Post Open Code of Conduct
Version 1.3, 24-October-2024

Preface

This code of conduct applies to the operation of the Post Open
Administration (POA), and all meeting and discussion venues in which
the POA has control.

We operate a large and international community in which opinions
significantly differ. Our intent is for our user community to include
everyone in the world. Obviously, there are broad differences between
people, especially internationally, as well as differences in individual
conduct. This code is intended to bring our community together and to
resist the things that drive them apart.

Many Open Source projects have enacted a code of conduct. This one is
different, perhaps radically different, from those, in that it declares
that the project will not take a position on many social issues that
we hold dear, and that those issues will not be discussed within the
project. This is unfortunately necessary if all of our participants are to
get along.

This code protects our participants activities on those issues
outside of our project. It encourages them to pursue political and
social involvement outside of our project.

The POA has another process for admitting developers to the privilege
of being able to check in submissions to our software archive. This is
mainly based upon security. It may reference this code.

1. Tolerance is Important

Please be tolerant of accidents and failure to remember these
requirements. Remind people _politely_ where necessary. If repeated conduct
is clearly intentional, this will become evident and should be dealt
with. However, we need to recognize that many participants are awkward,
may be distracted, and have been socialized differently from us.

2. Physical Contact

All of our participants have a right to safety and sanctity of their
person within our venues. Physical contact is, unfortunately, an area in
which many people have differing sensitivities, and cultural norms differ
significantly, along with concern regarding transmission of disease.

It's necessary for everyone to understand that some people just hate
to be touched, and some will perceive your touch in a way that you do
not intend. Unfortunately, rules that only prohibit "unwanted" physical
contact are unworkable, as a person's wants may not be communicated.

To set a standard that accommodates varying sensitivity and clearly
protects everyone, we request and require those who desire physical
contact to refrain. Do not offer or initiate any form of deliberate
physical contact, even so much as a fist-bump or handshake, or action
which has a physical effect upon someone such as blowing air, throwing
an object or deliberately causing a door to hit someone.

The clarity we gain from not having to debate the nature of a physcial
contact helps us to protect everyone. As an alternative to physical contact,
we suggest a wave, nod, or bow.

We recognize that some participants have been socialized in an environment
where physical contact is the norm, and will find this emotionally
difficult. Please do your best.

3. Civil Conduct

We require civil conduct of all participants. This includes polite and
respectful dialogue at all times, and is not limited to speech: gestures and
actions are also part of polite and respecful communication. You should
behave as if you expect the best of everyone around you, and should
be graceful and tolerant when others make unintentional social errors.
Give them all the best conduct that you are capable of.

Although you may not be used to this outside of our events, at our
physical events you should politely greet individuals whom you meet
in any context where it is practical, whether or not you have been
introduced. This acknowledges the presence of the other person and that
they are someone who deserves your polite conduct, and reinforces that
we insist on a standard of civility that is greater than the norm. This
may be saying "good day" or "hello" to someone you pass in the hall,
sit down next to, etc.

We recognize that there are some participants for whom severe shyness
is a handicap, eye contact is uncomfortable, or perception of social
cues is impaired and communication may be socially awkward. Please be
patient with them.

4. Political and Social Discussions

To facilitate everyone getting along, we limit discussion strictly to
the intended topic. An online discussion or meeting intended to be focused
on a technical or administrative topic must stay on that topic.

Discussion of these topics are off-limits for any of our venues or events:
religion, politics, war, social issues, gender issues, ethnic issues. You
should also not wear or display logos or slogans regarding these issues
at our physical events, in videoconference or associated with our online
discussions, for example an e-mail signature.

This does not prohibit, for example, an organization that would mentor women
and minorities to participate in Post Open. It only requires that they do so
in their own organization, with their own budget and leadership, and their own
discussion channels. Our developers are free to spend their income from Post Open
on such organizations.

Outside of the rules on physical contact, or conduct incident to a Post
Open venue, for example in a place frequented by attendees during such an
event, the political and social conduct of a person outside of a Post Open
venue or discussion should not be brought up within a Post Open venue or
discussion. This protects our participants right to political expression.

Where it has been made clear to you that a person has a self-designated
gender or no gender, your discussion will conform to that in the interest
of politeness, regardless of how you feel about gender issues.

You may politely convey wishes with a holiday or religious context,
for example wishing someone a merry Christmas or an easy fast, but the
discussion should be limited to that and should not be conveyed in a
way that excludes or is intended to annoy non-religionists.

5. The Post Open Position on Political and Social Issues

The POA and its essential business affiliates, such as banks, insurers, and
providers of contracted labor; may be required by law to adopt certain social
stances, for example we may be required not to discriminate in hiring. Where
compliance with such rules is necessary, we will act in accordance with them.
This issue is complicated by the international nature of our activity and
conflicts in law across borders.

Other than as required by law, the POA DOES NOT TAKE A POSITION on
matters of religion, politics, war, social issues, gender issues, ethnic
issues. We understand that many of you may feel that there is only
one ethical stance on these things, that the failure to take a stance
is just as bad as the wrong stance, and you strongly desire us to take
it. All of us feel that. We could only take a stance at the cost of not
having all of our participants get along. We are sorry for the emotional
difficulty that this will cause some participants.

Outside of Post Open events and venues, we encourage you to be politically
and socially active, and to take part in organizations that are active on these
issues. We are sorry that we can't provide a venue for you to do so.

6. Dissent

It is important to cultivate and nurture dissent in discussions. Dissent
should be on-topic and offered politely. Internal criticism is
essential because it requires us to consider ideas and improve what
we're doing. Please do not take the person who offers dissent as an
enemy. Strive to understand their viewpoint.

7. No Secrets

Munitions export laws (ITAR and EAR in the US) allow the export of
information that would otherwise be prohibited for export as long as that
information is in the "public domain", not in a copyright sense, but
in the sense of information which is already publicly disclosed. Thus,
it is essential that Post Open projects operate in the open. Technical
discussions must be made available to the public if at all practical. This
does not mean that every informal phone call and email exchange must
be published, but significant decisions must be, and the public should
be able to read any online discussion even if the privilege of posting
is controlled.

Post Open projects are understood to not have trade secrets, becuase the
software is entirely disclosed. We understand that there may be secrets
before developers decide to release software as part of the Post Open
Collection. At the moment of release, that work becomes publicly known.

Administrative proceedings must not be secret unless required by law, and even
then the POA must act to make as much of a proceeding public as possible. This
does not require publication of casual phone calls and emails, but decisions of
import must be published.

8. Weaponization

It is an unfortunate fact that any social code can be used to exclude
people for reasons other than the intent of the code. The POA, in
enforcing this code, must consider whether the motivation of an accuser
is purely that of creating the desired environment for participants,
or whether there could be another motivation.

9. What About My Right To Free Speech?

We have a right to Free Speech just as you do. That means that we have a right
to control the speech at our events and discussions. Free speech laws do not
obligate us to provide you with a venue for your speech, nor do they allow us
to prevent you from finding such a venue, as long as it is one outside of our
control.

10. Enforcement

Discussion of issues prohibited above is permitted to any person or group
participating in enforcement in the venue or discussion concerned with
enforcement and in the context of discussion of violations of those prohibitions.

Although there are always uncomfortable social issues in discussion of
code enforcement, the cost of secrecy is greater than that of the cost
of such discussions being known. All deliberation regarding enforcement
of this code must be made available to the public through full and
accurate recordings or transcripts, if it is not made in a medium that
is inherently available to the public.

The "No Secrets" issue is so important, because it could cause export prohibition
to apply to some of our software, that severe or repeated violations
may result in the exclusion of a violator from the Post Open project entirely.
Other than that, violations of this code would not result in more than the
exclusion of the violator from discussion channels.

The POA may, at its discretion, decide to place a person under moderation
or exclude them from an online discussion or meeting venue. Because of
the cost of moderation, it may sometimes be necessary to simply exclude
someone. Where exclusion is chosen, it should be with a finite and
reasonable term, offering the prospect of subsequent reform of conduct
and continued participation. Only in egregious cases should exclusion
be permanent.