Rethinking Codes of Conduct

Did you know that the Python Software Foundation Code of Conduct is turning 10 years old in 2023? It was voted in as they felt they were “unbalanced and not seeing the true spectrum of the greater community”. Why is that a big thing? Come to my talk and find out!

Presented at PyConDE & PyDataBerlin 2023

https://2023.pycon.de/program/AWBLKN/

Transcript

1. RETHINKING CODES OF CONDUCT TEREZA IOFCIU The Three Races Or Equality Before The Law, by Francisco Laso, 1859
2. ABOUT ME SHE/HER HELLO@TEREZAIOFCIU.COM
3. WHO HERE IS CONTRIBUTING TO OPEN SOURCE? Contributors Maintainers Bug Reports
4. THE INVISIBLE WORK IN OPEN SOURCE Education Support Spreading the word Governance Organizing events Volunteering at events
5. THE GLUE IS THE COMMUNITY Contributors Maintainers Education Bug Reports Support Spreading the word Governance Organizing events Volunteering at events
6. “CAME FOR THE LANGUAGE STAYED FOR THE COMMUNITY” - BRETT CANNON WHY DO WE LIKE PYTHON? PYCON 2017 - HTTPS://KUSHALDAS.IN/ POSTS/PYCON-PUNE-2017.HTML
7. FROM A GERMAN PERSPECTIVE 😅 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE PYTHON COMMUNITY 1991 Guido von Rossum releases f irst Python 2001 the Python Software Foundation was formed 2003 f irst PyConUS 2004 the Python Software Verband was formed 2013 the PSF announces its f irst Code of Conduct 2012 NumFOCUS gets created ~2018 Sage Sharp Otter Technologies updates the PSF COC 2011 f irst PyConDE
8. WHY WAS A CODE OF CONDUCT NEEDED? IT WAS VOTED IN AS THEY FELT THEY WERE “UNBALANCED AND NOT SEEING THE TRUE SPECTRUM OF THE GREATER COMMUNITY”. AND THOUGHT THAT WITH TIME THEY COULD “ADVANCE TOWARDS A MORE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION.”[1] HTTPS://PYFOUND.BLOGSPOT.COM/2013/06/ANNOUNCING-CODE-OF- CONDUCT-FOR-USE-BY.HTML
9. THINK OF A SITUATION WHERE .. You had a con f lict or tension with another person You were stalked or harassed You were stereotyped based on perceived demographics Someone wrote or spoke using language that made you feel unwelcome
10. THINK OF A SITUATION WHERE .. Someone had a con f lict or tension with you You stalked or harassed someone You stereotyped based on perceived demographics You wrote or spoke using language that made someone feel unwelcome
11. WHO IS CONTRIBUTING TO OSS? SOURCE: THE GEOGRAPHY OF OPEN SOURCE WWW.SCIENCEDIRECT.COM/SCIENCE/ARTICLE/PII/S0040162522000105 Country % Per 100k USA 24,6 % 44 Germany 5.7% 39
12. A CODE OF CONDUCT CAN BE A FRAMEWORK TO HELP US TRULY COMMUNICATE GLOBALLY IN A SUCCESSFUL WAY
13. CODE OF CONDUCT @PSF THE PYTHON COMMUNITY IS MADE UP OF MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE WITH A DIVERSE SET OF SKILLS, PERSONALITIES, AND EXPERIENCES. IT IS THROUGH THESE DIFFERENCES THAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES GREAT SUCCESSES AND CONTINUED GROWTH. WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THIS CODE OF CONDUCT WILL HELP STEER YOUR INTERACTIONS AND KEEP PYTHON A POSITIVE, SUCCESSFUL, AND GROWING COMMUNITY. HTTPS://WWW.PYTHON.ORG/PSF/CONDUCT/
14. CODES OF CONDUCT ENCODE THE CORE VALUES AND NORMS OF THE COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, INCLUSIVITY, RESPECTFULNESS, AND BEING OPEN AND CONSIDERATE. PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO NEWCOMERS AND CAN SIGNAL TO MARGINALIZED PEOPLE THAT THE OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY CARES.
15. WHEN YOUR CODE OF CONDUCT IS NOT WORKING
16. LINUX FOUNDATION DEI SURVEY 2021 - WHAT ARE THE REPORTING STATISTICS IN YOUR COMMUNITY? IS MY COC PROCESS WORKING? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
17. WHAT I HAVE NOTICED… POORLY WRITTEN COC - HARD TO IDENTIFY YOUR SITUATION - VAGUE STATEMENTS -> UP FOR INTERPRETATION
18. WHAT I HAVE NOTICED… COC IS TREATED AS A TECHNICALITY - LACK OF PROCESS TO DEAL WITH REPORTS - LEADING TO LACK OF TRUST
19. WHAT I HAVE NOTICED… COC IS AN ANNOYING MUST HAVE, SOMETHING THAT GETS FORGOTTEN AND ADDED AT THE END .. AN AFTERTHOUGHT AND NO ENFORCING COMMITTEE LINUX FOUNDATION DEI SURVEY 30% ARE UNSURE CODES OF CONDUCT WILL BE ENFORCED
20. WHAT I HAVE NOTICED… CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - PEOPLE IN THE COC COMMITTEE ARE THE ONES WHOM THE REPORT IS ABOUT - OR FRIENDS OF… ONE NEEDS TO RECUSE THEMSELVES MOST OF THE TIME
21. WHAT I HAVE NOTICED… PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THINK THE ROLE OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS TO BE THE POLICE
22. HOW TO GET YOUR CODE OF CONDUCT WORKING
23. WRITING A STRONG COC - VALUES THE VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY ARE EXPLICITLY MENTIONED AND THEY REPRESENT THE MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY
24. WRITING A STRONG COC - VALUES THE PSF ONE IS UNDER THE CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION SHAREALIKE LICENCE HTTPS://WWW.PYTHON.ORG/PSF/CONDUCT/
25. WRITING A STRONG COC - NORMS AND STANDARDS THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD EXAMPLES, WHERE EXPECTED AND INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOURS ARE EXPLICITLY DESCRIBED
26. WRITING A STRONG COC - NORMS AND STANDARDS THE PSF ONE IS UNDER THE CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION SHAREALIKE LICENCE HTTPS://WWW.PYTHON.ORG/PSF/CONDUCT/
27. COC SHOULD HELP WITH TALKING ABOUT THESE REMEMBER THE SITUATIONS WHERE .. You had a con f lict or tension with another person You were stalked or harassed You were stereotyped based on perceived demographics Someone wrote or spoke using language that made you feel unwelcome
28. ENFORCEMENT GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT PRIORITISE HAVING A COMMITTEE AT YOUR EVENT / IN YOUR COMMITTEE HAVE A CLEAR PROCESS FOR ENFORCEMENT
29. CODE OF CONDUCT TRAINING PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEES SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO TRAINING HOW CAN YOU GET ON COC COMMITTEES? - VOLUNTEER HTTPS://OTTER.TECHNOLOGY/CODE-OF-CONDUCT-TRAINING/
30. CODE OF CONDUCT ENFORCEMENT TRAINING - HOW TO TAKE AN INCIDENT REPORT - HOW TO LISTEN - HOW TO RESPOND TO A REPORTED PERSON - HOW TO EVALUATE THE REPORT - HOW TO COLLECT DATA AND PRESERVE PRIVACY - … HTTPS://OTTER.TECHNOLOGY/CODE-OF-CONDUCT-TRAINING/
31. COMMUNITY STATEMENTS “I WANT TO HELP MAKE IT EASIER FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO SEE WHY HAVING A STRONG CODE OF CONDUCT ENHANCES COMMUNITY RATHER THAN STIFLES IT” - DREW WINSTEL “I WOULD LIKE TO SEE COC BEING USED NOT JUST FOR MAJOR INCIDENTS BUT ALSO AS A MEDIATION TOOL FOR SMALL INCIDENTS” - NOA TAMIR
32. FUTURE OF DEVELOPER COMMUNITIES OUR PYTHON COMMUNITY IS GLOBAL AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE TRULY NEED TO INVEST IN LEARNING HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER
33. LET’S IMPROVE TOGETHER OUR COMMUNICATION CULTURE IN OUR COMMUNITIES!
34. THANKS! TWITTER @TEREZAIF HELLO@TEREZAIOFCIU.COM ICONS FROM THENOUNPROJECT & ICONS8