[UbuntuWomen] Making Ubuntu-for-all _work_

[Vid Ayer]

Hello,

Jacinta and bapoumba(Isabelle) covered some important ground so I will
try to avoid echoing them.

On 5/21/07, Jono Bacon <jono at ubuntu.com> wrote:
>
>  * I want to be absolutely clear here that my role here is advisory for
> ubuntu-women. I am not here to 'tell' you what to do, I am merely here
> to advise and suggest methods of moving forward. With your knowledge of
> women's issues and my knowledge of community building, the theory is
> that we can move forward effectively.

Great, we do look forward to that :)  Bapoumba(Isabelle) suggested
forming a team of women volunteers who could evaluate, attempt to
solve, and if the need arises escalate such issues to the CC. What is
your opinion on this ?

If you think the idea is practically possible, how do we work out the
following :

1. Re Group :  How do we set about the task ? -get CC approval for the
idea in the first place, and such like. Ideally it makes sense to have
a CC member in the team, someone who "gets it" (purely from a woman's
perspective), so to speak.

2. How do we create a team of people who recognise inappropriate
behaviour and are willing to say so openly, are balanced as in can see
different perspectives to any discussion and are willing to spend
their time doing this.

>From my experience at LinuxChix, we use the "be polite, be respectful"
extensively but then LC is a dominant group consisting largely of
(highly) tolerant women and very few men would misbehave there.
Actions are quick, discussed on the list and documented (if required)
but I cant say if the same will be applicable here.

3. Do you see this covering/handling only women-related issues ? or
the whole community aka UFA ? which imo seems like a *huge* task
beyond UW's scope but I am open to any feedback here.

4. How do we define what is inappropriate (a grey area ?) somewhat
approximately.  I am aware that *every* permutation and combination
may not be defined but we need to start somewhere.

5. < add anything else I have missed >


>  * On a related note, I am not here to implement any plans or schemes -
> I simply don't have the time. I am here to work with you in an advisory
> role, but ubuntu-women will ultimately have to implement the projects we
> discuss. I just don't have enough hours in the day.

Jacinta has already raised some important questions and we would like
to know your views on them.


>  * I think modifying the CoC is dodgy ground, and modifying a document
> such as the CoC is not really going to change anything in my opinion - I
> suspect it is wider social opinion that needs to be changed as well as
> smaller, more manageable problems such as specific incidents that need
> to be judged fairly in the community.

Setting aside the "modify CoC" bit for the time being, it will be
interesting to know how you perceive change in a community where a
minority comprising of 1.5 % people (here women) have issues that they
would like to be addressed and solved.

What do you think should be the method of redressal? We have already
seen cases where "take it to the CC" does not work as women volunteers
(not lay users) in the community are unwilling to waste time
explaining (for the umpteenth time) what is "inappropriate and why".

Jan Claeys suggestion and Matthew Garret's draft on the wiki is a good
start if we are really serious about addressing the current problems.


>  * If you all disagree with my view of where we should go forward, feel
> free to head in your own direction - my points about a general
> anti-discrimination campaign but with specific teams forming part of
> that campaign are so we can all work together to fight discrimination in
> the community. If you think this is crack, go ahead and continue as
> normal, thats perfectly fine with me - I am just judging the situation
> and offering my 0.02c. :)

Again, Jacinta has already replied to this part so I await your views on them.

Thanks for reading !
-- 
Vid
http://wiki.ubuntu-women.org/VidAyer