Wikipedia:Administrators' guide/Dealing with disputes: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:24, 28 November 2018

Revision as of 18:24, 26 January 2019

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* Try to avoid using the word "you" in your posts. Referring to everything in the third person can help reduce tension. Referring to everything in the first person plural ("we"), can reduce tension even more, if you're careful not to presume too much.

* Most disputes cannot be adequately resolved until the editors are civil to one another, so that's a good place to start. However, be aware that just because someone is uncivil, does not mean they are wrong about the article. There may be a gang or [[Wikipedia:Tag team|tag team]] situation.

* Be even-handed about issuing warnings. If you warn one editor, but not others who have been equally as disruptive, this can exacerbate problems. {{pb}} However, you don't need to use the same wording with all editors. With two editors in a dispute, one that has a history of disputes might warrant a strong warning such as, "You've been warned about this before, please cease this or you could be looking at another block," while the other editor might warrant, "This isn't like you at all. Please review [[WP:CIVIL]], and try to scale things back a notch?"

: However, you don't need to use the same wording with all editors. With two editors in a dispute, one that has a history of disputes might warrant a strong warning such as, "You've been warned about this before, please cease this or you could be looking at another block," while the other editor might warrant, "This isn't like you at all. Please review [[WP:CIVIL]], and try to scale things back a notch?"

* Look for places where the whole framing of the issue is polarizing the dispute. Some issues can be rectified simply by a minor change to a title or section structure

* If the participants attack you, don't take it personally. There are complex psychological factors at play in a dispute, especially towards a mediator or perceived authority figure. Anger from the participants may have nothing to do with anything that you actually did, so don't react defensively, just take it in stride, and keep your eye on the goal: High quality articles. {{pb}} If you feel yourself getting angry, let the article sit for awhile, and go work on [[:Category:Administrative backlog|something else]].

: If you feel yourself getting angry, let the article sit for awhile, and go work on [[:Category:Administrative backlog|something else]].

* Disputes generally don't need hour-by-hour guidance -- checking in every day or two may be all that's needed.

* Sometimes it is helpful to ask one side to describe what they think are the best or most reasonable points by the other side.