[oi-dev] OpenIndiana Code of Conduct

[Bruce Lilly]

This thread popped up today in my Spam folder, so out of curiosity I
read through the whole thing to see why.
No spam, but more than enough vitriol to last a lifetime -- if this is
a "community" it is surely headed for disaster.

I have read both of the drafts at
https://wiki.openindiana.org/oi/Code+of+Conduct+proposals
and
https://wiki.openindiana.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=31391953

Both have merit, but I think both could be improved in accordance with
the following principles:
1. Focus on conduct, not personalities.  Put governance and
enforcement in a separate document.
2. Promote constructive conduct, rather than threaten to punish
perceived misconduct.
3. Prefer conciseness.

I suggest modification in accordance with those principles, e.g. instead of
"What will not be tolerated:
     Discrimination based on gender, race, nationality, sexuality,
religion, age or physical disability.
"
I suggest:
"Encourage contribution without regard to gender, race, nationality,
sexuality, religion, age, physical disability..."'
-- and in light of some content in this thread, I would add --
"..., personality, politics, regional laws and/or customs, number of
prior contributions, or corporate affiliation."
(even though the addition goes somewhat against #3 above).

Whatever the result, I think it would be wise to incorporate -- either
as an Appendix or as a separate
document -- what alternatives were considered and a rationale for
rejecting them.  It will save a lot of
time (and avoid possible errors of memory) in answering the inevitable
questions.  As a bonus, it will
help to improve the document -- if no plausible rationale can be found
for rejecting a proposed
alternative, maybe it should be objectively reconsidered instead of rejected.