Re: [gentoo-project] Proposal for Council: Prohibit Harassment & Discrimination via the CoC

[Patrick Lauer]

On Saturday 25 April 2015 05:09:35 Robin H. Johnson wrote:
[snip]
> 3.2. Add a new bullet point:
>   <b>Harassing & Discrimination</b>. Harassing & Discrimination
>   includes, but is not limited to offensive comments in relation to:

This is needlessly fuzzy and will motivate the lawyer-type to find ways to 
either frustrate you by staying within the limits, or claim to be offended by 
your actions, thus applying this rule to you and forcing you to be removed.

It's a bit like defining obscenity ("I'll know it when I see it") ... 


I'm confused how this is going to actually fix any issues that we can't 
already fix. (If I had to write such a set of rules I'd just define 
'$specialsuperpowerpersons can remove any content considered inappropriate, 
complaints go to $otherpersons.' That way the obviously subjective actions are 
properly covered in a way that can't be lawyered out of)

>   gender; gender identity and expression; age; sexual orientation;
>   disability; physical appearance; body size; race; religion;
>   citizenship; nationality and familial status. It also includes: sexual
>   language and images in public spaces;
(... but at least this amuses me - can we please not get Puritan Body Fear 
into our CoC?)

>   deliberate intimidation;
(Would we have to ban Linus Torvalds if he were with us?)

>   stalking; following; harassing photography or recording; sustained
>   disruption of threads, talks or other events;

>   inappropriate physical
>   contact; and unwelcome sexual attention.
This is covered by existing laws already, so why explicitly mention that 
illegal things are illegal?


So all in all, 9.5/10 for initiative, 3/10 for execution. This is imo not the 
right way to 'fix' problems and, like the Proctors, can blow up in ways we 
don't want/need.