Re: [gentoo-project] Groups under the Council or Foundation: the structure & processes thereof

[Raymond Jennings]

I'd just like to point out that if comrel can terminate a developer's
status...and if council supervises/takes appeals for comrel...and
developers elect council...

Then what we have here is a social feedback loop.  In effect, comrel would
be in a position to winnow out adverse opinions of people casting votes for
council.

is this actually happening? I don't know.  But even as a theoretical
possibility, it concerns me.  And I've also heard disturbing rumors related
to this...from multiple sources, not all of whom have made noise about it
on the lists.


On Sun, Nov 13, 2016 at 11:47 AM, M. J. Everitt <m.j.everitt@×××.org> wrote:

> On 13/11/16 19:37, William L. Thomson Jr. wrote:
> > On Sunday, November 13, 2016 11:26:29 AM EST Alec Warner wrote:
> >> What I think is actually true is that there are some risks the current
> >> board sees, and they (we?, I am on the board after all) see one way to
> >> reduce the risk is by this joining. I think we should also be open to
> >> evaluating the risks and seeking other avenues to mitigate them.
> >>
> >> I think, speaking in general terms, one risk is the following.
> >>
> >> 1) When a community member feels harmed by the community, they can file
> a
> >> suit. They can sue individuals, or they can sue the Foundation. They
> cannot
> >> sue "Comrel" for example, because Comrel is not an entity. They can sue
> the
> >> individuals that compose comrel, or they can sue the Foundation.
> >>
> >> 2) If they sue the Foundation, we are worried that a 100% hands-off
> >> solution is going to be an effective defense. In the current scheme, the
> >> Foundation has no real control over the operation of Comrel. I think
> there
> >> is a lack of confidence that this defense is sufficient to dismiss a
> suit
> >> though.
> >>
> > A defamation suit is not out of the question if someone feels actions
> taken
> > against them have caused great harm to their reputation.
> >
> > For example;
> > In my case being painted as an outcast could have implications in
> obtaining
> > jobs, etc. It would be interesting to see how a court would rule on
> someones
> > volunteer actions, perceived conduct by others, having effect on their
> ability
> > to make  a living, Based on how others have made them out to be, an
> outcast,
> > etc, tarnishing their reputation publicly.
> >
> > Something many seem to ignore or overlook. Comrel or any action taken
> against
> > someone could have serious impacts on that individuals career. Their
> ability
> > to make a living, obtain jobs, contracts, etc.
> >
> And this is the point, why Gentoo has GOT to take this seriously ..
> continuously brushing it under the carpet until someone suitably savvy
> takes Gentoo to court . do we really want to actively ALLOW this to
> happen?!
>
> Accepting that there is a problem, is the first step to solving it .....
>
>