Re: Proposal: mediators
On 08/01/19 15:47, Sam Hartman wrote:
> I think that rather than writing down a procedure like this it would be
> better to get some success cases of trying something along these lines.
There appear to be some excellent opportunities available to try this.
It also appears to be better than having a GR or a series of GRs.
> So, for example, I'd recommend that you and people who have similar
> views volunteer to be available as mediators.
> Once people use your services, and you have some practical experience
> then worry about writing it up.
>
> I am interested in mediation but my approach is very different than
> yours.
I'm not going to weigh in on which approach is best. The only hard rule
and most fundamental prerequisite for mediation to start is that the
person running the process is perceived to be neutral by all sides.
Given my own comments and request for information recently and my former
role as a representative in FSFE, many people have contacted me
personally to share stories about intimidation in free software
communities. There is a common pattern across multiple communities and
it appears to apply to all those specific cases discussed recently in
Debian:
a) without blaming any side, there appear to be problems in the
relationship that have been well known for some time. There was simply
no reason to suddenly pounce on people like this.
b) the relevant people actively attend events (e.g. DebConf, MiniDebConf
and other free software events) where nobody makes any attempts to
discuss any concerns or improve the relationship. Even if the
relationship is uncomfortable or if the person concerned doesn't attempt
to make contact, I personally feel it is a responsibility of leadership
figures to take the initiative although in recent cases, other people
have taken initiative through 2018 and leadership figures have actively
declined opportunities for meeting or mediation.
c) at some random moment afterwards, a person is sent a long written
list of perceived failings, usually with threats or punishments. These
emails are usually CC'd to multiple addresses which adds to the feeling
of intimidation and bullying for the person who receives the email.
Let's face it, do you take this approach in any other relationship? For
example, would you just send an email to your neighbour one day with a
long list of things they did wrong over the 10 years they have been
living beside you? Would you send a list like this to your spouse? Why
does Debian do this to members?
d) this hostile approach is reflected in subsequent communications by
all parties, making the environment even more awkward for all parties
and the wider community
This is not just happening in Debian.
I feel that just about any approach to mediation would improve upon the
pattern people are describing.
The formation of the antiharassment team suggests there is some
enthusiasm for having some dispute resolution capability in Debian. It
appears that these unsuccessful approaches are being improvised because
of a lack of training and experience in dispute resolution. I would go
as far as saying that spending money on training a number of people to
implement best practice and improve the culture may be a better use of
funds than something like Outreachy (USD 20,000 per year) as bringing
these capabilities into the organization may do far more to create the
culture required to solve the Debian diversity problem.
One of the people concerned actually contacted the DPL in March 2018 to
try and improve discussion:
"It seems we are both sometimes disappointed with the communications
between ourselves. We both believe in the same things and we both
believe in the integrity and reputation of the Debian project. Maybe the
mode of communications isn't ideal. Could it be better for us to find
an opportunity to discuss things in person perhaps? I am usually in the
UK...."
and the DPL has repeatedly declined any discussion. It is not clear to me how the DPL can be qualified to give opinions about members of the project when he doesn't have time to talk to a member directly first. What is clear is that a lot of time could have been saved for many people if more value was placed on having such meetings.
The appeal process recently discussed appears to be unsuitable. There
is at least one showstopper which I have documented[1] in that thread.
If people understand that the appeal process is unsuitable and may never
be used, that leaves the organization to choose between mediation or a
GR. DAM could also save everybody a lot of time if they choose to
pre-empt that discussion, roll back and arrange mediation.
Regards,
Daniel
1. https://lists.debian.org/debian-project/2019/01/msg00231.html
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