Re: rampant offtopic and offensive posts to debian-user

[Douglas Allan Tutty <dtutty@porchlight.ca>]

On Sat, May 19, 2007 at 11:51:08AM -0700, Mike Bird wrote:
 
> This particular problem is solved for the most part by a policy change
> that says non-Debian topics are inappropriate.  This opens the door to
> various actions starting with "this is not appropriate, please stop" in
> the event that fox news junkies again start braying their ignorance here.
> This simple and often effective remedy is currently denied us because
> there is as yet no such policy.

What if we, the list users, could agree on a policy change that then the
list maintainers could take under advisement.  There is already a bit of
a policy in the code of conduct at:
	http://www.debian.org/MailingLists

It would be helpful if that code of conduct had its own page and be
enumerated so that it could be referred to directly when we try to
self-regulate.  Eg: "Yoh WhatsYourName, this topic, while interesting in
a general sense, is rather OT.  Please take it off list, per the list
code of conduct item 13 at
http://www.debian.org/MailingLists/CodeOfConduct#13.";


To get this discussion going, I move that the Code of Conduct be adopted
as official debian policy.

Seconded:

Discussion:

All in Favour:

Opposed:


I propose we add a clause to the code of conduct to address the OT
issue.  This half of the problem is generally followed but it should be
part of policy.  The following wording is a starting point for discussion:


	Discussions which are not Debian-Specific but which are relavent
	to the list topic should have their subjects prepended with [OT]
	to flag them for others as Off Topic.  Discussions which are not
	relavent to the list topic should be taken off the list.

Seconded:

Discussion:

All in Favour:

Opposed:


To address the second half of the problem, I propose we add a clause on
offensive posts.  There is already a clause that says not to use foul
language, and one that says "try" not to flame.  There is no excuse for
flaming or offensiveness in any discussion and it should not be
tolerated.  The link provided in the code of conduct to the definition
of "flame" referres to impolite ranting which I think comes under the
more general term of offensive language.  While it has been shown that
you can't legislate moral or polite behaviour, you can exclude people
who demonstrate impolite behaviour from a group.  I propose the
following wording as a starting point for discussion:

	
	Discussions and comments which are offensive, hateful, or
	disrespectful to an individual or group are not permitted.
	Swearing and foul language is not permited in any language
	(exception: words in common usage in the list language may be
	swear words in another language).

Seconded:

Discussion:

All in favour:

Opposed:


Thanks,

Doug.