" 
 ::::Like I said any questions over who should participate can be included in the actual mediation, although it certainly is not an ideal situation. One thing you have to bear in mind is that mediations are not as effective when there are a number of contributors. Mediators may decide to have only two people involved in the mediation (allowing each 'side' to have a spokesperson). This is to try and stop the mediation becoming too lengthy, and to try and focus the mediation. This is in no way trying to defend the exclusion of a particular user, but to give you another angle to think about. Do you think that this extra person will add a lot to the mediation, or is it a case of this person merely reinforcing the rest of one side's views? Like I said the mediator, whoever that may be (I shall recuse myself from this case now, as I have become quite invovled already) may choose to have only the two 'voices' in the mediation. If this happens would this affect your view on having an extra partcipant? The fact that there is a RfM suggests that there has been a certain amount of disagreement over a number of issues for a relatively long time. For everyone's interests it is best to try and get this case mediator as soon as possible, so I would urge you to consider the points I've made above, and decide whether you would still be interested in the mediation. e "