Conflict Resolution

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Suggestions for members of the greater Noisebridge community who are having problematic interactions in or relating to Noisebridge

Personal Confrontation:

Is someone bothering you? Talk to them about it.
This is a pretty important step, and it usually has the desired effect. It should not be skipped if at all possible.

Get Support:

Did that not work? Or are you afraid? Ask someone else around the space who you like and/or trust. Maybe they can come along with you to talk to them, or talk to them as your proxy.

Mediation:

Did that not work? We have a Mediation page, where people can sign up to act as mediators. You should ask one of the people on it to help you mediate your conflict. They can actively mediate a discussion between you and the person with whom you are having conflict, or, if you prefer, the mediator can talk to that individual as your proxy.

Mindfulness towards Escalation:

If it seems appropriate, after talking with the original parties, the mediator (and indeed everyone involved) should start to tactfully ask around and find out if this is an isolated conflict or a more generalized problem in the community. Most personal problems at Noisebridge can be resolved through a series of one-on-one talks, and almost all of the rest can be solved by a series of mediated discussions. If mediation is unsuccessful, or if what is going on appears to be part of a larger pattern, the mediator may suggest that you bring your problem to a meeting for discussion.

Advocate:

Before a problem with an individual is brought to group level, someone must step forward to act as an advocate for the individual, even if they are widely disliked. It is easy for conflict to make people act in ways that they later regret, and plenty of people are willing to act as an advocate at group level (see list of mediator volunteers on the Mediation wiki page).


Discussing personal conflicts at group level is rarely necessary, but a supportive group environment committed to discussion and de-escalation can help defuse a problematic situation, or assess if more attention to the situation is warranted. If you try to follow these suggestions, that would be totally excellent.