> Hello all, > > In light of a contentious on-list discussion in October 2011 and PLUG's > traditional lack of diversity, I am of the opinion that the group should > have a code of conduct. This need not be complex but is an important > formality in this splendidly-informal community. > > In the case of the contentious on-list discussion, several people, > myself included suggested that "you know it when you see it", as was > certainly the case in that situation. While that assertion does not > constitute a policy, I would like to explore strategies for a simple > policy that has the hooks, however simple, to the summoning of law > enforcement if necessary. > > Considering that the pursuit of software/technology freedom should begin > in school and last a lifetime, I have been exploring two ideas: > > 1. A subset of Robert Fulghum's "All I Really Need To Know I Learned In > Kindergarten", such as: > > Share everything. (!) > Play fair. > Don't hit people. > Clean up your own mess. > Don't take things that aren't yours. > Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. > Live a balanced life - > Learn some and think some > And play and work everyday some. > Be aware of wonder. > > 2. An adjusted version of the Portland Public Schools anti-bullying > policies (kudos to the schools for finally taking this seriously): > > http://www.pps.k12.or.us/departments/student-services/372.htm > > Kudos to Keith for pointing out last night how one company effectively > leveraged a school teacher for running developer meetings. > > HOPEFULLY we all learned these social skills at home and in > preschool/school but we humans all occasionally lapse. > > Thoughts? > > Michael Dexter > PLUG Volunteer > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:23:08 -0800 > From: "Wayne E. Van Loon Sr." <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [PLUG] Proposal: A PLUG Code of Conduct > To: "General Linux/UNIX discussion and help; civil and on-topic" > <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > While I think it is OK for anyone to publish a list of suggested guide > lines such as the good list below, I am opposed to any sort of conduct > police. To avoid another round of stuff similar to 2011-10, that is all > I'll say. > > Wayne > > > Michael Dexter wrote: >> Hello all, >> >> In light of a contentious on-list discussion in October 2011 and PLUG's >> traditional lack of diversity, I am of the opinion that the group should >> have a code of conduct. This need not be complex but is an important >> formality in this splendidly-informal community. >> >> In the case of the contentious on-list discussion, several people, >> myself included suggested that "you know it when you see it", as was >> certainly the case in that situation. While that assertion does not >> constitute a policy, I would like to explore strategies for a simple >> policy that has the hooks, however simple, to the summoning of law >> enforcement if necessary. >> >> Considering that the pursuit of software/technology freedom should begin >> in school and last a lifetime, I have been exploring two ideas: >> >> 1. A subset of Robert Fulghum's "All I Really Need To Know I Learned In >> Kindergarten", such as: >> >> Share everything. (!) >> Play fair. >> Don't hit people. >> Clean up your own mess. >> Don't take things that aren't yours. >> Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. >> Live a balanced life - >> Learn some and think some >> And play and work everyday some. >> Be aware of wonder. >> >> 2. An adjusted version of the Portland Public Schools anti-bullying >> policies (kudos to the schools for finally taking this seriously): >> >> http://www.pps.k12.or.us/departments/student-services/372.htm >> >> Kudos to Keith for pointing out last night how one company effectively >> leveraged a school teacher for running developer meetings. >> >> HOPEFULLY we all learned these social skills at home and in >> preschool/school but we humans all occasionally lapse. >> >> Thoughts? >> >> Michael Dexter >> PLUG Volunteer >> _______________________________________________ >> PLUG mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug >> >> >> > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 10:49:44 -0800 (PST) > From: Paul Heinlein <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [PLUG] Proposal: A PLUG Code of Conduct > To: "General Linux/UNIX discussion and help; civil and on-topic" > <[email protected]> > Message-ID: > <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-15" > > On Fri, 7 Dec 2012, Wayne E. Van Loon Sr. wrote: > >> While I think it is OK for anyone to publish a list of suggested >> guide lines such as the good list below, I am opposed to any sort of >> conduct police. To avoid another round of stuff similar to 2011-10, >> that is all I'll say. > > +1 > > Threads spin out of control all the time -- usually going off-topic, > but occasionally going off-color -- but deleting threads is about the > easiest thing to do in a decent e-mail client. > > Once the sociopath and his overly earnest (or perhaps likewise > sociopathic) correspondent realize the room is empty of spectators, > they go home. > > -- > Paul Heinlein > [email protected] > 45?38' N, 122?6' W > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 11:44:45 -0800 > From: Ronald Chmara <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [PLUG] Proposal: A PLUG Code of Conduct > To: "General Linux/UNIX discussion and help, civil and on-topic" > <[email protected]> > Message-ID: > <CAFWS2+Fwa2U=Xaw+6wGCFZPirE7fg5cCR22U_t=tkmxbxrp...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > >> Once the sociopath and his overly earnest (or perhaps likewise > sociopathic) correspondent realize the room is empty of spectators, they go > home. > > +1. > > Even if they don't realize it, eventually they tire out. I've gotten in my > fair share of useless debates over the years, and the delete key always > proved to be the most powerful solution. > > Oblig xkcd: > http://xkcd.com/386/ > > -Ronabop > > > On Fri, Dec 7, 2012 at 10:49 AM, Paul Heinlein <[email protected]> wrote: > >> On Fri, 7 Dec 2012, Wayne E. Van Loon Sr. wrote: >> >> While I think it is OK for anyone to publish a list of suggested guide >>> lines such as the good list below, I am opposed to any sort of conduct >>> police. To avoid another round of stuff similar to 2011-10, that is all >>> I'll say. >>> >> >> +1 >> >> Threads spin out of control all the time -- usually going off-topic, but >> occasionally going off-color -- but deleting threads is about the easiest >> thing to do in a decent e-mail client. >> >> Once the sociopath and his overly earnest (or perhaps likewise >> sociopathic) correspondent realize the room is empty of spectators, they >> go >> home. >> >> -- >> Paul Heinlein >> [email protected] >> 45?38' N, 122?6' W >> _______________________________________________ >> PLUG mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug >> >> > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:49:45 -0800 > From: King Beowulf <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [PLUG] Proposal: A PLUG Code of Conduct > To: [email protected] > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed > > On 12/07/2012 10:49 AM, Paul Heinlein wrote: >> On Fri, 7 Dec 2012, Wayne E. Van Loon Sr. wrote: >> >>> While I think it is OK for anyone to publish a list of suggested >>> guide lines such as the good list below, I am opposed to any sort of >>> conduct police. To avoid another round of stuff similar to 2011-10, >>> that is all I'll say. >> >> +1 >> >> Threads spin out of control all the time -- usually going off-topic, >> but occasionally going off-color -- but deleting threads is about the >> easiest thing to do in a decent e-mail client. >> >> Once the sociopath and his overly earnest (or perhaps likewise >> sociopathic) correspondent realize the room is empty of spectators, >> they go home. >> >> > +1 > > I concur. While I wasn'ton this list during the period in question, > Flame wars pop up all the time online, whether on USENET, IRC, webforums > or mail lists., etc. They can often be amusing. Amusing, or not, > deleting/blocking the offending parties is easy enough. "Don't feed the > troll." A "morality police" is not needed. After all, its all just > words: "Stick and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt > me." I sometimes think we are getting too sensitive as a culture when > we take offense and wish to prosecute what we have termed "verbal abuse" > as though we were physically injured in the attack. Although this may be > valid in person, when online, insulting language and "screaming" in all > CAPS is easily ignored as it just does not have the same impact.
I agree with all of the sentiments above with the exception of " I would like to explore strategies for a simple policy that has the hooks, however simple, to the summoning of law enforcement if necessary." I think it's fine to publish a code of conduct and encourage people to conduct themselves in ways of communication that are non-violent, non-abusive, collaborative, helpful and serve to foster community. Should a situation arise where there is a threat of physical violence then it is up to the individual to do what they feel is appropriate for their own well-being and safety. That could range from removing oneself from the email list, deleting/blocking emails, consulting with admins or long term list users in attempt to mediate or to act as witness, and contacting the authorities on your own behalf. _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
