User:Martynas Patasius/Things to check while closing discussions

This essay lists one possible "process" to close discussions. It is not meant to be a checklist to be followed to the letter. However, it might still be useful for some closers.

Closing

 * 1) Get an overview of the discussion.
 * 2) Get an overview of discussion page history and archives (if any), article and its history (if any), look for related discussions (if any). Check the links given in the discussions.
 * 3) * That should give the closer some idea about the evidence that has to be taken into account.
 * 4) Check if there is a reason to ignore the discussion altogether.
 * 5) * For example, if the discussion was obviously meant to be a joke.
 * 6) Is there some obvious reason to apply Ignore all rules in this case?
 * 7) Are there any behavioral aspects that should be taken into account, mentioned or otherwise acted upon?
 * 8) * For example, sockpuppetry, insults...
 * 9) * Even if there is no need to mention them in the close rationale, it might be worth to start a separate discussion.
 * 10) * In extreme cases it might be worth to start the discussion anew after such aspects have been addressed.
 * 11) What policies, guidelines or essays are likely to be useful?
 * 12) Make a list of the participants of the discussion. Count them.
 * 13) * That is meant to make sure no participants are accidentally left out at the next stages.
 * 14) Cluster the participants into groups by opinion. Count them.
 * 15) * Counting is mostly meant to make sure that no participant has been forgotten.
 * 16) * Opinions given "conditionally" should be grouped separately, taking those conditions into account.
 * 17) What arguments have been made in this discussion? Try to cluster them.
 * 18) Which users made which arguments? Count those users.
 * 19) What policies, guidelines, essays, other discussions or "precedents" have been cited? Were there any that were not cited explicitly, but importance of which to this discussion has been implied?
 * 20) Was any reason to to apply Ignore all rules given?
 * 21) What factual evidence was given? Who gave it and in support of what arguments? Check it.
 * 22) How were the arguments received by other participants? Try to cluster the answers, responses and counterarguments, list the users that made them.
 * 23) Is there some indication how similar arguments are received in other cases?
 * 24) Taking into account all the evidence collected up to this moment, evaluate the soundness of the arguments (including counterarguments) and their premises.
 * 25) How well do they correspond to the facts (where available)?
 * 26) How relevant are they to the question at hand?
 * 27) How strong and persuasive are those arguments?
 * 28) * Among other things, did they persuade anyone?
 * 29) What exactly does each argument demonstrate?
 * 30) Taking into account all collected evidence, make the decision.