We (Drupal community) started having this problem a few years ago when DrupalCon started to become a larger event.
After a number of (painful) iterations, this led us to our current code of conduct, derived from the Ubutu one: http://drupal.org/dcoc It might be appropriate to look in that direction from LO. 2012/10/12 Simon Phipps <[email protected]> > *tl;dr summary*: I propose the LibreOffice Conference appoint someone to > oversee inclusiveness and offer confidence harassment will be addressed in > the unlikely event it happens. > > *Detail* > Attending conferences in the USA over the last year, I have frequently > heard requests for conferences to have a policy statement to protect > attendees from harrassment of various kinds by other attendees. My > observation is these policies are hard to draft in a way that is inclusive > to the needs of all attendees and non-alienating; indeed, I have observed > some attempts at such policies themselves unwittingly alienating groups > within the conference. I believe it's important for the LibreOffice > conference that we create a welcoming and safe environment for all kinds of > attendees, so rather than attempting a detailed policy statement I'd like > to propose something different. > > I suggest designating a "Conference Moderator", who can provide a safe > haven for those of us with concerns about some aspect of the conference and > a trusted advocate to take whatever steps are possible to address problems > if they arise. I thus propose the following: > > 1. Add a statement such as the following to the conference web site: > "The LibreOffice community is welcoming, diverse and international. This > strength can sometimes bring with it different approaches to interaction > that are unfamiliar and even occasionally unwelcome. We all have > different > comfort zone boundaries and many of us find it good to have a friend > stand > along side us when these boundaries are crossed for whatever reason. If > there's any aspect of the event that makes you feel uncomfortable, and > you > don't feel you can discuss it directly with those responsible or that > just > walking away is an acceptable solution, the Conference Moderator will > discuss it with you in an accepting manner and act on your behalf to > bring > about a resolution if appropriate. For this year's conference, the > Document > Foundation Board has asked <name> to act as Moderator. Please contact > <name> either in-person or via <e-mail address> or <phone number>. > <name> > is authorised by the Board to take whatever steps are necessary to > address > any inappropriate actions during the conference." > 2. Ask the Document Foundation Board to seek and appoint a Moderator. > 3. Mention this arrangement in administrative remarks during the > conference. > > I believe this approach balances the need for community oversight with > the recognition of our mutual differences. All the same, I doubt I've got > it right first time and I'd welcome improvements to this proposal. > > Best regards, > > Simon > > > -- > *Simon Phipps* http://webmink.com > *Meshed Insights & Knowledge * > +1 415 683 7660 *or* +44 2380 987027 > > -- > For unsubscribe instructions e-mail to: > [email protected] > Problems? > http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ > Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette > List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/conference/ > All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be > deleted > > -- For unsubscribe instructions e-mail to: [email protected] Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/conference/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
