Mob: Created page with "{{Short description|Fanverse Wiki's approach to community consensus and decision-making}}{{Fanverse policy}}{{Notice|This page outlines how decisions are made on Fanverse Wiki, including when consensus is required and how disputes are resolved.}} == What is consensus? == '''Consensus''' is the collaborative process by which Fanverse Wiki editors make decisions and resolve disputes. It does not require a vote, majority, or formal approval—it is about reaching an agreem..."

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Created page with "{{Short description|Fanverse Wiki's approach to community consensus and decision-making}}{{Fanverse policy}}{{Notice|This page outlines how decisions are made on Fanverse Wiki, including when consensus is required and how disputes are resolved.}} == What is consensus? == '''Consensus''' is the collaborative process by which Fanverse Wiki editors make decisions and resolve disputes. It does not require a vote, majority, or formal approval—it is about reaching an agreem..."

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{{Short description|Fanverse Wiki's approach to community consensus and decision-making}}{{Fanverse policy}}{{Notice|This page outlines how decisions are made on Fanverse Wiki, including when consensus is required and how disputes are resolved.}}

== What is consensus? ==
'''Consensus''' is the collaborative process by which Fanverse Wiki editors make decisions and resolve disputes. It does not require a vote, majority, or formal approval—it is about reaching an agreement that considers multiple viewpoints and results in the best outcome for the wiki.

Consensus values:

* Reasoned arguments
* Constructive discussion
* Respectful disagreement
* A shared goal: improving the page or policy in question

== Where consensus applies ==
You must seek consensus for any change that:

* Affects page structure or format on a major article (e.g., splitting, merging, renaming)
* Overrides another editor’s sourced contribution or formatting
* Involves original fanon created by another user
* Alters policy, guideline, or help pages
* Involves real-world disputes (e.g., canon contradictions, development timelines)
* Could spark an edit war or long-term disagreement

== Where consensus is not required ==
You don’t need formal consensus to:

* Fix typos, grammar, or obvious formatting errors
* Add sourced and on-topic content
* Expand stubs with clearly relevant content
* Add links, categories, or infoboxes that match existing styles
* Make bold edits on inactive or low-traffic articles—unless reverted

== How to build consensus ==
Consensus forms through open discussion. The basic steps:

# Go to the article’s talk page.
# Start a new section explaining your proposed change.
# Provide reasoning with clarity and good faith.
# Allow others to respond, suggest alternatives, or express concerns.
# Collaborate to find common ground or refine the solution.

You can close the discussion once:

* There’s clear agreement (even if not unanimous), and
* No strong, reasoned objections remain unanswered.

== What if consensus can't be reached? ==
If discussion stalls or gets heated:

* Take a break and revisit calmly.
* Invite a neutral third party to weigh in.
* Use wider noticeboards (e.g., [[Fanverse Wiki:Moderation board]]) for mediation.
* If multiple editors agree to pause a change, respect that request until the issue is resolved.

Avoid:

* Repeating the same argument multiple times without responding to counterpoints
* Declaring victory based on silence
* Forcing changes after opposition
* Personal attacks or sarcasm—especially about other users’ fanon work.

== How to signal consensus-based changes ==
When consensus is reached, help others follow your reasoning:

* Leave a short summary in the edit summary box (e.g., “per talk page consensus”)
* Add a note or comment near the change if it’s sensitive
* Document complex or multi-step changes on the talk page

== Examples ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Situation
!Consensus required?
|-
|Fixing a broken infobox parameter
|No
|-
|Moving a character biography to its own page
|Yes
|-
|Replacing one user’s fanon name with another
|Yes
|-
|Correcting a spelling error in a template
|No
|-
|Creating a new guideline page
|Yes
|-
|Rewriting a major section without attribution
|Yes
|}

== Tips for productive discussion ==

* Focus on ideas, not people
* Assume good faith—even when disagreeing
* Use links and examples to support your argument
* Be flexible—consensus means compromise
* Don’t “own” a page; all content is collaborative

== Admin involvement ==
Admins do not create consensus—they help interpret it, enforce community standards, and de-escalate conflict. They may:

* Step in when consensus is abused or misrepresented
* Close discussions that have clearly reached consensus or deadlock
* Warn editors who repeatedly ignore or reverse consensus
* Protect pages or apply moderation tools if needed

== Summary ==
Consensus is the core of Fanverse Wiki’s collaborative editing. It ensures:

* Creators are respected
* Fanon content isn’t overwritten carelessly
* Policies reflect community values
* Disputes are solved constructively—not through force

Whether you're updating a film’s infobox or proposing a new canon timeline, consensus keeps the wiki fair, consistent, and fan-first.

== See also ==

* [[Fanverse Wiki:Moderation board]]
* [[Fanverse Wiki:Manual of Style]]
* [[Fanverse Wiki:Splitting articles]]
* [[Fanverse Wiki:Copyrights]]
* [[Fanverse Wiki:Community expectations]]

Fanverse Wiki:Consensus - Revision history