Ed-
Oh, what's the use! No one listens to me anyway. Cunctator picks apart everything I say and ignores my main points just because I don't start right. Erik (on the talk page) puts words in my mouth.
I don't think I put words in your mouth. In any case, maybe you should stop trying to be everywhere at the same time and understanding every dispute that goes on. Don't take this mediation thing too seriously. The idea is that there will be a central place - a message board, for example - where people can go if they want help. I don't think mediators should necessarily actively seek out disputes and try to help. Nobody can complain that you are condescending if they ask you - or rather, the mediation team - for help. I think your quick poll on Talk:Silesia was a good idea.
One fundamental problem is also that if the person trying to mediate has already established an opinion on the subject in question, they may not be accepted in the same fashion as someone who approaches a dispute with their hands clean. So you may make a comment and feel like everyone should treat you like the unbiased mediator, while people perceive you as being on either side of the dispute. Whether you anticipated that or not, I believe the mediator function compels you to be even more careful with expressing strong opinions.
Regards,
Erik