governance

Resource Disputes: Mediating When Neighbors Compete

Test your ability to navigate conflicts over resources, fairness, and community protocols when tensions are high.

Conflicts arise throughout any extended crisis
Typical Duration
Almost certain when resources become scarce
Occurrence
High - unresolved disputes destroy cooperation networks
Severity
0 of 8 scenes complete

The Water Dispute

Week two of water main break. Municipal supply disrupted. Bottled water sold out everywhere.

But the Johnsons have a well. Hand pump, good water. They've been sharing - 5 gallons per household per day.

Then tensions emerge. Mrs. Peterson has a large family, says 5 gallons isn't enough. The Chens say they've been waiting longer. The Millers haven't contributed anything but keep showing up.

Mr. Johnson is exhausted. 'I can't do this anymore. Someone else figure out who gets what.'

You're standing in the middle of six neighbors who all need water and are starting to argue.

✓
Select All That Apply

What experience do you have with conflict resolution? (Check all that apply)

Select all that apply to your situation (pick 1 or more)
Selections will save automatically
🎯
Select One

Neighbors arguing over water distribution. How do you respond?

Choose one answer
Answer will save automatically

The Generator Complaint

Power outage, day five. The Garcias have a generator running their refrigerator, medical equipment, and lights.

The problem: it runs from 6am to 11pm. The Hendersons next door haven't slept in three nights. Their baby cries from the noise.

'We can't keep living like this,' Mrs. Henderson says, near tears.

'My wife needs her oxygen concentrator,' Mr. Garcia responds. 'What am I supposed to do?'

Both are right. Both are suffering. The noise carries across four houses. Nobody's sleeping well.

🎯
Select One

Generator noise vs. essential needs. How do you help resolve this?

Choose one answer
Answer will save automatically
✓
Select All That Apply

What skills do you have for finding solutions? (Check all that apply)

Select all that apply to your situation (pick 1 or more)
Selections will save automatically

The Food Distribution

FEMA truck delivered supplies to your neighborhood. 10 boxes of food for 15 households.

Some households prepared - they have food already. Others are completely out, kids hungry.

The Wilsons say they should get more - five kids to feed. The Taylors say they never got anything last time. The Nguyens say first come, first served is fairest.

Someone has to decide. The truck driver is waiting. Everyone's watching.

🎯
Select One

10 boxes for 15 households. How should distribution work?

Choose one answer
Answer will save automatically
✓
Select All That Apply

What governance structures exist in your neighborhood? (Check all that apply)

Select all that apply to your situation (pick 1 or more)
Selections will save automatically

Building Protocols

Crisis revealed gaps. Disputes escalated because there were no agreed rules.

Who decides distribution? How are contributions tracked? What happens when someone doesn't contribute but takes?

These questions are easier to answer before the crisis than during.

The neighborhoods that thrived had protocols. Not rigid rules, but agreed frameworks for making decisions when stakes were high.

Someone has to propose them. Someone has to facilitate agreement. Someone has to mediate when they break down.

✓
Select All That Apply

What governance systems will you help build? (Check all that apply)

Select all that apply to your situation (pick 1 or more)
Selections will save automatically
🎯
Select One

What's your role in neighborhood governance?

Choose one answer
Answer will save automatically