Bharatwiki Socrates: Created page with "{{Bharatpedia information page|BP:RFC|BP:RfC}} {{nutshell|Requests for comment (RfC) is a process for requesting outside input on disputes, policies, guidelines, or article content. It uses centralized noticeboards and bot-delivered invitations to advertise discussions to uninvolved editors.}} {{Dispute resolution}} '''Requests for comment''' ('''RfC''') is an informal, lightweight process for requesting outside input, and Bharatpedia:Dispute resolution|dispute resolut..."

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Created page with "{{Bharatpedia information page|BP:RFC|BP:RfC}} {{nutshell|Requests for comment (RfC) is a process for requesting outside input on disputes, policies, guidelines, or article content. It uses centralized noticeboards and bot-delivered invitations to advertise discussions to uninvolved editors.}} {{Dispute resolution}} '''Requests for comment''' ('''RfC''') is an informal, lightweight process for requesting outside input, and Bharatpedia:Dispute resolution|dispute resolut..."

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{{Bharatpedia information page|BP:RFC|BP:RfC}}
{{nutshell|Requests for comment (RfC) is a process for requesting outside input on disputes, policies, guidelines, or article content. It uses centralized noticeboards and bot-delivered invitations to advertise discussions to uninvolved editors.}}
{{Dispute resolution}}
'''Requests for comment''' ('''RfC''') is an informal, lightweight process for requesting outside input, and [[Bharatpedia:Dispute resolution|dispute resolution]], with respect to article content, user conduct, and Bharatpedia policy and guidelines.<ref name="rfc-intro">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment]] (introductory section).</ref> This page describes the process, including instructions for how and why to create a request for comment, to participate in one, and to end one.

RfC is one of several processes available within Bharatpedia's [[Bharatpedia:Dispute resolution|dispute resolution system]].<ref name="rfc-drs">[[Bharatpedia:Dispute resolution]].</ref> Alternative processes include [[Bharatpedia:Third opinion|third opinion]], the [[Bharatpedia:Reliable sources noticeboard|reliable sources noticeboard]], the [[Bharatpedia:Neutral point of view noticeboard|neutral point of view noticeboard]], the [[Bharatpedia:Dispute resolution noticeboard|dispute resolution noticeboard]], and, for editors' behavior, the [[Bharatpedia:Administrators' incident noticeboard|administrator's incident noticeboard]] and [[Bharatpedia:Arbitration|binding arbitration]].<ref name="rfc-alt">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment]] § Alternative processes.</ref>

A list of all current RfCs can be found at [[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment/All]] ([[BP:RFC/A]]).<ref name="rfc-all">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment/All]].</ref> An archive of selected past RfCs and other discussions can be found at [[Bharatpedia:Centralized discussion/Archive]].<ref name="rfc-archive">[[Bharatpedia:Centralized discussion/Archive]].</ref>

== What an RfC is ==
A request for comment (RfC) is a way to ask the [[Bharatpedia:Community|Bharatpedia community]] for outside input on a dispute, policy proposal, or content question.<ref name="rfc-what">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment]] § What an RfC is.</ref> It is used when a discussion on a talk page has stalled, when a decision affects a broad area of the encyclopedia, or when a fresh perspective from uninvolved editors would be helpful. RfCs are not votes; they are structured discussions intended to gauge [[Bharatpedia:Consensus|consensus]].<ref name="rfc-consensus">[[Bharatpedia:Consensus]].</ref>

An RfC typically consists of:
* A neutrally worded '''question or statement''' presented at the top of a talk page section.
* A '''notice''' (via the {{tl|rfc}} template) that categorizes the discussion and, in some configurations, alerts a [[Bharatpedia:Bots|bot]] to advertise it.
* A '''discussion period''' during which any editor may comment, typically lasting at least seven days and often up to thirty.<ref name="rfc-duration">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment]] § Duration.</ref>
* A '''closure''' by an uninvolved editor, who summarizes the discussion and determines the consensus outcome.

== When to use an RfC ==
An RfC is appropriate when:<ref name="rfc-when">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment]] § When to use an RfC.</ref>
* A talk page discussion has reached an impasse and additional input is needed.
* A proposed change to a [[Bharatpedia:Policies and guidelines|policy or guideline]] would benefit from broad community review.
* A content dispute involves multiple editors and a centralized discussion would help resolve it.
* A user-conduct issue requires community attention (though for urgent incidents, the [[Bharatpedia:Administrators' incident noticeboard|administrators' incident noticeboard]] may be more appropriate).

Before starting an RfC, editors are strongly encouraged to first attempt to resolve the matter through ordinary talk page discussion, following the principle of [[Bharatpedia:Dispute resolution#First resort: talk to the other parties involved|talking to the other parties involved]].<ref name="rfc-first">[[Bharatpedia:Dispute resolution]]: "First resort: talk to the other parties involved."</ref>

== Types of RfC ==
RfCs are broadly categorized by topic, which determines where they are listed and who is invited to participate:<ref name="rfc-types">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment]] § Types of RfC.</ref>
* '''Content RfCs''' concern the wording, sourcing, or inclusion of material in an article or set of articles.
* '''Policy and guideline RfCs''' concern proposed changes to Bharatpedia's policies and guidelines.
* '''User-conduct RfCs''' concern the behavior of one or more editors. These are subject to specific [[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment/User conduct|conduct procedures]].
* '''Style and naming RfCs''' concern the [[Bharatpedia:Manual of Style|Manual of Style]] and [[Bharatpedia:Article titles|article titles]].

== How to create an RfC ==
To create an RfC:<ref name="rfc-create">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment]] § How to create an RfC.</ref>
# Start a new section on the talk page of the article, policy, or user page in question.
# Write a concise, neutral statement of the issue and a specific question for editors to answer.
# Add the {{tl|rfc}} template at the top of the section, with the appropriate topic parameter. For example: <code><nowiki>{{rfc|bio}}</nowiki></code> for a biography-related content RfC, or <code><nowiki>{{rfc|policy}}</nowiki></code> for a policy proposal.
# Sign your post with four tildes (<code><nowiki>~~~~</nowiki></code>).
# If required by the topic category, the {{tl|rfc}} template will automatically list the discussion at the appropriate [[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment/Request board|request board]] and may trigger a bot to send [[Bharatpedia:Feedback request service|feedback requests]] to editors who have signed up for that topic.

A list of current RfC topic categories and their corresponding parameters can be found at [[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment/Request board]].<ref name="rfc-board">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment/Request board]].</ref>

== How to participate in an RfC ==
Any editor may participate in an open RfC, whether or not they were invited.<ref name="rfc-participate">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment]] § How to participate.</ref> When commenting:
* Read the initial statement and any prior discussion carefully.
* Comment in the designated section, typically below the statement, using standard [[Bharatpedia:Talk page guidelines|talk page conventions]].
* Sign your comment with four tildes.
* Avoid [[Bharatpedia:No personal attacks|personal attacks]] and remain [[Bharatpedia:Civility|civil]].
* Base your comments on Bharatpedia's [[Bharatpedia:Core content policies|content policies]] and [[Bharatpedia:Reliable sources|reliable sources]], not on personal opinion alone.
* If the discussion is long, use [[Bharatpedia:Indentation|indentation]] to keep threads readable.

== How to end an RfC ==
An RfC is typically closed by an uninvolved editor after a minimum of seven days, and usually no later than thirty days, though duration may vary with the complexity of the topic.<ref name="rfc-close">[[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment]] § How to end an RfC.</ref> The closer should:
* Assess the strength of the arguments presented, not merely count votes.
* Determine the [[Bharatpedia:Consensus#Rough consensus|rough consensus]] of the discussion.
* Summarize the outcome in a closing statement.
* Remove the {{tl|rfc}} template from the talk page section, if appropriate.
* Update [[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment/All]] accordingly.

If no uninvolved editor volunteers to close a mature RfC, a request may be posted at [[Bharatpedia:Closure requests]].<ref name="rfc-closure">[[Bharatpedia:Closure requests]].</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Bharatpedia:Dispute resolution]]
* [[Bharatpedia:Third opinion]]
* [[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment/All]]
* [[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment/Request board]]
* [[Bharatpedia:Requests for comment/User conduct]]
* [[Bharatpedia:Closure requests]]
* [[Bharatpedia:Centralized discussion]]
* [[Bharatpedia:Feedback request service]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Bharatpedia dispute resolution|Requests for comment]]
[[Category:Bharatpedia requests|Requests for comment]]
[[Category:Bharatpedia project content guidelines|Requests for comment]]
[[Category:Bharatpedia discussion|Requests for comment]]

Bharatpedia:Requests for comment - Revision history