Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Next revision | Previous revision | ||
dev:community_etiquette [2009/04/02 18:30] chamindra created |
dev:community_etiquette [2010/06/28 13:49] (current) chamindra |
||
---|---|---|---|
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
+ | ====== Sahana Community Etiquette ====== | ||
+ | |||
Sahana consists of a broad and diverse community from different cultures, professional groups and languages as any open community project. Email however is a very limited medium for conveying your good intentions and tone, thus extra care needs to be taken with email and how you communicate for the healthy functioning of our community. Always remember this project is also ultimately about helping to save lives and reduce suffering through the effective application of ICT during a disaster, thus any form of personal disputes can seem very petty in comparison to what this project is trying to achieve. | Sahana consists of a broad and diverse community from different cultures, professional groups and languages as any open community project. Email however is a very limited medium for conveying your good intentions and tone, thus extra care needs to be taken with email and how you communicate for the healthy functioning of our community. Always remember this project is also ultimately about helping to save lives and reduce suffering through the effective application of ICT during a disaster, thus any form of personal disputes can seem very petty in comparison to what this project is trying to achieve. | ||
+ | |||
+ | However with experience we have learned that there are a few simple rule for newbies to follow when using electronic communication such as email and IRC. Here are some of those simple rules you are encouraged to follow in your interaction with the rest of the community. | ||
+ | ===== Guidelines of email etiquette ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Is what I'm writing appropriate for this list?__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | The reason people have signed up to read this list is because they are interested in [[http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Does this message have to go to everyone on the list?__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | People occasionally inadvertently do a "reply all" and end up saying personal/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Is my message as short as it can be while still conveying the point I intended?__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Shorter is always better (size does matter). We're all busy people. It's much easier to hold people' | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Have I removed any unnecessary " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Often email clients allow you to quote the text of the message to which you are replying - and over the course of an animated email conversation, | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Avoid kneejerk emails__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Have I put enough time into making this email constructive, | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Staying On Topic__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | We have several lists set up for your use, each with a different charter of acceptable subjects. Please review them before posting. Once a thread of discussion is started, try to stay on topic of the original discussion. If you digress the original purpose of raising the topic might get lost in the discussion. If you need to digress to a new topic, start a new topic (ie. subject line). | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Size of Attachment less than 500Kb Please__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Not everyone on this mailing list will be having broadband, thus please avoid sending large attachments and try your best to send links to large files instead. The size limit on this forum is 500Kb and if you exceed it, your email will be rejected. | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Did I proof read my message?__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Email doesn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Did I write in CAPITALS?__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | If so, in the email world you're shouting. Just keep that in mind. Text is a somewhat limited medium when it comes to being demonstrative. Use it wisely. | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Did I include any obscure abbreviations that aren't necessarily common knowledge? | ||
+ | |||
+ | iirc and wrt and rtfm are useful ways to abbreviate *when* we know that the person reading our message knows what they mean. If we don't know that, then we come off looking pretentious and exclusionary which isn't particularly useful, right? | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Did I attempt to use sarcasm or sincerity that could be mistaken for sarcasm?__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | These things don't always come across in text for others as they did for us when we're writing them. Despite their smarminess, I suggest the (sparing) use of " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | __Respect the diversity of the community__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sahana consists contributors from all around the world and from different native languages and cultures. There are also contributors from different communities from academics, emergency management, civil society and the software development world. Each one has a part to play in the success of Sahana. Please do respect and value this diversity. Also due to english not being the primary language of everyone, not everyone expresses themselves in email the same way, so we need to permit a little tolerance for that. | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Language and Flaming__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Posting extremely foul or abusive language aimed at a fellow list member is forbidden. This includes obscenities, | ||
+ | |||
+ | __I am now afraid to ask a question because I not sure I will be violating etiquette? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Don't worry. It is a learning experience :-). You will find the Sahana community is in generally very tolerant and will be happy to help you in any way. Please feel free to communicate as much as you would like to! | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ===== How to deal with breaches of etiquette ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | If and when people do breach the etiquette of this list, I do believe it is our duty to alert them, but to do so with sensitivity which shows that we care enough to include them rather than simply rebuking them. Publically shaming someone is never a good way to influence their behaviour. I suggest the following approach: | ||
+ | |||
+ | - point out to them that they have acted contrary to the expectations of the list - do so by back channels (back channels are direct communications rather than the list, e.g. phone, instant message, sms message, or direct person-to-person email). It is never appropriate or constructive to admonish someone via the list. | ||
+ | - explain to them the rationale for your suggestion - always assume that they have the best of intentions, and make sure they know you do too. | ||
+ | - never attack someone personally - it immediately closes any channels of communication that might have been open, and can make people angry/hurt, which is never a good basis for convincing someone that you have a valuable point of view... | ||
+ | |||
+ | The open source community is rich with constructive energy because most people admire generosity and the energy to include and welcome. Let us demonstrate our worthiness. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ===== References ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[http:// | ||
+ | * [[http:// | ||
+ | * [[http:// | ||
+ | * [[http:// |