[TriLUG] Trilug Kode of Kondukt

Allen Freeman knieveltech at yahoo.com
Tue Aug 14 02:23:50 EDT 2007


I'd say it's time to be profoundly insulted then. Strictly speaking the concept of a comittee-approved code of conduct is profoundly insulting, the implication being we're all children who need the rules posted in the playground otherwise things get out of hand. Incidentally who defines "out of hand" in this context? This really reduces to two options, withdraw the proposal for a code of conduct and hope this blows over or keep pushing the concept and watch the group splinter. 

Cristóbal Palmer <cristobalpalmer at gmail.com> wrote: On 8/14/07, James Brigman  wrote:
>
> Think it over, carefully. It seems a pointless aggregation of such a
> negative power.

Would you be happy with it if we cut out this section:



Dealing with violators

Because this Code of Conduct is ratified by the TriLUG membership, the
Steering Committee has a responsibility to enforce it for the
protection of that membership. As such, the following guidelines will
be used to enforce the Code of Conduct to violators.

1. Initial warning in writing/email.
2. Reminder warning in writing/email.
3. Public warning in writing/email to violator and the TriLUG discussion list.
4. Removal of TriLUG membership privileges.



Yes? No? Maybe? Something else entirely? Please make a concrete
suggestion either to the list or to conduct at trilug.org. It feels like
you're mocking our earnest efforts at building this community with a
Nazi parody, and if that's the case it is profoundly insulting. Please
don't just leave it at that. Please show me that that impression is
wrong by responding with revisions that you'd be happy (or at least
happier) with.

Also, I think you're focussed on the wrong end of things. I really
think we (the current steering committee) would be ridiculously
unlikely to actually use this enforcement section. In fact I can think
of only one example where it would have applied (the "baby killer"
thread).

I think the CoC would have value even if it were completely toothless.
The point is for us to agree on what positive practices we agree are
invaluable. What are the things that we all have to remember to do to
have a healthy group? I think that reminder is valuable even for
groups that don't "need" it. It's especially valuable for groups that
want to grow or do community outreach.

Lastly, you don't think about your membership when you post to the
list? You don't think about how google will remember your words 5, 15
years from now? As an administrator for ibiblio.org I deal on a
semi-regular basis with people who want their emails removed from an
ibiblio-hosted list. They made a stupid comment back in 1997 (we've
got some _seriously_ long-running lists) and now want it erased. Do
you know how many sites mirror the TriLUG list archives? If people
aren't thinking of their membership when they post, I pray they're at
least _thinking_. I don't pretend a CoC will be a gate keeping out
such un-thinking posters; I don't think your criticism of the CoC as
something that will have a chilling effect on the list is a valid one.
Precisely the opposite: I think it will empower humble people too
timid to otherwise ask a question to join the discussion.

Cheers,
-- 
Cristóbal M. Palmer
celebrating 15 years of sunsite/metalab/ibiblio:
http://tinyurl.com/2o8hj4
-- 
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