[LA-Policies] DRAFT mailing list policy for discussion and feedback
Tennessee Leeuwenburg
tleeuwenburg at gmail.com
Thu Sep 25 14:23:24 EST 2014
I would suggest some possible improvements
-- That the list be put immediately into 'slowdown' mode at the discretion
of the moderator. This means that messages will be held for two hours
before being posted to the list. This will 'slow down' an escalating
situation, allow people to reflect further on their postings, and provide
more time for moderators to consider their response to a situation. I would
suggest this would be the first level of escalation, allowable even before
contacting the parties via email, and prior to consultation with other
moderators.
-- That under "right to appeal", the words "in line with natural justice"
are removed as sounding pompous. Just state that people may appeal, and
leave it at that.
-- I agree 30 days is a long time to wait for a response, particularly when
a matter seems urgent. Perhaps a guarantee of a response of some kind
within, say, three days, providing details of how the appeal will be
handled, who is involved in handling the appeal, who the person may contact
to discuss the matter while it is being considered. Sending a concerned
email and hearing nothing is pretty frustrating, people should know that
their concerns are being taken seriously even if the final decision may
take 30 days to resolve.
I would also avoid being so prescriptive about the potential options both
in sections 4 and 5 -- really options are far wider than that. Other
options include moderating additional parties, providing formal responses
to the list rather than as private communications. It would be more
acceptable if the wording "including but not restricted to" were added,
also noting that responses will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Thinking further out of the box, mediated discussion may be another option,
such as being party to an IRC chat between members or otherwise providing a
discussion forum.
On 24 September 2014 23:37, Linux Australia Secretary <
secretary at linux.org.au> wrote:
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> We're now in a position to send the first draft policy to this mailing
> list to seek feedback, comments and input, which is warmly welcomed by
> reply to list or to myself privately.
>
> The driver for this policy is unfortunately a negative one; in the past
> abuse of Linux Australia mailing lists through poor behaviour has taken
> significant time to contain and to steer back to an 'unheated' state. This
> policy seeks to enable community moderation while clearly demarcating
> expected standards of behaviour and consequences for transgressing such.
>
> Your time and efforts in review are appreciated and valued.
>
> With kind regards,
> Kathy
>
>
>
> DRAFT - Mailing list acceptable use policy
> Definitions
>
> Council: The member-elected governing body of Linux Australia. Council
> has the authority to create, moderate and delete lists and list postings
> for all mailing lists it hosts, and the authority to delegate these actions
> to Moderators. Council is responsible for the creation, promulgation and
> enforcement of this policy.
>
> Moderator: A natural person with delegated authority to create, moderate,
> and delete lists and list postings in line with this policy. A moderator is
> appointed at the pleasure of Council and may be changed at Council's
> discretion. Council authorises Moderators to act without seeking prior
> approval from Council and trusts them to exercise their duties in a
> responsible and professional manner.
>
> List member: A natural person, who may or may not be a member of Linux
> Australia, who has voluntarily or as part of their membership of Linux
> Australia, been subscribed to one or more mailing lists hosted by Linux
> Australia. To continue being a list member, the list member accepts to be
> bound by this policy.
> Introduction and rationale
>
> This document outlines policy in relation to acceptable use of mailing
> lists hosted by Linux Australia. This policy exists so that;
>
>
> -
>
> List participants have a clear understanding of what is acceptable
> -
>
> Moderators of the list alike have a clear understanding of what is
> acceptable and a basis to take corrective action if required
> -
>
> and so that mailing lists are a better instrument for furthering the
> values of Linux Australia - open technology, community, freedom, respect
> and diversity.
>
>
> This policy therefore articulates boundaries around acceptable use of
> mailing lists hosted by Linux Australia, and defines appropriate actions
> and recourse where those boundaries are transgressed.
>
> Policy
>
> 1. Creation of lists
>
>
>
> 1.
>
> Any Member of Linux Australia may request in writing to Council
> that a mailing list (‘list’) be created. The request will contain the
> purpose of the list and the names of 2 (two) proposed Moderators, who will
> be Members of Linux Australia. Council will consider the creation request,
> and if approved ensure the list is created with the nominated Moderators
> ascribed appropriate privileges in line with this policy.
> 2.
>
> The decision to reject a list creation request is final and cannot
> be appealed, although the Council must provide a justification for
> rejection in writing to the requestor.
> 3.
>
> By default lists will be created such that;
> 1.
>
> They are publicly viewable and archived
> 2.
>
> They are not in moderation by default
> 3.
>
> That subscription requests must be confirmed
> 4.
>
> That only list participants may post to the list
>
> Deviations from these defaults will be negotiated on a case by case basis
> with the list Moderators to best suit the needs of the list.
>
> 1. Appointment of Moderators
>
>
>
> 1.
>
> At creation, each list will have two Moderators appointed.
> Moderators will ensure that there are 2 (two) Moderators active for each
> list at all times, and will inform Council in writing if new Moderators
> should be appointed for a list.
> 2.
>
> Council will consider such a request and act to ensure ongoing
> moderation for a list, or alternatively determine that the list should be
> decommissioned.
>
> 3. Acceptable use of list
>
> 1.
>
> A Linux Australia list may be created to support discussion, free
> and open exchange of ideas and to build social and intellectual capital
> amongst list participants in the fields of open technology, culture,
> hardware and software.
> 2.
>
> List participants may subscribe voluntarily or be subscribed as
> part of their membership of Linux Australia, if they are a member.
> 3.
>
> List participants shall be able to unsubscribe at any time.
> 4.
>
> List participants shall ensure that postings they make to a list
> will not contain;
> 1.
>
> offensive verbal or written remarks related to gender, sexual
> orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race or religion;
> 2.
>
> sexual or violent imagery or written depictions thereof;
> 3.
>
> sexist, racist, or other exclusionary jokes;
> 4.
>
> deliberately inflammatory remarks intended to divide, damage or
> provoke ill will within the community - commonly referred to as ‘troll
> bait’.
>
> 4. Moderation of acceptable use of list
>
> 1.
>
> Should a violation of clause 3(d) occur, the Moderators of a list
> should confer and reach consensus that a violation has occurred and that
> response action is warranted.
> 2.
>
> The moderators may choose from an escalating list of response
> actions to ensure appropriate use of the list, including;
>
>
>
> 1.
>
> Private email to the transgressor outlining how they have
> transgressed the policy and requesting them to refrain
> 2.
>
> Temporarily banning the transgressor from the list for a period
> not exceeding thirty (30) days
> 3.
>
> Placing the list into emergency moderation, whereupon each post
> is moderated
> 4.
>
> Permanently banning the transgressor from the list
> 5.
>
> Recommending to Linux Australia Council that the transgressor’s
> membership of Linux Australia (if a member) be revoked in line with the
> Constitution
>
>
> 5. Right to appeal
>
> 1.
>
> In line with the principles of natural justice, a transgressor who
> is the target of a response action from a moderator under 4(b) may appeal
> to Council.
>
>
>
> 1.
>
> Council will deliberate and provide a ruling within 30 (thirty)
> days of receiving an appeal.
>
>
>
> 1.
>
> Council may choose from the following outcomes;
> 1.
>
> Council may uphold the actions of the Moderators
> 2.
>
> Council may find that the actions of the Moderators were not in
> line with this policy and choose to counsel the Moderators or revoke their
> Moderation privileges and reinstate any privileges of the list member
> 3.
>
> Council may find that the actions of the Moderators were lenient
> and apply harsher actions to the transgressor
>
>
> --
> Kathy Reid
> Secretary
> Linux Australia
> secretary at linux.org.auhttp://linux.org.au
>
>
>
> Linux Australia Inc
> GPO Box 4788
> Sydney NSW 2001
> Australia
>
> ABN 56 987 117 479
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Policies mailing list
> Policies at lists.linux.org.au
> http://lists.linux.org.au/listinfo/policies
>
>
--
--------------------------------------------------
Tennessee Leeuwenburg
http://myownhat.blogspot.com/
"Don't believe everything you think"
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