[WikiEN-l] Oh, I give up

[Erik Moeller]

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