If we had a real ombudsman (as opposed to what is being proposed, which is not an ombudsman, but a sort of appeals court) the ombudsman could accept a complaint about official action, and whether or not the parties had requested or agreed to mediation, investigate it, contact the users involved and enter into negotiations designed to resolve any difficulties or bad feelings. It's a good thing.
It would not be designed or intended to punish or expose wrong doing, but to resolve the bad consequences of lapses in judgement, misunderstanding or unintended consequences.
Fred
On Jan 9, 2006, at 9:26 PM, Geoff Burling wrote:
Am I just missing the point again, or wouldn't this concept of a "Wikipedia Ombudsman" duplicate much of what a member of the Mediation Committee would do?
Maybe an Ombudsman would have a special power or two that the average Admin wouldn't have or need (say, the ability to force both parties to negotiate in good faith or suffer sanctions), but I wouldn't be surprised that whatever shape the position might have, it'd have a rate of turnover somewhere between the ArbCom & the Mediation Committee -- that is, we'd burn thru one Ombudsman every 4-7 months.
Just my $0.02,
Geoff
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