Trains:Dispute resolution

From TrainSpottingWorld, for Rail fans everywhere

In general in disputes neither party is 'right'. This is as true here as it is in wars. We know that wars could be avoided if both sides stopped acting like kids, so we hope very much that calmness and quiet common sense will prevail. This wiki is bigger than its editors. And, if we start fighting, we lose sight of the overall objective - to have fun.

Here at TSW, we do not have any formal dispute resolution processes such as those at Wikipedia. We strive to create a community where everyone can work together to create a good reference for railfans and enjoy the community creations. We try to avoid bureaucracy to whatever extent possible. If a dispute does arise, you are recommended to take the following steps:

  1. Talk to the person you are in a conflict with. Be calm and try to reach a compromise. Being aggressive and rude will simply provoke the conflict further. If you are distressed or angry, it is probably a good idea to wait until you are calm before you talk to the person.
  2. Try to see the conflict from the other user's point of view too. See if you can help them.
  3. If the above fails, see if you can agree to stay away from the article which has caused the conflict.
  4. If all of the above fails, get the community involved. The community should not judge the argument but should work to help all the parties involved in the conflict equally. Wikilawyering is unacceptable as it simply disrupts the community spirit and creates a bureaucracy. However, where a Policy or Guideline covers the area under dispute, it may be used to assist with the resolution, but common sense must prevail wherever necessary.

In the case of any disputes, admin intervention such as blocking should be a last resort.