[FOSDEM] It's time for a Code of Conduct

[Pieter Hintjens]

Asking for upfront consensus here is not going to work.

Nor do you need it. Those who wish a COC and the (non trivial)
infrastructure to implement it should make that happen. Simply form a
FOSDEM COC committee, come to agreement on your text, publish it. Then
form a group of volunteers who will station areas on the campus. Hand
each visitor a copy of the COC. Make sure your staff are present full
time, and do not drink any beer. You can find plenty of safe spaces.
It should be easy to document any incidents, and provide support in
case of need to file criminal complaints.

None of this needs agreement from the FOSDEM organizers, does it.
You're not asking them for any resources, time, or formal spaces.

-Pieter Hintjens


On Fri, Oct 30, 2015 at 1:23 PM, Stephan Eggermont <stephan at stack.nl> wrote:
>
>
> Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPhone
>
>> Op 30 okt. 2015 om 11:25 heeft Christophe Vandeplas <christophe at vandeplas.com> het volgende geschreven:
>>
>> It's funny how some subjects become a repeatable story a few months
>> before FOSDEM  .
>
> That is easily explained: there are needs that aren't being addressed.
>
> A CoC is a way some people hope to address those needs. Other people express doubts that adding a paper statement will have any, or the wished, effect.
>
> Fosdem is about freedom and openness. Being open to everyone who wants to participate can conflict with freedom to express yourself and the organization creates its own balance in that.
>
> When looking at the participation, I can see why people feel the need for more inclusiveness. If minorities say they don't feel welcome, and fear harassment, ignoring those feelings and the underlying needs achieves nothing.
>
> While we cannot meet all needs, we can acknowledge them as valid needs and explain the chosen balance and policy.
>
> Stephan Eggermont
>
>
>
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