Wikipedia talk:Third opinion

User FAQ

 * See Wikipedia talk:Third opinion/User FAQ

Is there a tutorial or instructions page for future responders?
I'm thinking about monitoring several 3O discussion to see how they develop, with a view to perhaps becoming a 3O responder at some future point. Is there an instructions page or tutorial where I can read up on best practices for 3O responders? I'm thinking of something like the instructions for New Page Patrol reviewers, or the Articles for creation reviewing instructions. Anything like that exist here? It would be great to have a page summarizing the collective advice of regular 3O folks here distilled into a Project page about best practices in 3O, to encourage other editors who might want to volunteer to help out here. Thanks, Mathglot (talk) 08:07, 27 March 2024 (UTC)


 * Other than the instructions provided on the main page, I don't believe there is such a thing. I understand how it might be helpful in theory, but in my experience, every dispute is so different that it would be difficult to provide advice that could reasonably be broadly applied, though perhaps more experienced 3O editors might feel differently.
 * That said, perhaps a 3O mentorship program, where interested 3O editors have the opportunity to observe disputes, might be useful, but by the same token, everyone can already see the disputes that get listed and nothing's stopping anyone from lurking on the discussions. DonIago (talk) 14:30, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * General advice: Read up on policies and guidelines, and especially the gamut of dispute resolution pages (including essays). You can't know every guideline but get a feel for what's out there and what to search for when needed.  Follow discussions at the Teahouse, here, RfCs, etc., look at the initial posts and think of how you'd resolve it, then see how other editors approached the issue.  Keep in mind that 3O is non-binding so solutions at this level have to be agreeable to both parties. Sometimes that means talking editors through the guidelines and why they exist. Other times it means coming up with a third approach that neither of the initial parties considered. – Reidgreg (talk) 13:21, 5 April 2024 (UTC)

UX feedback
Since the editors are supposed to remove active disagreements before providing a third opinion, there is no indication how many disagreements have been handled and to a casual observer the project could appear inactive. Possibly it would help to provide some statistics (e.g., X requests for 3O, Y requests answered in the last 365 days) on the project page. Alaexis¿question? 06:57, 18 April 2024 (UTC)

clarification on third opinion request
@Doniago When I made my third opinion request, I was specifically referring to only my dispute with Mason.Jones. ― Howard • 🌽33 18:02, 29 May 2024 (UTC)


 * That wasn't clear (to me) from your filing, as the section you linked to unambiguously had more than two editors involved. You're welcome to relist, but I might suggest breaking off the pertinent dispute into its own section first so that it's more clear where the specific dispute with only two involved editors lies. If/when you've done that and wish to relist, I'm happy to strike my comment from the Talk page. DonIago (talk) 18:09, 29 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I have created the subsection. ― Howard • 🌽33 18:58, 29 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I wish to relist also. ― Howard • 🌽33 18:58, 29 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I have no objection; I'll strike my comment on the Talk page where the dispute's occurring. DonIago (talk) 20:17, 29 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I've recently removed my 3O request, I'm conceding this dispute now because I honestly do not have the capacity to continue it. ― Howard • 🌽33 16:42, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

Two difficulties
Intermittently I have been sharing my third opinion. I find following difficulties.

1) We do not have system of getting notified when a 3O request comes.

2) Other than few exceptions most users do not provide reasonable enough summary -at the article talk page dispute section- as has been suggested. Practically for us it becomes WP:TLDR issue

I suppose two of above reasons may cause some WP:3O requests going unattended. Idk if these issues have been discussed previously and also do not know, can there be any solution to it?

Thought sharing is better than not sharing it. &#32;Bookku   (talk) 08:19, 22 June 2024 (UTC)
 * On 1), I find watchlisting works well. 2) is an occasional problem, but if you ask the involved editors for a summary they normally give it (maybe with some arguing). &#126;~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 10:40, 22 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I've also found watchlisting works, particularly when the "xxx remaining" convention is used on edit summaries. – Reidgreg (talk) 17:39, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Help!
I tried to request a third opinion on the project page but probably made some mistake and so, what I typed is not visible. Please correct it.-Ganeemath (talk) 14:26, 17 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Fixed, but the request has been removed because there was no attempt at discussion at the relevant talk page. &#126;~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 14:33, 17 July 2024 (UTC)
 * There has been a discussion here so please add my request back.-Ganeemath (talk) 14:46, 17 July 2024 (UTC)
 * A discussion?! You have replied to each other once, and barely engaged with what the other person is saying. It is your job as a Wikipedia editor to attempt to resolve disagreements yourself. Seeking another volunteer editor to do that job is the last resort. &#126;~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 14:49, 17 July 2024 (UTC)
 * He says that the sentence is cherry picked and I replied that it is the essence of the book which he will not agree to (I am sure). So we need some dispute resolution. Please restore my request for the third opinion.-Ganeemath (talk) 15:00, 17 July 2024 (UTC)
 * No. Other people have better things to do than figure out a dispute you can't be bothered to try to solve yourself. Instead of throwing your hands up in the air and demanding that someone fix the issue, how about you treat the other editor like a person and ... do this thing called talking with them? &#126;~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 15:07, 17 July 2024 (UTC)
 * We have talked on the Talk page. I seem to be repeating myself there to no avail. We need a third opinion. Please restore my request for the 3rd opinion.-Ganeemath (talk) 15:25, 17 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Now, he is removing more text from Abdullah Azzam. See this, this and this edit. He is just removing text because he doesn't like it! Some dispute resolution is needed here.-Ganeemath (talk) 16:18, 17 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Now, you have had a discussion, and it is what seems like an appropriate time to ask for a 3O. Do you want me to orovide it, or another regular at this page ? &#126;~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 18:06, 17 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Please do. is removing text from the Abdullah Azzam article. See this, this and this edit. He is just removing text because he doesn't like it! Some dispute resolution is needed here. He is even defending the removals here. He has even reverted sourced content with this edit. Then, when I propose what can be added here with sources, he doesn't bother to respond!-Ganeemath (talk) 18:12, 17 July 2024 (UTC)