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2 Code of Conduct: Detailed view

The Mentored Sprints team are dedicated to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for all people, regardless of background or identity. As such, we do not tolerate behaviour that is disrespectful to our community members or that excludes, intimidates, or causes discomfort to others. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on characteristics that include, but are not limited to: gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, citizenship, nationality, ethnic or social origin, pregnancy, familial status, veteran status, genetic information, religion or belief (or lack thereof), membership of a national minority, property, age, education, socio-economic status, technical choices, and experience level.

Everyone who participates in The Mentored Sprints project activities is required to conform to this Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct applies to all spaces managed by The Mentored Sprints project including, but not limited to, in-person and online events, and communications online via GitHub, Twitter and Discord. By participating, contributors indicate their acceptance of the procedures by which The Mentored Sprints project core development team resolves any Code of Conduct incidents, which may include storage and processing of their personal information.

2.1 Expected Behaviour

We are confident that our community members will together build a supportive and collaborative atmosphere at our events and during online communications. The following bullet points set out explicitly what we hope you will consider being appropriate community guidelines:

  • Be respectful of different viewpoints and experiences. Do not engage in homophobic, racist, transphobic, ageist, ableist, sexist, or otherwise exclusionary behaviour.

  • Use welcoming and inclusive language. Exclusionary comments or jokes, threats or violent language are not acceptable. Do not address others in an angry, intimidating, or demeaning manner. Be considerate of the ways the words you choose may impact others. Be patient and respectful of the fact that English is a second (or third or fourth!) language for some participants.

  • Do not harass people. Harassment includes unwanted physical contact, sexual attention, or repeated social contact. Know that consent is explicit, conscious and continuous—not implied. If you are unsure whether your behaviour towards another person is welcome, ask them. If someone tells you to stop, do so.

  • Respect the privacy and safety of others. Do not take photographs of others without their permission. Do not share other participant's personal experiences without their express permission. Note that posting (or threatening to post) personally identifying information of others without their consent ("doxing") is a form of harassment.

  • Be considerate of others' participation. Everyone should have an opportunity to be heard. In update sessions, please keep comments concise to allow maximum engagement by all participants. Do not interrupt others based on disagreement; hold such comments until they have finished speaking.

  • Don't be a bystander. If you see something inappropriate happening, speak up. If you don't feel comfortable intervening but feel someone should, please feel free to ask a member of the Code of Conduct response team for support.

  • As an overriding general rule, please be intentional in your actions and humble in your mistakes.

  • All interactions should be professional regardless of platform: either online or in-person. See this explanation of the four social rules - no feigning surprise, no well-actually's, no back-seat driving, no subtle -isms - for further recommendations for inclusive behaviours.

2.2 Unacceptable Behaviour

Examples of unacceptable behaviour by Mentored Sprints community members at any project event or platform include:

  • written or verbal comments which have the effect of excluding people based on membership of any specific group

  • causing someone to fear for their safety, such as through stalking, following, or intimidation

  • violent threats or language directed against another person

  • the display of sexual or violent images

  • unwelcome sexual attention

  • nonconsensual or unwanted physical contact

  • sustained disruption of talks, events or communications

  • insults or put-downs

  • sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, or exclusionary jokes

  • excessive swearing

  • incitement to violence, suicide, or self-harm

  • continuing to initiate interaction (including photography or recording) with someone after being asked to stop

  • publication of private communication without consent

2.3 Consequences of Unacceptable Behaviour

Participants who are asked to stop any inappropriate behaviour are expected to comply immediately. This applies to all Mentored Sprints community events and platforms, either online or in-person. If a participant engages in behaviour that violates this Code of Conduct, any member of the core development team may warn the offender, ask them to leave the event or platform (without refund when applicable, and without the oportunity to rejoin at a later time), or impose any other appropriate sanctions (see the enforcement manual for details).

2.4 Feedback

This Code of Conduct is not intended as a static set of rules by which everyone must abide. Instead, you are invited to make suggestions for updates or clarifications by making a pull request to this document on GitHub or opening an issue on the project's repository.

Last update: May 11, 2021