Code of Conduct¶
It is the responsibility of Safer Space Operators to enforce the intended atmosphere of the channel at all times. This is preferably done by facilitating effective communication between channel members, prior to consideration of any disciplinary action.
- Each Operator shall act, at all times, in such a manner as to justify public trust and confidence and to safeguard the interests of individual members.
- None of us are above anyone else. Being an Operator isn’t an exclusive status or club. Operators are public servants. Do not ever brag about being an operator. Do not treat anyone as lesser than yourself because they are not an Operator and you are.
- Do not ever threaten a user. Your words carry weight on their own; threats appear weak. Speak with authority, not with looming fear.
- Do not OP up unless you are performing an action that requires it. Please remember to DEOP as soon as your task is completed.
- Lead by example. Abide by the rules; you are not above the law.
- Avoid any abuse of the privileged relationship which exists with members.
- Refrain from disclosing confidential information obtained in the course of mediating between members without the consent of the involved members.
- Assist members in finding appropriate alternate support if for any reason you or the channel are unable to provide the support that is required.
- Take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve knowledge and competence in the relevant subjects pertaining to this channel.
Self Moderation¶
Long term, it would be ideal for the channel to have a strong culture of self-moderation. As users become more comfortable with the idea that we are going to back them up if they respectfully ask another user to adjust a behavior, they will feel more confident in putting themselves out there.
Before taking any authoritative actions, consider whether it is appropriate to give the channel a chance to handle things on its own. Obviously, if things are already getting out of hand, jump in there.
Conflict Resolution¶
If an injured party wishes, or it is deemed necessary by the organisers, mediation can set up. This is done when the injured party would like resolution or to air their grievances against an offender, but is not comfortable talking to them directly via private message. Rules of conduct in the chat room also apply to the mediation process. A mediator will be chosen from a list of available mediators. An injured party is welcome to choose a representative of the minority in question, if available, but specific mediators cannot be requested.
The Mediation Process: One-on-One¶
The mediator will contact the injured party to discuss the situation with them. The injured party should be prepared to talk about the conflict, how they feel is the best way to handle it, and what they would like to see as the outcome. The mediator will take all of this information into consideration when making a decision, but the outcome may not be exactly as requested. Ultimately, it is the mediator and organiser’s choice what course of action will be taken if the situation is serious enough. In the event of a request for a ban, the mediator will discuss with the organisers whether that action is an appropriate response.
The mediator will then discuss the situation with the offender, leaving out any confidential information unless the injured party has given express consent for that information to be shared or it has been deemed necessary by the organisers and mediator. Hopefully, most resolutions will be resolved in this manner.
If the injured party is willing and interested, they can meet with the offender and mediator in a private chat to discuss the issue and attempt to come to a resolution. If a resolution cannot be made the mediator will present the situation to the other organisers with a recommendation on a course of action. The organisers will strongly take that recommendation into consideration, as the mediator has been through the entire process and knows the situation far more intimately than they do.
The Mediation Process: Many-on-One¶
The above course of action is similar if there are multiple offenders and only one injured party. However, the mediator will keep in mind that individually injured parties are more vulnerable and less able to speak up when there are multiple offenders. Great care should be taken to ensure privacy of the complaint and a safe environment for an injured party to discuss the offence. Any discussion with offenders is to be done one-on-one and not in a group, to minimise this problem.
The Mediation Process: One-on-Many¶
If there are multiple injured parties and one offender each individual should discuss with a mediator the issue at hand alone, and then in a group. They may discuss resolution with the offender in a group or one-on-one, depending upon their level of comfort.
Resolution should happen swiftly, but the organisers realise that life and other time commitments may delay the process. Organisers do not all have to weigh in on the issue at hand, those not online count as abstain votes and actions are voted by the majority except in extreme circumstances.
In the event the injured party does not wish to speak to the offender at all, and does not want the mediator to do so either, but still requests resolution, the mediator will bring the information to the organisers who will make a final decision based on available facts. Creative solutions may be implemented, and this and other situations like it, will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
