IRC Issues [From Stepping Down]

[Michael Lustfield]

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It seems this issue has quieted down some. I took my promised vacation
from IRC and I think I'm ready to come back around. I intended to be
away longer but I can't resist the temptation to develop.

I ended up having a few private conversations with some individuals
that I had particular issues with I think we seem to have worked some
things out.

I don't want to dredge up old issues. Instead I'd rather just make this
a simple note.

When we see any repeated issue in any Ubuntu channel; I think the issue
should immediately be brought here. I do think it should be public so
others can voice a "me too" and perhaps show the issue is wider spread.
Perhaps fixing many little tiny problems will make a big difference.

I also think any resolutions to these issues should be documented. This
could allow us to have a precedence for further issues. We already have
a list for how operators should behave. This could be just an addition.
I could set up a nice page for this that would have categories for
resolved, not resolved, and being resolved. Just like how the BBB works
except in a public manner. Of course some of these issues will need to
move to IRCC for a multitude of reasons. It would still be nice if a
generic result could move to this.

This would give us a nice list of what is expected behavior for ops and
users.

Something I noticed from reading through this list again was that the
ops who recognized related issues actually changed things entirely
unrelated. Things such as relationships between one another. I'm not
talking about me and another but between two people unrelated to me.
This is one thing that should continue. Perhaps all ops need to take
one another out for a beer and talk about the latest football stuff.
(No, I don't like football either. The point was buddy buddy.) I know
some of the ops do this already.

Something else I noticed that I mentioned before.. Many ops that don't
seem to be doing the 'bestest best' job were those that refused to
admit anything is wrong in the community and actively argued it. This
will never be true. The only community that won't have any issues will
likely be a community of one member. This doesn't eliminate issues
either... The key is how we manage issues. This is something every type
of relationship needs to work on.

Take an example: My girlfriend and I have been working hard to improve
our communication. We have pinpointed this as the biggest issue in our
relationship. I think the communication aspect flows into many other
communities as well.

One interesting thing I learned from my segway into Gentoo (which was
really fun) is how they handle bad language. They define bad language
as ${EXPLETIVE}. This includes "hell" as well as other words that are
generally considered acceptable unless overused. They follow a pretty
specific policy. If it falls into this category, there's warn, ban, ban
long time. They don't draw a grey line. It either is, or it isn't. This
is a policy that I feel we should adopt. Perhaps not at the 'long time'
length they hand out however.

I did enjoy the offtopic channel they had. #gentoo-chat. This is what I
wish #ubuntu-offtopic was like. Perhaps we can push to move toward
this. Of course it won't be an overnight switch, but it would make the
'junk' within the community 'clean'.

I think what is primarily needed is to recognize issues exist. If
somebody can't accept this, then perhaps their status should be
reevaluated. [ My best developer left Ubuntu entirely because of an op
or two. Some great ops have left the ops team because of other ops.
Some ops have even left Ubuntu entirely for the same reason. ]

If we can accept issues exist - no matter how minor - then we can start
working on fixing them. Even if it's as little as "I don't like how
ChanServ is in so many channels." There's always something that can be
worked on. As ops, this should be a constant 'work in progress.' We'll
never fix every issue and we shouldn't set this as a goal. Make note of
that word never.

I think if the above is taken into careful consideration we'll see a
lot more stability among ops and members as well as more progress. I'm
happy with the short-term outcome of what these issues all entailed;
now I'd like to see the mid-term and long-term outcomes prove be be
even better.

My time is up and I'll be afk for the next few days. I anxiously await
the replies I'm sure this will get.

Be Safe,

- -- 
Michael Lustfield
Kalliki Software

Network and Systems Administrator
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