A mini code of conduct
Summary
I am proposing a mini code of conduct (see centered in bold italics below) that is simple and easy but effective, to be used for ATAAW and -with the benefit of discussion and some experience here- to be suggested to Joomla for the planned social site.
Existing approach
Online communities, like any other community, need some sort of guidance of the behaviour of their members. I do not mean guidance in the form of moderation, I mean the rules (written or not) that both behaviour and moderation are based on, and that concern not only forum posts but any behaviour in the community. Without these, small and simple discussions can explode into polemics or worse. Usually a code of conduct is used for this purpose, which you could see as a sort of generic version of what forum rules are usually like.
Ubuntu has one of the most admired codes of conduct, as is evident from the fact that other communities have used it (including Joomla). They are allowed to do so, because the Ubuntu code of conduct is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license. It is not a very long code, it is clearly written, and it works in practice. So as such there is no need to wonder if there is perhaps a better way to give behavioural guidance. Still, having thought about it, I think there is room for improvement.
If you look at the first two points of the Ubuntu (or Joomla) code of conduct, you will see that it is about others, and how to deal with others in a positive way. The following three points are about working together in a meaningful way. The sixth point hopes to inspire a happy ending when things do not work out well. What I am missing in all of these points except the second ("Be respectful") is their value as a principle, something that has a broad meaning but can quite easily be applied to any detailed situation. To me it seems that the Ubuntu code of conduct looks like a list of principles while in actual fact it is an incomplete list of randomly selected practical tips. Moreover, to my mind, these practical tips call out for moderation and are of much less use where there is peer moderation and no administrative moderation. Something else I do not like much in this code of conduct is that it is a bit too long to remember, and in reality few people look up a code of conduct before it is too late.
Alternative approach
I would much prefer some short guiding principles which any Tom, Dick and Harriet could remember and apply to a practical assessment of any situation. What I am after is something short enough to put in a footer or explain in an elevator, yet clear enough to be understood almost instantly, and something that can be remembered easily without having to look it up, but which can cover pretty much anything going on within the community.
I will try to pull this trick out of the hat, and my approach is to try and come up with a few words describing the sort of interaction concerned as well as with some keywords that are broad and clear enough to serve as principles. Then I want to put the description and keywords together using a verb that is personal and perhaps instils a feeling of responsibility and pride.
So, here it is: a complete code of conduct the size of an elevator pitch that can be remembered easily and that is general enough to be applicable in any situation.
Network and exchange help by being constructive, open, understanding, respectful and fair.
All criticism is welcome - preferably in line with this code of conduct!
Proposal
ATAAW
Here on ATAAW we do not have a code of conduct. The closest we have is from New here? Read this if you are getting started:
"There is a strong sentiment here that as professionals, we do not want to be moderated or moderate others. We agree, instead, to be polite and respectful and be responsible for our own interpersonal challenges. We will disagree. It's not a bad sign if people disagree, even strongly, it simply means people care. It can sometimes be a good idea to step away for awhile and cool off. It never hurts to apologize. It's sometimes good to step in and help when it doesn't seem a disagreement is coming to a good conclusion. It is everyone's job is to help one another.
Exceptions to "no moderation": Racist statements and personal attacks. If you are asked to remove, please do so immediately. Sorry to even have to mention this since most of us understand these types of comments are toxic and harm communities, and therefore cannot be tolerated."
For most of the time, we don't actually need a code of conduct, which is why I haven't felt an urgent need to propose it in the time since I made the MCOC. Still, I would like to propose that we adopt the above mini code of conduct. I have two reasons for proposing this: I think it will not harm ATAAW if this community does not gain from it; and I think by adopting it we can help Joomla (see below).
Joomla
If you have not seen it yet, Joomla has made a Request for Comments about a social site (see Joomla Social Site RFC). You can provide comments using a Google form. One of the questions raised is the following:
"Also, we know that one highly valued thing about the Joomla.org family of sites is the positive atmosphere, lack of blatant commercialism and general friendliness. The forums have a really effective set of rules for posting that we'd probably adapt for this site. What ideas do you have about overall guidelines for behavior on a joomla.org social site?"
Regardless of whether this would be competition for or duplication of ATAAW and regardless of whether it will succeed, having the experience of this peer-moderated community and knowing that a Joomla social site would be built for us amongst others, ATAAW can and should help this initiative. However, in terms of a more varied and less professional membership base, our experience may be lacking a bit as an example for Joomla to follow. I do not think our peer-moderated approach lacks as such, what I think could be lacking is a statement of community ethics that can be referred to when, in a more varied community, there is no good consensus about what is right or wrong. At the same time, I do not think something like forum rules or even like the Joomla code of conduct would help much, because these rules are geared to be used by moderators. To my mind, a mini code of conduct like the one above could fill the gap. Should Joomla opt for moderation on the social site, then still the mini code could be a helpful tool.
Together
What I would like to propose is that we adopt something like the mini code of conduct for ATAAW, both to our own benefit and to be able to suggest it to Joomla as a tool to facilitate peer-moderation on the social site after gain some experience with it while Joomla's social site is being built. In other words, I hope the mini code of conduct can be of help to ATAAW as well as to Joomla's social site to be.
As a final note, I think this mini code of conduct could actually be used for all of Joomla, but at least for the time being it seems better to focus on the social site in the making.
Views: 11
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Comment by Ewout Wierda on April 20, 2010 at 6:17am -
Here are some extra comments on how I came to the mini code of conduct.
Description of interaction
I believe it is good to describe the purpose of interaction in a code of conduct because that in itself gives some guidance to what goes on. For example, I am sure everyone agrees that this is not a photo sharing site, so if a developer's profile is used to share holiday photos with friends and family then that would probably not be appreciated by most members.
In every situation where people meet, online as well as offline, what they do is different. So it is not easy to describe whatever they might be up to in a few words. On the other hand, in a network like ATAAW, or a collaborative community like Joomla, it is fairly clear what most interaction is about.
To begin with, in ATAAW people exchange information and ideas, and make contact both professionally and on a personal level. So, to me it seems that ATAAW is a mix between a social network and a professional network, where the activity is best described simply as networking.
As to Joomla, I think it is important to recognise that in a collaborative community it is all about help: help to the project; help to other volunteers; help to peers; and help to users. For some it is about giving help, for others about getting help, and hopefully for most it is about both giving and receiving. In short, I would describe the activities in a collaborative community as the exchange of help.
Although ATAAW and Joomla have slightly different types of interaction, I would like to capture them both. While there is some networking in Joomla, there is some collaboration in ATAAW.
Keywords as principles
In picking keywords that can serve as principles, I want to see if this can be a list in which one keyword more or less follows from the other to connect any activity with the elusive holy grail of human interaction.
1. The first keyword of my choice, constructiveness, follows from the fact that collaborative communities and online networks are all about communication and help. It is near impossible to communicate meaningfully or to be helpful without being constructive. What is also captured in this is a forward-looking and solution-oriented mindset.
2. Openness as the second keyword I chose is a connection between constructiveness and understanding in that it facilitates both. Openness makes a constructive effort more effective, and understanding easier. Moreover, in its own right, openness creates trust. Obviously, transparency and openness are intimately related.
3. I have chosen understanding as the third keyword, because understanding is essential in any fruitful and meaningful human relationship. Seen the other way around:where understanding lacks, conflict is likely to arise. It depends on openness and like openness it inspires trust, and at the same time it is what respect is
based on.
4. Respect, as the fourth keyword I chose, is such a buzz word in social interaction these days that it cannot be left out. In as much as respect tends to follow from understanding, it is quite likely that people will treat each other fairly once they respect each other. Respect itself is also what can keep people from being obnoxious and rude. I think it should be taken to include self-respect.
5. The fifth keyword of my choice is what I referred to as the elusive holy grail of human interaction: fairness. You could say that fairness is a voyage, not a destination, but it is a voyage worth making. When people are not treated fairly, they are pushed into a corner, and there they lack the option of flight so they are forced to fight. When people feel they have been treated fairly, they can disagree without feeling the need to turn a discussion into a conflict.
Possible use
This code of conduct could be used for ATAAW, Joomla and any other community, be it online or offline. If need be, the description of the activities concerned can be changed, for example to something like 'Share videos' in the case of YouTube, 'Find dates' on a dating site, or 'Participate in debates' for a debating society.
It can be referred to in various ways. Because it is so short, it can be placed in the footer of web pages, emails and forum posts, as the text of a tick box to be agreed to, and pretty much any other place where it might be good to remind people. You could put it on a t-shirt if you would want that.
In practical terms, it can easily be used to assess and question behaviour. For example, you might ask "Are you sure your reply is constructive?" when somebody throws out an idea without showing that there is a better
alternative. You could ask "Are you sure you have been open?" when somebody presents his commercial software as a better alternative without disclosing his interest. If somebody argues against an idea on the basis of wrong assumptions, you can wonder "Are you sure you have understood what I said?" Obviously, if some rudeness occurs the question is "Are you sure you are behaving respectfully?" If somebody is accusing you of something you have not done you may simply ask "Are you sure you are being fair?" Etcetera.
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Comment by Robert Vining on April 20, 2010 at 3:23pm -
This is a very heavy discussion that will need my full attention to comment on. I will try to make time tonight after work to read through it all Ewout.
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Comment by Ewout Wierda on April 20, 2010 at 3:31pm
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No hurry :) I just wanted to make this one-liner available at this time when plans are made for ATAAW as well as a J! social site. The MCOC will still be here tomorrow and afterwards...
And perhaps we shouldn't let this become needlessly complicated by the current discussions elsewhere about Joomla's social site.
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Comment by Amy Stephen on April 22, 2010 at 12:44pm
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Network and exchange help by being constructive, open, understanding, respectful and fair.
+1
To be honest, I suggest you re-post with only that phrase so people really focus on it.
It is excellent.
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A code of conduct is for an individual to apply to one's own behavior.
Leo - this type of behavior does not pass that test. Don't do it here.
For other readers: This in no way reflects the attitude of others here at ATAAW. We are here to contribute to making Joomla! better and support one another.
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Simply put, Leo, you need to think before you post.
Linking to the Joomla! forums from here - to show us how you are using this code of conduct concept against a long-time contributor is not respectful to him - nor is it respectful to us, either. It suggests that we approve of you doing this. What you are doing is nothing more than finger pointing and gossip.
It's not open, either, as the people in the forum were not told you invited a gallery of observers to watch as you experiment on them. How would you feel?
If you want to introduce improvements in the Joomla! forums, might I suggest you should do so there.?Those are the people who are responsible for that resource and any constructive ideas you might have are best shared at that location. Then, you are part of the process and far more likely to bring the change you hope to bring.
Here, we are trying to create conditions for community members to collaborate with one another, to find and take advantage of opportunities to contribute, and to strengthen our community and project.
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Leo - Ideas about improvements for the Joomla! forums are best introduced at that location.
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Comment by Jeremy Wilken on April 24, 2010 at 10:19am -
The Joomla Forums are not part of our jurisdiction, nor is it an appropriate use of this thread, so lets jump back on topic for Ewout.
To bring us back to the topic at hand, here is the mini code of conduct as presented.
Network and exchange help by being constructive, open, understanding, respectful and fair.
I think the code needs a little personalization. Right now, its a code that might might hang on the wall in the corporate office and everyone sees it, but since its not very personal it doesn't carry the same weight.
I'm going to offer up a few alterations. The core content remains, but the wording has changed to include personal references.
I pledge to be constructive, open, understanding, respectful and fair as a member of ATAAW in order to network and exchange help with others.
The main reason I like this better is that it throws more emphasis on the reader of the code. Its important to me that a code impose a personal reflection rather than a creed.
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Comment by HarryB on April 25, 2010 at 7:57am -
Same concept but still in short and to the point "elevator pitch" form.
I will network and exchange help by being constructive, open, understanding, respectful and fair.
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Comment by HarryB on April 25, 2010 at 8:03am
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And +1 to Jeremy for this:
The Joomla Forums are not part of our jurisdiction, nor is it an appropriate use of this thread, so lets jump back on topic for Ewout.
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