InterMine Code Of Conduct
Diversity is one of our huge strengths, but it can also lead to communication issues and unhappiness. To
that end, we have a few ground rules that we ask people to adhere to. This code applies equally to founders,
mentors, students, and those seeking help and guidance.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of things that you can’t do. Rather, take it in the spirit in which it’s
intended - a guide to make it easier to enrich all of us and the technical communities in which we
participate.
This code of conduct applies to all spaces managed by the InterMine project. This includes chat, the mailing
lists, issue trackers, community calls, face-to-face events, and any other forums created by the project
team which the community uses for communication. In addition, violations of this code outside these spaces
may affect a person’s ability to participate within them.
If you believe someone is violating the code of conduct, we ask that you report it by email. For more
details please see our Reporting Guidelines at the end of this page.
- Be friendly and patient
- Be welcoming. We strive to be a community that welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds
and identities. This
includes, but is not limited to members of any race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, colour,
immigration status,
social and economic class, educational level, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression,
age, size, family
status, political belief, religion, and mental and physical ability.
- Be considerate. Your work will be used by other people, and you in turn will depend on the work
of others. Any decision
you take will affect users and colleagues, and you should take those consequences into account when
making decisions.
Remember that we’re a world-wide community, so you might not be communicating in someone else’s primary
language.
- Be respectful. Not all of us will agree all the time, but disagreement is no excuse for poor
behavior and poor manners.
We might all experience some frustration now and then, but we cannot allow that frustration to turn into
a personal
attack. It’s important to remember that a community where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not
a productive
one. Members of the InterMine community should be respectful when dealing with other members as well as
with people
outside the InterMine community.
- Be careful in the words that you choose. We are a community of professionals, and we conduct
ourselves
professionally.
Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down other participants. Harassment and other exclusionary
behavior aren’t
acceptable. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Violent threats or language directed against another person.
- Discriminatory jokes and language.
- Posting sexually explicit or violent material.
- Posting (or threatening to post) other people’s personally identifying information (“doxing”).
- Personal insults, especially those using racist or sexist terms.
- Unwelcome sexual attention.
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.
- Repeated harassment of others. In general, if someone asks you to stop, then stop.
- When we disagree, try to understand why. Disagreements, both social and technical, happen all the
time and InterMine is
no exception. It is important that we resolve disagreements and differing views constructively. Remember
that we’re
different. The strength of InterMine comes from its varied community, people from a wide range of
backgrounds. Different
people have different perspectives on issues. Being unable to understand why someone holds a viewpoint
doesn’t mean that
they’re wrong. Don’t forget that it is human to err and blaming each other doesn’t get us anywhere.
Instead, focus on
helping to resolve issues and learning from mistakes.