Bug#548867: Proposed patch to update Debian Developer's Duties chapter
On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 11:00:09PM +0100, Raphael Hertzog wrote:
> Hi,
>
> On Sun, 13 Mar 2011, Bill Allombert wrote:
> > But in anycase, I do not think that statement like
> > <<
> > As a package maintainer, you're supposed to fulfill the Debian
> > Social Contract by providing high-quality packages that are well integrated
> > in the system and that adhere to the Debian Policy.
> > >>
> > belong to devref.
>
> This is a bit out-of-context, this sentence is an introduction to the
> section where I have grouped all the high-level duties related to package
> maintenance:
> - Work towards the next stable release
> - Maintain packages in stable
> - Manage RC bugs
> - Coordinate with upstream
>
> Dropping it entirely means we have no introduction anymore. What's the
> part that bothers you? Is it the reference to the social contract?
I think it would be better not to have an introduction at all than that.
The reference to the social contract only serves to hide the emptiness
of the whole sentence. Do you actually think it conveys some information ?
I do not.
More generally, the use of the first person should be avoided in a reference document.
It is too often interpreted as patronizing.
Writing:
<<
the role of a package maintainer is:
- to update their packages to follow the latest policy
- to handle bug reports reported to the Debian policy
- etc.
>>
is more neutral and thus less likely to be interpreted as patronizing.
Cheers,
--
Bill. <ballombe@debian.org>
Imagine a large red swirl here.
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