The FOSS Code of Conduct

The most fundamental ethic is that of reciprocity–treat others as you would like others to treat you. Ask yourself if you are treating others in a manner that they would not treat you? If so, then your actions are out of bounds and you should cease those actions. Emotional reactions should be calculated carefully. Before acting, decide how the potential response might benefit you and/or the community and how it might hinder you and/or the community.

While there is certainly a political element to the free software movement and open source software movement, political activism outside of the scope of those movements has no place in this community. The number one political agenda for any free and open source project should be the promotion of free and open source software. Any other political messages could distract or divert people from our primary mission. This is unacceptable! When you are here, you are fighting for free and open source software. If you want to also fight for causes like social justice or human rights (which are certainly noble causes), then you should join an organization whose primary goal is to fight for those causes.

People should not be prejudged because of their race, ethnicity, nationality, religious beliefs, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or gender, but rather evaluated on their accomplishments and actions. Harassment and discrimination should not and will not be tolerated. Instead, you be judged on your actions. And based on your actions, you will either succeed with your achievements or fail due to your incompetence or impotence.

On equality: no two people are the same. Common sense should dictate that no two individuals have the exact same strength, intelligence, strive to succeed, perseverance, etc. When you claim that two people are equal, it is insulting to both individuals. The term inequality should not have a negative connotation; in fact, our inequality should be celebrated. It is what makes each of us unique, and it is what makes our community diverse.

Acceptance is expected among our members, but not necessarily tolerance. Tolerance is negative in connotation and in practice. Tolerance means to endure with forbearance and restraint. It implies that you must fight your own instincts. Tolerance requires patience and causes stress and frustration. More importantly, tolerance drains you of your vital energy. Energy is not limitless so rather than wasting energy on tolerance, direct that energy towards something positive. Acceptance is a positive emotion and should be practiced by our members. Where tolerance focuses on the bad aspects of the person or situation, acceptance is seeing the good in the person or situation. So when you find yourself becoming irritated at the behavior of others, look deeper and find the positive aspects that are there within each of us.

Do not judge others, either externally (verbally or in writing) or internally (in your own private thoughts). The practice of judging and condemning is a negative emotion and is the sign of a shallow intellect. Typically, the ones who are condemning are doing so because of their own inadequacies. Those that condemn others are often trying to focus on the negative aspects of others to avoid the pain of recognizing the negative aspects of themselves. A wise man once said, “Judge not, lest you be judged.”

Some people are habitual victims, seeking personal attention all the time. When someone is committed to being a victim, everyone else is to blame, and there is absolutely no hope whatsoever for this person. The victim only has one cause–themself. Some victims prefer to play the role of martyr. They often pick fights in order to lose–to be the victim, to be the martyr. Martyrdom is often used by weaklings who cannot admit defeat or admit that they were wrong. If you are in a situation were martyrdom is your only course of action, then you are probably championing the wrong cause. Victim mentality and self-martyrdom will not be tolerated.

We as human beings tend to over-valuate ourselves, always thinking we are worth more than we actually are. No one ever claims that they are overpaid or treated too well by others. We think we are owed. We are clothed psychologically with pretenses and fraud, but we have to understand that the market is never wrong. You may think that you deserve more money, greater respect or better treatment; but if no one is willing to give you these things, then the market has priced you accordingly. You must learn to evaluate yourself as an impartial observer.

While cooperation is the foundation of a healthy community and should be encouraged, competition among individuals should also be encouraged. The brutal fact is that the more we opt out of competition, the lower our position in the community is likely to be. Being competitive is necessary for one to succeed and to rise above the ranks. So if you feel yourself slipping down the ranks of the pecking order, recognize that others are outcompeting you; and do something about it!

The verbal warning should be a private consultation from a community leader who should explain the violation and prescribe any corrective actions, such as a public or private apology.

The written warning is a formal warning that should be part of the member’s permanent record. The written warning is appropriate if the member being disciplined has already received a verbal warning, or if the offense warrants skipping the verbal warning altogether.

The temporary ban should be used for serious violations of the Code of Conduct. The member being disciplined is banned from any kind of interaction, public or private, with the community for a specified time.

A permanent ban is appropriate when the member being disciplined has proven that he cannot abide by the Code of Conduct. The member being disciplined is banned from any kind of interaction, public or private, with the community. This ban is permanent and irrevocable.