731:
astray of the rules. However, I do not believe that ArbCom is within its powers to create "remedies" that aren't in the form of direct sanctions on editors and admins listed as being involved in a given case. What they have been doing of late goes well beyond that (The 'Sourcing
Adjudication Board' and the 'BLP Special Enforcement' measures come to mind prominently); changing existing policy and creating new procedures is not part of the dispute resolution process; that is part of the governing process, and that is a responsibility that belongs with the community, decided by consensus. Not the consensus of a few elite editors, but the consensus of the project as a whole.
952:: Should a significant portion of the community hold concerns over the activity, conduct or capability of a sitting Arbitrator, a Request for Comment may be opened. Their fellow Arbitrators are encouraged to participate. If the Arbitrator in discussion fails to engage in the process, the RFC continues, regardless. The arbitrator under discussion may simply be required to amend their behaviour, however, should the community conclude categorically that an Arbitrator is unsuitable to continue in the position, the Arbitrator is expected and encouraged to step down amicably.
876:, particularly when clear English alternatives exist. Arbcom decisions should not have to be read with a dictionary to hand. Recognise that many Wikipedians on en-Wiki may be younger editors, may have poor comprehension skills, or may have a first language other than English. Abbreviations should similarly not be used (and if they must be, wikilink them). Using jargon is unnecessary; it may save the writer a few seconds, but wastes the reader's time far more (and I would trust all writers hope more than one person reads what they have written).
1053:
406:
380:
247:
221:
123:
69:
35:
803:: Users are to be informed if the Arbitration Committee is discussing their behaviour via closed methods (such as the mailing list). Ideally, they will be informed via email. No Arbitration Committee decision - secret or otherwise - will be made without users directly named in the decision being given the chance to state their case.
613:
arbitrators attached and available for verification through the history log. This way we will know exactly who voted and how, and there will be no room for speculation, error, rumor, misunderstanding, etc. I can see no plausible scenario under which an exception to this principle might concievably be warranted.
690:
are not formal dispute resolution; informal mediation is not formal dispute resolution; block warnings are not formal dispute resolution; an e-mail exchange with an arbitrator is not formal dispute resolution. All of these informal methods have been offered and accepted at various times during RFAR.
1097:
that is languishing). The difficulty arises when there is clear evidence of policy violations, or that potential policy violations are involved, if
Arbcomm does not signal to the participants that they consider policy X or Y important, they embolden editors to engage in improper behavior. Things can
1088:
Sometimes
Arbcomm can act extremely precipitously, even violating their own rules, as they did in the Durova and MatthewHoffman cases when they started voting before there was any evidence. In other cases, Arbcomm is unreasonably dilatory and slow, and it creates mega cases that drag on for months.
1008:: An independent jury of volunteers in good standing within the community is to be appointed in an audit capacity. The purpose of this team is to review the recent events concerning FT2 and OrangeMarlin. This will be facilitated by temporary read-only access to the relevant Arbcom mailing list(s).
730:
I see the need for ArbCom as a binding form of dispute resolution, especially for problems involving admins that can't be handled by a community of editors without the tools to enforce their collective judgement. They have been useful in providing sanctions on editors and admins alike who have gone
508:
The
Arbitration Policy clearly outlines the form that an Arbitration Case takes. It does not allow for the Arbitration Commity to convene in secret to determine a case based on proceedings conducted entirely in private. While they may accept confidential evidence, proceedings must be as open as they
272:
Moreschi, above, has identified one of the root problems. Arbcom has been unable to scale itself to the community, I believe due to the increase in size of the community, but also due to its maturation; it's not "the same as it was three years ago but twice as big". Things have changed, a lot, and
363:
I suggest an Arbcom term be brought down from three years to two years. This would dovetail neatly with the expansion from 3 Tranches to 4. We should not presume an
Arbitrator is incapable of serving longer than this; however, they will have to convince the community they are capable of serving a
276:
Arbcom is becoming increasingly more incompatible with the community it is supposed to serve. We need some form of higher dispute resolution beyond RFC, so let's operate on the assumption we need some form of
Arbitration Committee, and there's plenty of evidence that the current one is not fit for
1018:
My thinking: Many users consider some form of investigation into the recent goings on vital in order to restore faith in the capability of Arbcom to act as the final level of dispute resolution on the
English Knowledge (XXG). This cannot be done by the current Arbitration Committee - doubts would
612:
While it may be necessary for a portion of ArbCom discussions to occur in private (e.g. where privacy considerations and rela-life identities of some parties are concerned), the actual votes on all the ArbCom decisions by the ArbCom members must always be made in public, with the signatures of the
556:
No individual, or plurality of
Arbitrators should make announcements or declarations on behalf of the entire committee, they are to only be made by the plurality or the individual making them. Dissenting Arbitrators should be given an opportunity to voice their dissents to this action in public if
178:
Or the Cla68/SV/FM/JzG monster case, where there was an admission from a sitting arbitrator that no one had really taken a look at the case, weeks into the case, because everyone was doing their own thing with the end of the school year, vacations, etcetera. At any one time, a quarter to a half of
694:
The reasons for going by the book are twofold. The exploitation of non-formal dispute resolution as a pretext for arbitration drags unwilling bystanders into cases and fosters drama. Arbitration is slow, time-consuming, and stressful. Editors deserve to interact with each other with reasonable
355:
My thinking: Three years is too long. Shorter terms are needed. Why is three years too long? I believe there are two main reasons. Firstly, fatigue of
Arbitrators - easily observed by noting that the newest arbitrators are usually the most active. This would be addressed by both reducing the
359:
Secondly, Arbitrators must have the faith of the community. While it is necessary for
Arbitrators to make on occasion unpopular decisions (as what the community wants is not necessarily the sole concern in making decisions), the faith of the community to make those decisions must be maintained.
318:
I suggest an election be held as soon as is realistically possible, with each Tranche expanded from five Arbitrators to seven, and a further Tranche appointed (Tranche Delta). This would require 14 new arb appointeeships; 2 each for Tranches Gamma and Beta, 3 for Tranche Alpha (the extra one to
280:
So, how can Arbcom change? I have borrowed an idea or two from above and fiddled with them, and added my own. I have split them into subheadings, as of course some ideas may be good, some may be bad. For clarity, and because some follow on from one another, I have put my suggestions together,
208:: No Arbitration Committee Member may serve two terms consecutively. No editor who is currently serving a term as an Arbitration Committee Member may stand for election to the Arbitration Committee, past members of the Committee may stand in any election not immediately following their own term.
325:
I am aware the Arbcom has stated on numerous occasions that they do not need more Arbitrators; this ought not to be their decision to make, and the preponderance of evidence is that despite their protests, too many cases take too long to resolve, and receive insufficient Arbitrator scrutiny.
460:
The Arbitration Committee are not entitled to create binding rulings that institute new Knowledge (XXG) processes or policy, or substantial alter current Knowledge (XXG) processes or policy except by striking sections incompatible with Knowledge (XXG) Foundation requirements. They are not a
170:
So, what tends to happen and has been happening, is, the newer folks on the ArbCom do all the public facing work and indepth analysis (Kirill is rather recent, NewYorkBrad before he resigned and now FT2) The rest are generally seen by the community as a rubber stamp. They may discuss in the
367:
This will necessitate an Arbitration Committee election every 6 months, rather than every 12 months. This is a bearable burden on the community. It would also enable an Arbitrator to, if they wished, to take six months off (a reasonable break) and return to arbitration six months later.
576:: Arbitrators will only make official statements on their own behalf, or joint statements as a plurality. No individual Arbitrator may make a statement on behalf of the entire committee. Dissenting Arbitrators should be given an opportunity to voice their dissents in public if they wish.
1040:
The arbitration committee has several times this year acted in ways that prevented or highly prejudiced a user who was not yet able to give evidence. The OrangeMarlin case came with a statement by FT2 that they did not feel like going through the effort to read the user's evidence:
480:: The Arbitration Committe will not create binding rulings that institute new Knowledge (XXG) processes or policy, or substantial alter current Knowledge (XXG) processes or policy except by striking sections incompatible with Knowledge (XXG) Foundation requirements.
174:
This also leads to issues like the Episodes and Characters ArbCom case aftermath, where ANY arbitrator speaking up and clarifying terms of a remedy would have avoided weeks of drama later. No Arbitrator spoke up, and the issue at hand devolved, weeks later.
718:. Except for emergency situations such as wheel wars, or appeals of community sanctions and other circumstances where dispute resolution is impractical, no case will be accepted that has not already progressed through dispute resolution.
853:: Legalese, Latin terms (legal or otherwise), abbreviations, and other such unclear English are to be avoided wherever possible in future. Clear and concise communication that all can understand should be a priority of the Committee.
185:
I would suggest keeping the three staggered arbitrator groups, but reducing an ArbCom term to 12 months (that means elections every 4 months, which is frequent, but not an everyday situation) or 18 months (elections twice a year)
652:. Except for emergency situations such as wheel wars, or appeals of community sanctions and other circumstances where dispute resolution is impractical, there needs to be prior formal dispute resolution. These options are:
310:
My thinking: The Arbcom is too small. More members are needed - presently we have just eleven active arbitrators. We need more. I suggest the simplest and most efficient way to address this is to expand the arbitrator
632:: Votes on all Arbitration Committee decisions by the members must always be made on a public Knowledge (XXG) page, with the signatures of the arbitrators attached and available for verification through the history log.
959:
My thinking: Based on recent events, it is clear that there is no current way for the community to redress the behaviour of an Arbitrator other than voting them out up to three years later. This is not sufficient.
171:
background, but nothing really happens publicly untill one or two people (usually the same one or two people) write a proposed decision, and 95% of the time, the rest of them come in and sign off on the decision.
528:: While the Arbitration Committee may accept confidential evidence, proceedings must be as open as they can be. The Arbitration Committee may not convene in secret, or conduct proceedings entirely in private.
154:
I (LaraLove) am posting this on behalf of SirFozzie by e-mail request (sent via Knowledge (XXG) interface and confirmed on IRC). This is a straight copy/paste from e-mail, as he wishes to remain on a break.
682:
These parameters have not been observed consistently. Formal dispute resolution should remain open long enough to have a reasonable chance of success before a request for arbitration is attempted.
1089:
A lot of drama could be saved if Arbcomm made some clear announcements at the start of a case, like "We take the policy on coercion seriously", as a preliminary Finding of Fact (drawing an
1044:. In the Durova and MatthewHoffman cases, highly prejudicial voting began against the accused before the accused - then administrators in good standing - were able to provide evidence.
21:
1124:
322:
This will give us a maximum of 28 Arbitrators rather than 15. This would still not be too unwieldy. If this still proves insufficient, we can always add a further Tranche.
810:
My thinking: An obvious suggestion, based on recent events, Jimbo's commentary, and common sense. A committee that acts wholly in secret is, by definition, a cabal.
130:
Suggested policy changes that contradict other significantly supported statements are marked as "Policy Change Options" and require further debate as to their support.
76:
This page is a summary of statements from the RfC which had significantly more support than opposition. Please do not comment on, or edit the statements, unless to
257:: The term of office for an Arbitration Committee Member is 12 months. Members are elected in three groups staggered over three elections four months apart.
231:: The term of office for an Arbitration Committee Member is 18 months. Members are elected in three groups staggered over three elections six months apart.
416:: The term of office for an Arbitration Committee Member is 24 months.Members are elected in four groups staggered over four elections six months apart.
49:
Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus on its purpose has become unclear. To revive discussion, seek broader input via a forum such as the
319:
replace Newyorkbrad) and 7 for the new Tranche Delta. The simplest way would be to appoint the 14 candidates with the highest percentage of votes.
312:
164:
I dare you to find ANYONE in this world, who can immerse themselves in every single high drama, night mare conflict for that long and NOT burn out.
1098:
become worse during an Arbcomm proceeding because tensions are higher, and people want to "get even" with their perceived adversaries. And Arbcomm
750:: Remedies may only be voted on by the Arbitration Committee if they are in the form of direct sanctions on persons listed as parties to the case.
50:
351:
Arbitration Committee terms are reduced from three years to two years. Elections will be held every six months on a rotating basis.
189:
Once you finish a term as an ArbCom member, you have to sit out one election. (To recharge the batteries, reduce chance of burnout)
661:
17:
182:
Perhaps reducing ArbCom terms would allow Arbitrators to devote more "energy"/Research into each case, with less risk of burnout.
676:
110:
Actionable policy changes are marked with a clarified text of the change, or a highlighting of the original text where suitable.
1119:
998:
942:
843:
793:
740:
704:
622:
566:
518:
470:
198:
103:
894:
1033:
666:
1102:
act quickly if they want to, obviously. So why the long delays, even to produce some sort of innocuous general statements?
860:
My thinking: Arbcom must recognise that not all Knowledge (XXG) editors are familiar or comfortable with jargon such as
671:
1094:
1090:
1019:
always remain. Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them".
167:
And to properly do your job as an ArbCom member, you do have to be hip deep in crap, if you'll forgive the saying.
656:
1029:
82:
Create or edit a pre-existing suggested change to policy that would satisfy issues raised in the statement.
1063:: Except in exceptional circumstances, at least one week will be given for evidence preparation before
42:
34:
306:
The three current Tranches are expanded from 5 members to 7. An additional Tranche Delta is created.
392:
Contradicted by SirFozzie's statement of keeping the status quo for the makeup of the committee.
687:
715:
683:
649:
887:
147:
179:
the Arbitration Committee is "inactive", and not doing the job they were elected for.
1113:
695:
expectations about when an arbitration case may be in the offing and when it is not.
433:
691:
They should not be acceptable and, if proposed, should be removed by the clerks.
641:
544:
No Individual Or Plurality Acts To Be Labelled As 'Arbitration Committee Action'
1052:
405:
379:
246:
220:
122:
1081:
972:
Investigation into the conduct of the Arbitration Committee prior to this RfC.
585:
908:
882:
759:
418:
Contradicted by alternative option on term of office and times of elections.
997:
941:
842:
792:
739:
703:
621:
565:
517:
469:
259:
Contradicted by alternative option on term of office and times of elections
233:
Contradicted by alternative option on term of office and times of elections
197:
102:
79:
Note where a statement is contradictory to another statement on this page.
390:: Each election will appoint 7 members to the Arbitration Committee.
85:
Remove a statement that loses it's significant margin of support.
356:
time served, and by increasing the numbers as detailed above.
1046:
991:
935:
836:
786:
733:
697:
615:
559:
511:
463:
399:
373:
240:
214:
191:
116:
96:
62:
29:
88:
Sort or separate out statements into different categories.
1042:
1067:
voting takes place (excluding temporary injunctions).
41:
This page is currently inactive and is retained for
56:
It was last substantively updated 24 December 2008.
281:rather than spatter them throughout this RFC.
1125:Knowledge (XXG) Arbitration Committee archives
1023:Statements where firm proposals were not made
881:Renamed from "No jargon" to "Communication".
8:
161:Right now, an ArbCom term is 3 years.
7:
1010:It is unclear if this is actionable.
976:(previously titled VI. Transparency)
902:Arbitration Committee Member Conduct
714:: Arbitration is the final step in
662:Knowledge (XXG):Requests for comment
268:Various suggestions by Neil (Part 1)
158:Reducing Burnout of ArbCom Members:
18:Knowledge (XXG):Requests for comment
677:Knowledge (XXG):Mediation Committee
28:
667:Knowledge (XXG):Wikiquette alerts
648:Arbitration is the final step in
1051:
996:
940:
841:
791:
738:
702:
620:
564:
516:
468:
404:
378:
245:
219:
196:
121:
101:
67:
33:
672:Knowledge (XXG):Mediation Cabal
1027:
141:Arbitration Committee Election
1:
657:Knowledge (XXG):Third opinion
1084:on delays and early findings
277:purpose in the present day.
1141:
315:, and add a further one.
1075:Non-actionable statements
895:12:23, 30 June 2008 (UTC)
427:Arbitration Case Handling
907:Various suggestions by
758:Various suggestions by
1120:Inactive project pages
364:further two years.
22:Arbitration Committee
1095:current Arbcomm case
726:View by Celarnor (2)
414:Policy Change Option
388:Policy Change Option
255:Policy Change Option
229:Policy Change Option
1106:Unsorted statements
1030:Shoemaker's Holiday
775:VII. Communication
716:dispute resolution
650:dispute resolution
1072:
1071:
1016:
1015:
957:
956:
897:
858:
857:
822:IX. Communication
808:
807:
755:
754:
723:
722:
637:
636:
581:
580:
533:
532:
485:
484:
424:
423:
398:
397:
273:Arbcom hasn't.
265:
264:
239:
238:
213:
212:
135:
134:
115:
114:
95:
94:
61:
60:
1132:
1061:Suggested Policy
1055:
1047:
1000:
992:
944:
936:
880:
845:
837:
795:
787:
742:
734:
706:
698:
624:
616:
568:
560:
520:
512:
496:No Secret Trials
472:
464:
408:
400:
382:
374:
249:
241:
223:
215:
200:
192:
125:
117:
105:
97:
71:
70:
63:
57:
54:
37:
30:
1140:
1139:
1135:
1134:
1133:
1131:
1130:
1129:
1110:
1109:
1108:
1086:
1077:
1068:
1056:
1038:
1025:
1012:
1001:
953:
945:
913:
904:
854:
846:
804:
796:
764:
751:
743:
728:
719:
707:
646:
633:
625:
600:No secret votes
589:
577:
569:
529:
521:
481:
473:
437:
429:
420:
409:
394:
383:
270:
261:
250:
235:
224:
209:
201:
151:
143:
131:
126:
111:
106:
91:
72:
68:
55:
48:
26:
25:
24:
12:
11:
5:
1138:
1136:
1128:
1127:
1122:
1112:
1111:
1107:
1104:
1085:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1070:
1069:
1059:
1057:
1050:
1037:
1028:Third view by
1026:
1024:
1021:
1014:
1013:
1004:
1002:
995:
989:
987:
986:
985:
984:
983:
982:
981:
980:
979:
978:
973:
955:
954:
948:
946:
939:
934:
933:
932:
931:
930:
929:
928:
927:
926:
925:
912:
905:
903:
900:
899:
898:
856:
855:
849:
847:
840:
834:
832:
831:
830:
829:
828:
827:
826:
825:
824:
823:
806:
805:
799:
797:
790:
785:
784:
783:
782:
781:
780:
779:
778:
777:
776:
763:
756:
753:
752:
746:
744:
737:
727:
724:
721:
720:
710:
708:
701:
680:
679:
674:
669:
664:
659:
645:
638:
635:
634:
628:
626:
619:
610:
609:
608:
607:
606:
605:
604:
603:
602:
601:
588:
582:
579:
578:
572:
570:
563:
554:
553:
552:
551:
550:
549:
548:
547:
546:
545:
531:
530:
524:
522:
515:
506:
505:
504:
503:
502:
501:
500:
499:
498:
497:
483:
482:
476:
474:
467:
458:
457:
456:
455:
454:
453:
452:
451:
450:
449:
436:
430:
428:
425:
422:
421:
412:
410:
403:
396:
395:
386:
384:
377:
371:
348:
347:
346:
345:
344:
343:
342:
341:
340:
339:
338:II. Timescales
303:
302:
301:
300:
299:
298:
297:
296:
295:
294:
269:
266:
263:
262:
253:
251:
244:
237:
236:
227:
225:
218:
211:
210:
204:
202:
195:
150:
144:
142:
139:
137:
133:
132:
129:
127:
120:
113:
112:
109:
107:
100:
93:
92:
90:
89:
86:
83:
80:
75:
73:
66:
59:
58:
47:
38:
27:
15:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1137:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1117:
1115:
1105:
1103:
1101:
1096:
1092:
1083:
1079:
1074:
1066:
1062:
1058:
1054:
1049:
1048:
1045:
1043:
1035:
1031:
1022:
1020:
1011:
1007:
1006:Policy Change
1003:
999:
994:
993:
990:
977:
974:
971:
970:
969:
968:
967:
966:
965:
964:
963:
962:
961:
951:
950:Policy Change
947:
943:
938:
937:
923:
922:
921:
920:
919:
918:
917:
916:
915:
914:
910:
906:
901:
896:
893:
892:
891:
886:
885:
879:
878:
877:
875:
871:
867:
863:
852:
851:Policy Change
848:
844:
839:
838:
835:
821:
820:
819:
818:
817:
816:
815:
814:
813:
812:
811:
802:
801:Policy Change
798:
794:
789:
788:
774:
773:
772:
771:
770:
769:
768:
767:
766:
765:
761:
757:
749:
748:Policy Change
745:
741:
736:
735:
732:
725:
717:
713:
712:Policy Change
709:
705:
700:
699:
696:
692:
689:
685:
678:
675:
673:
670:
668:
665:
663:
660:
658:
655:
654:
653:
651:
643:
639:
631:
630:Policy Change
627:
623:
618:
617:
614:
599:
598:
597:
596:
595:
594:
593:
592:
591:
590:
587:
583:
575:
574:Policy Change
571:
567:
562:
561:
558:
543:
542:
541:
540:
539:
538:
537:
536:
535:
534:
527:
526:Policy Change
523:
519:
514:
513:
510:
495:
494:
493:
492:
491:
490:
489:
488:
487:
486:
479:
478:Policy Change
475:
471:
466:
465:
462:
461:legislature.
448:No New Policy
447:
446:
445:
444:
443:
442:
441:
440:
439:
438:
435:
434:User:Barberio
431:
426:
419:
415:
411:
407:
402:
401:
393:
389:
385:
381:
376:
375:
372:
369:
365:
361:
357:
353:
352:
337:
336:
335:
334:
333:
332:
331:
330:
329:
328:
327:
323:
320:
316:
314:
308:
307:
292:
291:
290:
289:
288:
287:
286:
285:
284:
283:
282:
278:
274:
267:
260:
256:
252:
248:
243:
242:
234:
230:
226:
222:
217:
216:
207:
206:Policy Change
203:
199:
194:
193:
190:
187:
183:
180:
176:
172:
168:
165:
162:
159:
156:
155:
149:
145:
140:
138:
128:
124:
119:
118:
108:
104:
99:
98:
87:
84:
81:
78:
77:
74:
65:
64:
52:
46:
44:
39:
36:
32:
31:
23:
19:
1099:
1087:
1064:
1060:
1039:
1017:
1009:
1005:
988:
975:
958:
949:
889:
888:
883:
873:
870:sine qua non
869:
865:
861:
859:
850:
833:
809:
800:
747:
729:
711:
693:
681:
647:
629:
611:
573:
555:
525:
507:
477:
459:
417:
413:
391:
387:
370:
366:
362:
358:
354:
350:
349:
324:
321:
317:
309:
305:
304:
293:I. Expansion
279:
275:
271:
258:
254:
232:
228:
205:
188:
184:
181:
177:
173:
169:
166:
163:
160:
157:
153:
152:
136:
51:village pump
40:
924:IV. Redress
557:they wish.
1114:Categories
1082:User:Filll
45:reference.
43:historical
874:ab initio
862:tu quoque
148:SirFozzie
1080:View by
911:(part 3)
866:nem. con
762:(part 2)
640:View by
584:View by
509:can be.
432:View by
313:Tranches
146:View by
20: |
1093:from a
1091:example
688:WP:ANI
642:Durova
684:WP:AN
586:Nsk92
16:<
1034:talk
909:Neil
884:Neıl
760:Neil
686:and
1100:can
1065:any
872:or
644:(2)
1116::
868:,
864:,
1036:)
1032:(
890:龱
53:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
