Re: [Ksummit-discuss] [PATCH] code-of-conduct: Remove explicit list of discrimination factors

[Guenter Roeck]

On 10/17/2018 02:31 AM, Geert Uytterhoeven wrote:
> Hi Josh,
>
> Thanks for your comments!
>
> On Wed, Oct 17, 2018 at 11:13 AM Josh Triplett <josh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > On Wed, Oct 17, 2018 at 09:19:01AM +0200, Geert Uytterhoeven wrote:
> > > Providing an explicit list of discrimination factors may give the false
> > > impression that discrimination based on other unlisted factors would be
> > > allowed.
> >
> > This impression is, in fact, false, as has already been discussed
> > elsewhere. I had hoped that discussion would suffice.
>
> The CoC FAQ is not part of the CoC, and not part of the Linux kernel.
> If the CoC is imprecise, it should be fixed in the CoC, not in a separate
> document hosted elsewhere, as discussed elsewhere.
>
> Comparison with the GPL and the GPL FAQ is not appropriate, as the GPL
> is still the precise legal document, while its FAQ is a clarification using
> laymen's terms.
>
> > As mentioned there: The original commit explicitly said "Explicit
> > guidelines have demonstrated success in other projects and other areas
> > of the kernel."; this is precisely the kind of explicit guideline it
>
> Given the original commit was not submitted for and objected to public
> review, nobody had the chance to question these statements, and ask for
> pointers of proof, which would surely have happened.
>
> > refers to. Listing explicit cases to cover does not imply other cases
> > are not covered;
>
> It does, if not accompanied by "examples of...", like in the other sections.
>
> > it does, however, ensure that the listed cases *are*,
> > and helps people know that they're covered.
>
> So you agree people cannot know if the unlisted cases are covered or not?
>
> > This patch is not OK, and defeats one of the purposes of the original
> > change.
>
> So the purpose of the original change was to list a number of factors,
> without saying that it was just a list of examples?

One could consider adding something like "discrimination factors such as",
or maybe "or any other discrimination factors not listed here" to the
original text. Or a simple "regardless of, for example, ...".

Guenter