From e0e168e4ebdd29fb070c8f16f15b59cfb776ed4e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: =?UTF-8?q?Jonas=20Sch=C3=A4fer?= Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2021 18:15:36 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] XEP-0458: Community Code of Conduct MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit As submitted to the board@ list by Dave and approved unanimously by the Board in today’s meeting. --- xep-0458.xml | 216 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 216 insertions(+) create mode 100644 xep-0458.xml diff --git a/xep-0458.xml b/xep-0458.xml new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d57967d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/xep-0458.xml @@ -0,0 +1,216 @@ + + +%ents; +]> + + +
+ Community Code of Conduct + + This document describes the XMPP Standard Foundation's Code of Conduct + + &LEGALNOTICE; + 0458 + Experimental + Procedural + None + Board + + + + N/A + &dcridland; + + 0.1.0 + 2021-06-10 + XEP Editor (jsc) + Accept as Experimental after unanimous approval by Board of the ProtoXEP draft for discussion within the community. + + + 0.0.1 + 2021-06-01 + dwd + And so it began. + +
+ +

The XMPP Standards Foundation provides a number of venues, both physical and virtual, for discussion + and community activity. These include mailing lists, chatrooms, Summits, and so on. It also + produces much output designed for the general public, such as the XEPs themselves, the website, + and kiosks or stands at actual events. Collectively, these are the XMPP Standards Foundation + Activities.

+

The Members of the Foundation, and the wider community of participants in the XSF Activities, are + diverse in viewpoints and goals. We see this as a benefit - we wish the maximize the + applicability and quality of our protocols, and therefore we wish to maximize the pool of + potential participants who might offer their unique viewpoints and help us reach new goals.

+

It makes sense that there is a Code of Conduct that applies to the behaviour we expect both of + ourselves and any other community members when participating in discussions or producing that + public output.

+ + + +

You are welcome. Ensure that you are also welcoming. We want + everyone to feel welcome no matter what the colour of their skin, the country they live + in now, or the country their ancestors came from. We want to welcome people from all + cultures, and religions, and of all sizes and shapes. We want people to be welcome no + matter their sexual identity or orientation. We want you to feel welcome no matter your + level of experience or ability. And we want you to help us make everyone else feel + welcomed, too.

+ + +

We are a diverse community, working often to multiple goals. We + assume the best intent from each other, and do not ascribe malice. Assume that if + someone is complaining about your conduct, it is because they either genuinely feel it + is exclusionary to them, or they genuinely believe it is exclusionary to others - in the + first instance, take it as a learning experience, correct your conduct and move on. If + possible, assume, too, that bad conduct from others may derive from a misunderstanding + or a lack of that learning experience rather than a deliberate attempt to exclude - in + the first instance, correct them and move on. Do not, however, use this as an excuse for + bad conduct or a reason to ignore it.

+ + +

A small amount of effort in ensuring your words are + professional and polite, and avoiding subjects and expressions that may offend, goes a + long way. Humour is not a mitigating factor here.

+

Examples of what to avoid:

+
    +
  • Racist language, whether intentional or not.
    • +
  • Threats of violence, or violent language directed against someone else.
    • +
  • Sexually explicit imagery, language, or behaviour.
    • +
+ + +

Disagreements are normal and common. Sometimes, the different goals we + have in our shared endeavour conflict, and it is important that we are able to explain + why. Criticism is essential to find the best solutions to the problems that face us. + However, it is vital that while we are open and honest in our criticism, we do so with + the calm respect we expect of others.

+

Examples of what to avoid:

+
    +
  • Personal insults.
    • +
  • Ad-hominem attacks.
    • +
+ + +

We are, fundamentally, a community of people working to + share technology with each other. We should be friendly toward each + other, and act to support each other's efforts.

+

Examples of what to avoid

+
    +
  • Impersonation of other people (copying their nickname, avatar, and so on).
    • +
  • Privacy breaches, including doxxing etc.
    • +
  • Unwelcome sexual attention.
    • +
  • Encouraging poor behaviour in others.
    • +
  • Harrassing others.
    • +
+

If you find yourself dividing the community into an + "us" and a "them", you are risking breaking this Code of Conduct.

+ + +

The examples in this document of what not to do are intended to be just that - examples. + They are not intended to be exhaustive. Many of these examples have formal definitions, + either in law or elsewhere - in general, if you are reliant on such a definition to + argue why your behaviour might be acceptable, you have already lost the argument.

+

Instead, please try to follow the spirit of this document, perhaps more so than its + words.

+ + + +

The governing principle of this Code of Conduct is that all participation in XSF Activities is + solely by permission of the XMPP Standards Foundation. No person has any automatic right to join + a chatroom, or write a XEP. Ordinarily, the XMPP Standards Foundation welcomes and encourages + participation in XSF Activities, but this guiding principle allows the XSF to partially or + completely exclude anyone from any activity, for any reason.

+

The final decision on such exclusions is made by the Board, who may from time to time appoint a Work + Team, called the Conduct Team, to act on their behalf. If the Work Team has not been appointed, + the Conduct Team is the Board.

+ + +

This Code of Conduct applies to anyone who:

+
    +
  • Acts in a capacity which could reasonably be expected to be acting on behalf of the + XMPP Standards Foundation or the wider XMPP Community.
    • +
  • Participates in any XSF Activity.
    • +
+ +

The first case may seem extremely broad. The intent here is that while good behaviour which + might be associated with the XSF and its community reflects well on us, the opposite is + also true. By explicitly stating that this Code of Conduct applies this allows the XSF + to sanction bad behaviour outside of XSF Activities should the need arise.

+

Note also that this is not intended to mean that any XMPP developer's behaviour will be + scrutinised constantly - using, for example, racist language in a talk about your XMPP + project would be problematic here, but using sexualised language in an unrelated setting + is likely to be irrelevant to this Code of Conduct.

+

However, higher standards may be applied to Members and in particular members of Board or + Council.

+ + + + +

If you witness bad conduct by somebody - that is, if you feel someone's behaviour does not + live up to this Code of Conduct - please do call it out to that person at the time, but + only if you feel able. If you feel uncomfortable to call it out that is perfectly fine + and will not affect further handling of the incident.

+

Whether or not you called it out, do one of the following:

+
    +
  • Let the Conduct Team know.
    • +
  • Let the Board know.
    • +
  • Let at least one member of the Board, and preferably more, know.
    • +
+

Who you report it to depends on who was involved in the incident.

+

Importantly, even if someone else called it out or said to you they would report it, report + it anyway.

+

When you report it, include the place, date and time, and report it as calmly as + possible.

+ + +

The Conduct Team will then discuss the incident. This should be done quickly.

+

The Conduct Team may ask for further information from you, the person accused of bad conduct, + or others who were present.

+

Finally, the Conduct Team will make a decision on sanctions or other action.

+ + +

The Conduct Team will always hand its recommendation on Sanctions or other Actions to the + Board. The Board will discuss and vote on these "in camera" (ie, not in public and not + minuted).

+

Finally, the result will normally be explained to the person accused on bad conduct, and may + be explained to the complainant. In high profile cases, the result will be announced + publicly.

+

In general terms, any announcement should be proportionate to the bad conduct and the size of + the audience which witnessed it.

+

Sanctions may consist of having the ability to participate reduced or removed from some or + all XSF Activities. Actions may include discussion with the Conduct Team. These are + non-exhaustive.

+

Many minor incidents will, therefore, not be reported publicly at all, and - even if there is + an agreement that bad conduct occurred - may not result in any visible actions at all.

+ + +

If you disagree with the decision made by the Board and you were either the subject of bad + conduct or subject to the actions or sanctions, you may appeal in writing by sending an + email to the Board. The Board will consider your argument as written and will normally + respond. The Board's decision after appeal is, however, final.

+ +

While the sanctions described herein are, by their nature, exclusionary, and much of the behaviour + discussed is negative, the intent is the opposite - we want to maximize inclusion, and promote + positive behaviours.

+ + +

It is possible for almost any behaviour to have some argument why it is not, in fact, exclusionary, + and why it's just someone taking offence too easily. It also is possible for the Code of Conduct + to be weaponised for exclusionary purposes, by using the complaints mechanism to stall or + silence valid debate. Both of these are cases where the very existence of a Code of Conduct is + used for exclusionary purposes, perverting its very intent. Obviously, don't do either.

+

"Assume Good Faith", in particular, holds the risk of an endless argument over how far to go with + that assumption, and where the burden lies - the phrasing is intended to minimize the wiggle + room there.

+

There are no simple answers to these concerns. Future Boards and Conduct teams are advised to be + wary of both cases.

+ + +

This document has no considerations for IANA.

+ + +

This document has no considerations for the XMPP Registrar.

+ +