This page is currently inactive and is retained for historical reference. The RFC/U process has been discontinued as a result of this discussion. Other dispute resolution processes should be used for conduct issues.

RfCs which do not meet the minimum requirements should be marked for speedy deletion with {{db-maintenance|This RfC/U is uncertified. Per [[Wikipedia:Rfc/u#Minimum_requirements]], "Before requesting community comment, at least two editors must have contacted the user on their talk page, or the talk pages involved in the dispute, and tried but failed to resolve the problem. '''Any RfC not accompanied by evidence showing that two users tried and failed to resolve the same dispute may be deleted after 48 hours as "uncertified".''' The evidence, preferably in the form of diffs, should not simply show the dispute itself, but should show attempts to find a resolution or compromise. The users certifying the dispute must be the same users who were involved in the attempt to resolve it."}} after 48 hours.

Certified disputes may be closed under any of the following circumstances:

1. If no additional complaints are registered for an extended period of time, and the dispute appears to have stopped, or after about a month from opening, if no progress is being made. From the main page, such RfC/Us are typically "delisted due to inactivity" but may be "delisted due to lack of progress".
2. The dispute proceeds to another method of dispute resolution, such as mediation or arbitration.
3. The parties and/or participants to the dispute agree (via a motion on the talk page of that RfC/U).

Closing due to inactivity

RfC/Us are closed when no additional complaints are registered for an extended period of time, and/or the dispute appears to have stopped. Typically, the major activity in an RfC/U is usually within the first couple of weeks, and few discussions are productive after a very long time. On average, activity falls at an RfC/U after the first couple of weeks, and they are often closed a couple of weeks after major activity has ended even if the dispute is not fully resolved. Discussions may be closed early if the dispute has been resolved (see #Closing by agreement below), or, occasionally, discussions may continue longer if they appear to be making progress towards resolving the dispute. To close the RfC/U due to inactivity:

1. Delist the RfC/U so that it no longer appears at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User conduct/UsersList in line with the instructions on that page.
2. Add the following text to the top of the RfC/U: {{ rfcuarchivetop}}.
3. Add the following text below that so that it appears at the bottom of the RfC/U: {{ rfcuarchivebottom}}.
4. Add it to the archives at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User conduct/Archive.

Closing due to other dispute resolution

RfC/Us are also closed when the dispute has proceeded to another venue in dispute resolution. Bear in mind that if it has proceeded to arbitration or mediation, a case needs to have been accepted and opened before the RfC/U should be closed. To close the RfC/U accordingly:

1. Delist the RfC/U so that it no longer appears at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User conduct in line with the instructions on that page.
2. Add the following text to the top of the RfC/U: {{ rfcuarchivesummarytop}}.
3. Add the following text to the bottom of the RfC/U (below where it says "--->"): ==Summary==
4. Write the summary with a link to the exact venue/case where dispute resolution is continuing (e.g. "proceeded to [ arbitration]/[ mediation]").
5. Add the following text below that so that it appears at the bottom of the RfC/U: {{ rfcuarchivebottom}}.
6. Add it to the archives at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User conduct/Archive. Please make a note of where the dispute resolution process continued.

Closing by agreement

RfC/Us which are closed by agreement require a motion to close; this motion should be visible on the talk page of the RfC/U. Here, other participants can either express their support or opposition to closing at this time. Closure by agreement may or may not include a summary of the dispute or agreement.

It is also possible to request that an administrator close the RfC/U by leaving a note at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard.

However, where a summary is disputed, all participants must agree at the RfC/U talk page on which summary to use. This is because in the absence of a clear consensus one way or another, writing the closer's own view of the dispute as the summary/close has been considered controversial in the past. In case a wording has not been agreed upon, the RfC/U should be closed as if it was being closed due to inactivity (or closed due to other dispute resolution).

If the consensus favours closing by agreement with a summary, the RfC/U can be closed in the following way:

1. Delist the RfC/U so that it no longer appears at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User conduct in line with the instructions on that page.
2. Add the following text to the top of the RfC/U: {{ rfcuarchivesummarytop}}.
3. Add the following text to the bottom of the RfC/U (below where it says "--->"): ==Summary==
4. An uninvolved user should then write the summary that is agreed upon at the talk page by participants, or the default summary.
5. Add the following text below that so that it appears at the bottom of the RfC/U: {{ rfcuarchivebottom}}.
6. Add it to the archives at Wikipedia:Requests for comment/User conduct/Archive with a very brief summary of the outcome.

Occasionally, an RfC/U will be suspended because a significant participant is not currently available. The participant may be unavailable for any reason, including a voluntary withdrawal from editing, being blocked or banned, or the demands of travel, work, school or illness. If the person's absence makes effective dispute resolution unlikely, then the RfC/U may be suspended and then re-opened upon the return of the participant.