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wikiHow:Mediation Team

wikiHow Mediation
Mediation Team Members

The wikiHow Mediation Team consists of a group of committed contributors from within the wikiHow community whose goal is to create and sustain a welcoming and harmonious atmosphere in which all community members can engage in shared work and constructive discussions. Occasionally, situations arise where community members do not agree and the discussion ceases to be constructive. In those less common instances where disagreement grows into a heated dialogue or involves discussions that threaten the harmony of the community, it is intended that the purpose of the Mediation Team is to provide guidance and respite by which those involved in a dispute can seek an independent moderator who can mediate the issues and facilitate an agreed-upon resolution by the parties affected.


The idea for creation of a team for mediation was first suggested at RoCoCo 2007. It has been further developed by the collaboration of the initial founding Team members and Jack Herrick, wikiHow's founder. The various sections below describe, in detail, the functions and relevant aspects of the Mediation Team.

EditMain Purpose

It is the primary goal of the wikiHow Mediation Team to help good faith editor's resolve personal disputes.


When collaborating to advance our shared mission, disagreements and arguments sometimes arise that -- due to wikiHow's nature -- are openly viewed by the community and can quickly draw in many different individuals.


It is the purpose of the Mediation Team to mediate any such disagreements where the parties no longer feel capable of resolving it amongst themselves, or where it becomes clear that neutral intervention to protect community harmony is warranted. Any mediator intervention is made only with a view to assist wikiHow users in reaching a common ground and in maintaining community harmony. There is no room for personal bias by mediators, who must declare any conflict of interest and stand aside should this be the case. Mediation is accomplished through discussions and helpful guidance from the Team members, either singly or together. As the process of mediation unfolds, the mediators retain one aim in mind and that is to assist the parties to reach a common goal or solution to the disagreement. It is not the role of the mediators to impose a resolution on the parties; it is a role of facilitation and guidance only.


This purpose of the Mediation Team should not be confused with arbitration. Arbitration means that an individual or group of individuals are invited to make a final decision that binds the parties. As previously stated, this is clearly not the goal of the Mediation Team, where Team members strongly believe in, promote and facilitate the action of working with individuals, instead of making a rule or final decision.

EditWhen the Mediation Team is Needed

The Mediation Team is not an all-knowing body of contributors with unlimited or undefined power and authority. The Mediation Team consists of a group of friendly and committed individuals who are generally level-headed, keen on fairness and can easily talk with other individuals, regardless of bias or personal issues. The only goal each Team member has in mind is to help maintain community harmony and to ensure that individuals demonstrate respect for one another through friendly and civil interactions. Along with the ultimate goal in building the world's largest How-To Manual is the desire to also foster and nurture a strong, healthy and vibrant wikiHow community that other internet communities can look to with respect.


The Mediation Team responds in two ways:

  1. if it is called upon by other community members to mediate a discussion; or
  2. where the Team observes first-hand an instance where mediation is needed to ensure the maintenance of individuals' integrity and community harmony.

There are various criteria that the Mediation Team uses to determine if an issue requires mediation:

  • Community members are acting in an uncivil manner.
  • Community harmony is threatened.
  • Actions are disrupting the community or our ability to work constructively on building a how-to manual.

These criteria may be triggered singly or as a whole, dependent on the seriousness of the dispute between affected parties and the level of community discontent.


Once it has been determined that mediation is needed, the Mediation Team will assign two mediators to work with the opposing parties, and will seek to discuss the issue with the affected parties. First, all parties must agree to mediation. While mediators will not "pass judgement" or require a certain resolution, they will work with the parties to reach a consensus and help find a constructive resolution to a situation.


The parties will be requested to "meet" to discuss possible solutions to the issue. While preferably the Mediation Team will work cohesively, so that in most instances there will at least be a pair of Team members working on guiding and facilitating, if not more, on occasions it may be necessary for an individual mediator to intervene quickly and decisively to at least calm the situation at that point, especially where other Team members cannot be reached in time. In such a case, individual mediation is acceptable but another Team member should be drawn into the guidance process as quickly as possible thereafter.


In the case of community individuals reaching a resolution, the Mediation Team member(s) will assist and guide by means of making suggestions. While these suggestions do not constitute final decisions or requirements, they are to be viewed as considered, reasoned and guiding considerations to be taken into account by the parties in reaching their mutually acceptable resolution.

EditContact the Mediation Team

If you are part of a dispute or a third-party observing a dispute, you may contact any Mediation Team member by private email. This is best accomplished by going to the Team Member page and clicking on the "Contact Me" link.


Most often, team members will observe a dispute and seek a resolution by contacting the parties privately.

EditOrganization of Mediation Needs

"Assignments" are delegated based on:

  • the workload of the Team member with regards to the wikiHow site as a whole
  • the caseload of the Team member with regards to other mediation assignments
  • any special expertise or experience of the Team member
  • any special requests by the parties involved
  • any need to avoid a conflict of interest or perception of bias

As discussed, it is preferred that mediators are paired together to work on an issue, but it may also be the case that individuals or a team of mediators may be a better option, given the context, issues and timing of the matter at hand.

EditMediation Team Selection

Mediators must possess specific qualities that can ensure a credible, understanding and fair approach in their handling of the mediation process. While there are no official pre-requisites for becoming a mediator, the following qualities are sought:

  • is level-headed and non-confrontational;
  • is mature in outlook;
  • is a leader in the community;
  • displays a solid knowledge of wikiHow;
  • has sensitivity towards contributors in all their stripes;
  • eschews favoritism or bias;
  • is able to comprehend the importance of a fair hearing of all sides of the story;
  • is able to reach fair and reasoned conclusions;
  • is able to stand aside when he or she perceives a conflict of interest in his or her involvement;
  • has a collaborative mind-set and is able to take input from others;
  • is able to take a neutral position on a subject even while having an opinion that may favor one position.

The process by which future mediation team members are selected will be determined when the need arises. The nomination process will only run at times when the community clearly needs more than the current number of mediatiors, or when a replacement is necessary. The Mediation Team is specifically intended to be a small group of people.


Once selected, a new mediator will be paired with an existing mediator to introduce the various procedures in place for mediation. The existing mediator will also work closely with the individual to ensure that mediation is conducted smoothly.

EditMediation Team Member Removal

Removal of a Team member comes with the responsibility to ensure natural justice. Examples of any misconduct or inappropriate actions must be provided, hearsay must be treated with great care and the Team member must be given a full and open opportunity to have his or her side of the story heard and considered respectfully. To ensure Mediation Team members serve the broader community, they can be removed via one of three ways:

Removal via Mediation Team

At any time, a Mediation Team member may call for a vote of "no confidence" in another mediator. This vote can only occur with the other Mediation Team members. If the vote passes, meaning that Team members no longer have confidence that the mediator has the qualities necessary to mediate, the mediator is removed from the Mediation Team and is no longer eligible to be on the team in the future. It is to be understood, however, that this process will not be instituted lightly, for it is considered that those who are on this Team are dedicated, mature and upstanding in their motivation to achieve the purposes of the Team.

Removal via Community Vote

The community can vote to remove a Mediation Team member from their position with a simple majority vote run in the wikiHow namespace with an announcement in the Village Pump for over 2 weeks.

Removal by Jack

Jack can use his founder's rights of unilateral action to remove a member of the Mediation Team at any time for any reason.

EditTeam Member Resignation

A Team member has the right to resign from the Team at any time. A team member that wishes to retire from the team may submit his or her resignation to the Team members. The community will be notified once the resignation has occurred. In this case, the Team member would be considered for return to the Team only through the process of nomination as outlined above. Generally speaking, the Mediation Team will discuss the need to fill the lost position and, at its discretion, initiate the nomination process stated above.

EditTeam Member Sabbatical

A Team member may take a sabbatical -- temporary leave of absence -- at any time without losing their position on the Team. It is recommended that this Team member define the time period they will be absent to the Team to determine future needs.

EditThe Role of Jack

Jack Herrick, wikiHow's founder, is a part of the Mediation Team in a limited role as an occasional observer and the mediator of "last resort". In this role, Jack may intervene in a discussion and take over mediation attempts to promote a positive work environment, either at the request of a Team member or without such a request.


Furthermore, as steward of wikiHow, he may choose to disband the Mediation Team at any time if he feels it is no longer meeting the needs of wikiHow or is not helping wikiHow reach its goals.


Jack has already stated that he would be surprised if he ever needed to use these powers, and his role will be typically reserved to that of an occasional observer.

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