User:Sophivorus/CoC

The discussion is about a set of changes done by the WMF to the Code of Conduct (CoC).

based on previous discussion.

As part of the process for writing the Code of Conduct (CoC) for the Wikimedia technical spaces, at least two separate discussions (1, 2) took place to build initial consensus on the intro, "Principles" and "Unacceptable behavior" sections of the CoC. From the gathered feedback, several changes were made to the Code of Conduct (diff) and a new discussion was started to discuss the changes.

Several WMF-affiliated users expressed support for the changes as a whole (though some expressed minor concerns here and there). However, most participating users not affiliated with the WMF opposed the changes on various grounds.

Below is a summary of the main changes, reactions and results after the debate:


 * A new section titled "Expected behavior" was added, containing positive guidelines to complement the negative guidelines of the "Unacceptable behavior" section. This change was mostly well received (though one particular guideline was found vague or unhelpful by 4 non-WMF users). However, another discussion sparked to determine if the positive guidelines should become a separate document, and clear consensus in favor was reached, so the "Expected behavior" section was finally moved out of the CoC into a new document called Expected behavior, linked to from the "See also" section of the CoC.
 * The "Unacceptable behavior" section was expanded, saying the Committee will not consider certain acts as violations of the CoC, even if superficially they may appear so, followed by a list of such exceptions (for instance, criticizing racism may offend a racist person, but such criticism will not be considered against the CoC). Like the "Expected behavior" section before, the general idea was well received, but debate about particular issues (1, 2, 3, 4) grew substantially so a proposal was made to move the new text out of the CoC and leave the following sentence instead: Reports of unacceptable behavior must be done in good faith to defend potential victims and to restore a friendly environment. Accusations of unacceptable behavior against potential victims or reporters done as a tactic to introduce more tension or confusion are unacceptable themselves. This new proposal garnered strong support.
 * A new unacceptable behavior was added: "Publication of non-harassing private communication". This was met with strong resistance by User:Krenair (and to a lesser degree by other users). The main concern was that the given wording hinders publication of useful private conversations that the sender could reasonably be expected to agree to publish, such as advice on how to code something, or a summary of a discussion. Finally a new wording was proposed (Inappropriate or unwanted publication of private communication) as a compromise to address the raised concerns, and received enough support, though Krenair still objected.

Other changes that didn't spark as much debate were:


 * User:MZMcBride asked for clarification on who is meant by "we" in the "Principles" section of the CoC. Clarification was given as well as justification by way of example from other similar Codes of Conduct. MzMcBride also proposed linking unfamiliar terms such as "cissexist" to Wikipedia articles.
 * Neuroatypicality was added as a characteristic for which no one should be harassed, discriminated, etc.
 * User:Fæ worried that the Committee would consist of mainly WMF-affiliated users, so WMF-affiliate users replied that such a majority is neither necessary nor problematic, and directed Fæ to a separate debate about the issue.