I happen to have the (perhaps unpopular) opinion that CoC enforcement should tend towards a light hand, and in most cases where an issue arises it is usually not the intent of the offending part to offend -- and more often than not no actual offense is taken. Public correction is often more harmful to the community harmony than the actual incident. I also have the (perhaps unpopular) opinion that vigorous CoC enforcement has the distinct potential to do irreparable harm to a community -- as in all things balance is better.
I think it therefore makes sense to limit corrective actions (including those reprimands or reminders) *and* enforcement to a conduct team, which should be made up of folks who are broadly trusted not to create a police state around thought control and expression, and who have an interest in ensuring that the community is welcoming for everyone. Strongly judgmental persons or those or who are likely to take offense at minor slights are probably not the best suited to the role. It should be persons who themselves are thick skinned, while reasonably sensitive to the feelings of others -- and persons who have demonstrated an ability to communicate without giving or taking offense themselves. It's also important, I think, that it be a committee, and ideally should itself be diverse if possible. All that said, it is *sometimes* (rarely!) appropriate that a public reply made -- for example in egregious cases, where one party clearly and willfully steps over the bounds. Or is a repeat offender, and disruptive to the harmony of the community or is creating an unwelcoming environment. In those cases, I think it is *especially* important that the correction *not* come from random community members, but from someone acting in some sort of official capacity. It's important that nobody becomes, or is perceived to become, some sort of vigilante. This is particularly true if conduct violations may lead to other more serious consequences. - Garrett ------------------------------------------ openzfs: openzfs-developer Permalink: https://openzfs.topicbox.com/groups/developer/T91ab128e3e20cf25-M287e8afa71613c500021ba48 Delivery options: https://openzfs.topicbox.com/groups/developer/subscription
