Gobby notes from diversity/inclusion BOF/workshop, Cambridge
At the Cambridge minidebconf, we just had a BOF/workshop session on
diversity and inclusion.
These are the notes from the Gobby document.
Thanks,
Ian.
gobby.debian.org /minidebconf-uk_2016/diversity-inclusion
Lucy "Aardvark" Wayland kicking off BoF, but I am only facilitator. The idea is
to get eveybody else involved. BTW - ambient microphones in lecture theatre are
going to be turned on for this session, but this one only.
One view is that Debian is quite diverse already, even if some groups are not
populous? How do we turn acceptance into proactive inclusivity?
Ian points out that surviving in Debian requires a high level of ability
to push and promote your own opinion - 'fighting'.
The threshold for saying "this is an issue for me" is high
There is a degree to which socratic discussions have virtue; it's important
to be able to argue a position well. At the same time, it's important to
develop a culture where it's safe to be wrong or to disagree—at least on
technical matters.
Robust discussion is important but the time to stop is *before*, not after,
it's become personal. Is it possible to have a 'personality moderator' role in
Debian which could be used to help calm down argument?
We are not doing well at attracting younger developers into the community.
It can be very difficult to get younger people to attend because of the
tendancy for younger people to be very self-conscious.
It is hard to moderate open fora because the mere act of making a forum open
and inclusive means that it is procedurally more difficult to prevent unpleasant
interaction. It is difficult to solve social problems with technical measures.
It is often easy and appropriate to mitigate social problems with technical
measures.
Debian Code of Conduct; anti-harassment@debian.org; da-manager@debian.org
(but: depends on the mode of communication, e.g. for lists contact listmasters)
Being proactive with diversity: Outreach programs; DebConf diversity bursaries... ?
Sign up: outreach mailing list/alias
More stuff on the front page of www.debian.org about diversity / welcoming new
contributors. Make it very clear that we need help! Make www.debian.org less
technical, more social.
(new website foo required so it's not a complete PITA to change anything!)
It's valuable and important for established members to serve as role-models
for newer members to follow, particularly when conflicts are occurring—to show
what the standard is.
Diversity statement should be on front page below Social Contract
--
Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk> These opinions are my own.
If I emailed you from an address @fyvzl.net or @evade.org.uk, that is
a private address which bypasses my fierce spamfilter.
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