On Mon, Mar 09, 2009 at 08:29:19AM -0400, Seth Vidal wrote:
On Mon, 9 Mar 2009, Richard W.M. Jones wrote:
On Mon, Mar 09, 2009 at 07:34:07AM -0400, Josh Boyer wrote:
On Mon, Mar 09, 2009 at 11:10:52AM +0000, Richard W.M. Jones wrote:
I'll also point out that Fedora has existed for a number of years without a documented code of conduct. While the document you pointed to is certainly nice, I don't see the need to write down and require everyone to sign something that is just plain common sense.
It can be useful to formally write down things which are 'plain common sense', so that when someone isn't showing common sense you can point them to it and say 'you are violating this rule, stop'.
and then what?
After someone says 'stop', if the person either 1. does not agree with the code or 2. does not believe themselves to be violating the code then what will fesco or the board or whomever do?
Delete the user's account? Socially ostracize them? What?
Codes of Conduct are silly unless there is some enforcement and enforcing behavior in a volunteer organization is extremely hard.
I've only been using Fedora for about a week now, previously I used Debian for the past 10 years. Debian has various processes for dealing with difficult people. If anyone (including developers) continually is difficult on a mailing list then they are banned from the list. If a developer behaves badly enough, a motion can be presented for a call to vote for expulsion. I recall this happening a couple of times over the years.
I'm not a big fan of Ubuntu, but I do think that they are on to something with a code of conduct that can help to keep things civil.
Just my 2p
Dan