Anthere wrote:
"should mediators lose their time and energy on trolls, or use it for issues on which they can help ? Is not providing mediation to a troll and tiring out mediators, just feeding the troll and weakening the community ?"
Anthere is absolutely right.
There are people coming to Wikipedia who have no intention of making a collaborative contribution. Most of these cases are clear cut, and there really is no point in carrying on a discussion with these people, because (a) they enjoy it and will perpetuate it for this reason, (b) they have more time than we do, and (c) they're not going to change.
Recent examples include Irismeister, Mr-N-H, and Platus Satire, Grazingship. None of these people share the goals of the project. For such individuals, we should follow a process that is fair, rapid, transparent, and that provides a minimal opportunity for the faux contributor to utilize Wikipedia as a source of entertainment.
Contrast this with the matters involving longstanding users who have a genuine desire to further the project's goals, but who have difficulties contributing in a positive fashion. The original intent of mediation and arbitration was to serve these people so that they can better serve the project.
Kindest regards
The Baron
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