therefore worthy of most serious attention.
The following is our analysis, and (following reflection) our suggestion to the community.
There are two main areas identified where the community seems to commonly have difficulty with our consensus-seeking approaches. Both are extremely frustrating and wasting of volunteers' time and their goodwill:
These two classes of consensus problems seem structural in nature, involving to "how we operate consensus", rather than the actions of specific (namable) disruptive users.
In many matters, consensus is taken care of by principles such as " Be Bold", or Bold, revert, discuss, which encourage users (correctly) to evaluate their own views and consider others' views as well, and then if appropriate, act thereafter. The principle is, Wikipedia is a wiki - if it is undesirable, then others will revert or seek discussion, following which an amended decision is made. This breaks down or is difficult at times, and the above two scenarios can be common problems.
Whilst some may feel these are by nature insuperable, we note that actually, neither is especially difficult (although they may require work - no surprise). Both of these are routinely solved on the wiki, and have been on more than one occasion in the past. So it is possible; the know-how is there.
We recommend the community that some users may consider proposing some kind of process, similar in style (and perhaps with assistance from) the Mediation Committee and Cabal members, to assist with consensus-seeking processes on the wiki, a form of "consensus commission" similar to some electoral commissions, that assist in ensuring the process works well and is overseen by users with experience in helping consensus form.
This would save cases coming to Arbitration, which we can often do little with except remove or restrict blatant disruptive editors and say to all concerned, "now go away and talk properly" (which they could have done anyway in the first place).
A possible draft approach follows as a starting point.
A "Consensus Commission" (or other name) would be created. Its role would be to act as a resource and help-point, for wiki-issues where help is needed to reach a consensus, or for an uninvolved user to review and close a discussion (in a manner similar to WP:SSP, WP:AFD and WP:DRV closes), and determine whether a consensus appears to have been reached. An appeal method might be needed, perhaps {{debate close appeal}} similar to {{unblock}} and with anti-abuse provisions, but that's something we have on most processes.
Like the Mediation Committee, the consensus commission would have no "formal" authority to bind parties. It would have a noticeboard where users may link to sections (project or talk page) where 1/ a discussion has taken place and needs review and a closure, or 2/ a problem is stated in neutral terms needing a neutral independent consensus seeking process to be facilitated. (An alternate possibility is the use of a tag such as {{
Discussion close request}}
linking into a patrollable category, which any user may post to the same effect.) It would probably have a core of dedicated users (as MedCom and MedCab do) and a number of users who wished to patrol independently at their will.
If the inquiry is a simple request to close, then closure would be easy by anyone who wished, and the function of the Commission and its noticeboard or category would simply be to publicize and promote discussions needing clarity and closure. It would also be a resource, if agreement was reached to engage editors with consensus-seeking experience, on complex disputes. In these cases a member (or members) would work with parties as a kind of guide, mentor, advisor, or mediator, to
As Arbitrators, we do not propose to create this process, but we do feel it would be an exceptionally positive and worthwhile endeavor for any users wishing to. Our approach is one suggestion, but it's open to modification. Whatever the outcome, some way to handle these cases, and help others needing resources, advice, and help with them, would be good for the project.
FT2 (
Talk |
email) 14:29, 27 June 2008 (UTC)
For and on behalf of the Arbitration Committee