Wiki Team Launchpad permissions (was Re: Proposal: Create product for each derivative's documentation)

[Matthew East]

On Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM, Emma Jane <emmajane at ubuntu.com> wrote:
> On Monday 20 April 2009 11:01:06 am Matthew East wrote:
>> On Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 3:12 PM, Emma Jane <emmajane at ubuntu.com> wrote:
>> > Applicants must have:
>> >  * Signed the Ubuntu Code of Conduct
>> >  * Contributed at least one significant patch to the system documentation
>> > which enhances the existing system documentation, applies the StyleGuide,
>> > and demonstrates the candidate's ability to work with DocBook, Bazaar and
>> > Launchpad.
>>
>> I saw your modification to this on the wiki - I'm not really
>> comfortable with implying that one patch is enough to join this team.
>> Obviously how many patches are required will vary depending on the
>> individual, we'll need flexibility here. Perhaps we could change "at
>> least one" to "a number", so:
>
> I don't like the ambiguity of "a number."

It's intentionally ambiguous - see "flexibility" in my quote above. I
don't see flexibility as a negative thing at all, what we are doing
here is clarifying the existing process sufficiently that it is a
positive improvement to our processes and transparency. That doesn't
mean that we need to spell out exactly how many patches are required,
because it will vary for each case. There is no exact requirement, and
we shouldn't pretend that there is.

Compare with the requirement for Ubuntu membership, which is also flexible.

> What
> would make sense is to have a point under the "admin" area that says you need
> to have been a Contributing Member of the documentation team for a period of
> ___ time, and have accomplished all points under the list of Contributor
> activities.

I don't think that works. People might want to join the -core-doc team
without contributing to the wiki, or to join the wiki-admin team
without contributing to the system documentation, and that's
reasonable.

>>  * the application is made by posting to the mailing list
>>  * the team will discuss and reach a view on the application by consensus
>
> Who is "the team"?

~ubuntu-doc, subject to the below.

> Consensus means *all* of the team agree.

No, it definitely does not. It means the opinion of the group as a
whole. It gives scope for discussion to take place among the group and
for people to be convinced by the reasoning of others in the group,
and for a majority view to emerge. It also builds in the concept of
meritocracy into the process, whereby the views of those people
contributing more heavily to the team will tend to have greater
weight.

This is also explained here:

http://www.ubuntu.com/community/ubuntustory/governance

In particular: "This is not a democracy, it's a meritocracy. We try to
operate more on consensus than on votes, seeking agreement from the
people who will have to do the work."

>>  * if any issue is raised with the application which leads it to be
>> refused, the applicant can reapply when they feel that those issues
>> have been addressed
>
> No feelings, please. :) Change to, "the applicant may reapply after
> addressing, and providing a solution to, the issues raised by the selection
> team."

Ok, I don't have a problem with removing "they feel that" from this.

-- 
Matthew East
http://www.mdke.org
gnupg pub 1024D/0E6B06FF