cleverdevil
cleverdevil

Extremely disappointed in the behavior of the SQLite leadership with regard to Code of Conduct. Tone deaf, insensitive, and unproductive. The good news is that recent developments with Linus Torvalds show that nearly every person can grow/change with continued pressure.

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EddieHinkle
EddieHinkle

@cleverdevil Hadn’t heard about it, so I googled. Wow 🙁 that’s unfortunate and seems completely useless and context-less. I don’t know how someone think they can take a list of principles from a community that chose to intentionally dedicate their lives to a specific faith (monks) and use it as a basis for a CoC for a random assortment of people. It’s even more unfortunate that he works with Wycliffe Bible Translators, a group I have a lot of respect for. It’s tough when people make such poor choices that it reveals the ugliness inside.

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rmcrob
rmcrob

@cleverdevil What is objectionable about the Benedictine rule as a code of conduct. I see how you might object to some of the specific faith commitments, and it is stated that the more inward-directed parts are not so prescriptive. But it seems like a pretty decent way for humans to treat one another.

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cleverdevil
cleverdevil

@rmcrob the benedictine rule isn't a code of conduct, isn't designed for this use, is heavily encumbered with faith/religion, and deploying it in this context is a heavy-handed way to signal to those asking for a CoC that you think CoCs are irrelevant and unnecessary. Furthermore, it signals to marginalized communities that the issues and pains that they experience aren't worth taking seriously. Overall, its just a totally tone-deaf approach to a very difficult and sensitive topic.

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rmcrob
rmcrob

@cleverdevil I don’t know the back story, but I rather admire it, on the surface. Hipp seems like a good enough guy. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. There is far too little giving of that benefit these days, when we are wont to quibble over bagel emoji.

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cleverdevil
cleverdevil

@rmcrob I actually really like Hipp as well, and have actually quoted him multiple times in the past in blog posts, presentations, etc. This isn't one of those places that I'll quote him in a positive way going forward :)

Let's try this angle: I expect that your surface-level admiration of his approach may be in part driven by your own faith. It makes you feel included. How nice, a code of conduct that is based upon your personal belief system! If, on the other hand, you were, say, a Muslim who was concerned about being included in a community because of your faith, a CoC that is openly based upon the Christian faith would alienate you, and perhaps cause you to depart or not engage with the community. Similarly, if you were gay or lesbian, the open anti-LGBT advocacy of certain brances of the Christian church may drive you away from the community.

There are literally dozens of great, templated, well-considered models for open source community codes of conduct that are specifically crafted to avoid these issues. Instead, Hipp has decided to invent his own, in a very tongue-in-cheek way, that clearly is problematic.

I don't think there is any ill-intent from Hipp, who otherwise seems a reasonable person. Its just a shame that he hasn't consulted with any experts, or learned from prior art to ensure that he doesn't alienate or drive away parts of the community.

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jamesdasher
jamesdasher

@cleverdevil Why not give them the benefit of the doubt? The SQLite Code of Conduct is pretty clear:

those who wish to participate in the SQLite community, either by commenting on the public mailing lists or by contributing patches or suggestions or in any other way, are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that honors the overarching spirit of the rule, even if they disagree with specific details.

The spirit of the Rule is directed at how a community can dwell in peace, humility, and tranquility.

You’re right that there are existing CoC’s from a variety of sources promulgated over the last decade or two. It’s unclear that those will survive the test of time, where the Rule has guided thousands of communities over hundreds of years.

It’s tragic that people mistake right-leaning evangelical Protestantism for Christianity. And perhaps Hipp is pulling a political or marketing stunt in that vein. If he were known for such behavior, it would be his abuse of the spirit of the Rule that would be condemnable, but still not the CoC as written:

The entire rule is good and wholesome, and yet we make no enforcement of the more introspective aspects.

Everyone is free to use the SQLite source code, object code, and/or documentation regardless of their opinion of and adherence to this rule. SQLite has been and continues to be completely free to everyone, without precondition.

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In reply to
cleverdevil
cleverdevil

@jamesdasher respectfully, because they don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt. Their decision is so heavily encumbered with a religion that it can never be effective. Never. I’m a believer myself, and I appreciate the spirit of what they’re trying to accomplish, but a CoC is intended to ensure an open and welcome community, and they absolutely should have adopted an existing CoC.

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smokey
smokey

@cleverdevil Wow, that’s bananas (and not in a good way).

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jamesdasher
jamesdasher

@cleverdevil There's so much I'd like to ask about, and respond to, because this touches on about 47 of the things I'm fascinated by, but that conversation is better aided by frothy or fermented beverages.

Properly applied -- which would incude discussion among the core team and also occasional contributors, and probably the mailing list -- adopting something as classy and time-honored as the Rule, as the SQLite team appears to be adapting it, would be a fantastic homage to the spirit that animates the adoption of CoC's. But I defer to you about the ways that it was adopted, since, if it was as heavy-handed (or back-handed) as you indicate, it was tasteless and tacky, and a disservice both to the guiding spirit behind the Rule, and to the legitimate concerns of people for whom CoC's are a protective shield against, well, assholes.

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cleverdevil
cleverdevil

@jamesdasher well said, and I agree, frothy beverages would enhance our conversation :)

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rmcrob
rmcrob

@cleverdevil Is “Code of Conduct” a euphemism for something I’m not aware of? Does the concept carry hidden baggage? I thought of it as the way a company or group was committing to treat people. I’d be honored to be treated by the golden rule no matter my personal faith commitment. And I fail to see how Christians cannot see through other eyes less than anyone else. Some of us are not cretins.

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