Inappropriate tone on this mailing list and requirement for governance

[Loïc Martin]

Res wrote:
> Although some of what was proposed would not work, given mailing lists 
> don't work like web based forums (can't "lock" a thread etc)./
Maybe I wasn't clear enough. If you're thinking that "locking" threads 
means removing already posted emails from your inbox, then that's 
definitely a hard task.

By "locking" the thread, I mean not allowing any replies to a thread to 
be sent to the list. Which is possible: just filter all replies to the 
thread and messages that have the exact same subject as the locked 
thread, and send them to the bin server side.

You could still send a reply to a locked thread, but wouldn't have to 
worry. The reply wouldn't reach the list, and if you're sorry you'd 
loose your reply, there's no need either : you get to keep you email. In 
your sentbox ;)

Anyone trying to pursue an offensive thread by opening a new one with a 
slightly different subject is just asking for moderation. If somebody 
want to change the Ubuntu Code of Conduct, he/she should discuss it with 
the Community Council, not in ubuntu-users mailing list, which deals 
exclusively with technical support.

> I think to work there must be a
> private and closed list for moderators and lost owners only, and any 
> warning or "advice" sent to a user of the list must be CC'd to that list, 
> else it is invalid, and all actions taken against anyone must be reported
> to that list, so there is no chance of secrecy for any action they take or
> seek to take, also, being a hopefully low traffic lsit, the list owners 
> and any appointed Ubuntu "staff" can review the list to ensure things are 
> going smoothly.

The only messages sent off-list would be common agreed answers to silly 
mistakes. Everything else posted in-list - it's needed anyway to deter 
offensive replies from non-moderators that forgot there's no need to 
take matters in your own hands.

Common answers to silly mistake can also be sent to the moderators list, 
but with pre-written replies there's not much trouble that can go there.

A moderator list (or IRC channel) can be useful, especially for 
moderators learning the process. Since moderation for potential dubious 
emails is sent in-list to ubuntu-users, there's not much problems there 
- anyone can just read the moderator email (detailing the measure taken) 
on ubuntu-users.

Any errors done on the moderator's side can then either be discussed 
between moderators (and since the council isn't going to appoint 
confrontational people it should go smoothly), or brought by the 
moderated person to the Community Council.

Eventually, the last decision belong to the Community Council, not to a 
few vocal ubuntu-users subscribers.

Loïc