Add a CoC for RG events

[anikalindtner]

I think we really should be having one for all Rails Girls events. I could imagine to have a standard form that every organizer then will put on the event list, OR we work on a CoC for ALL the events that will be there in the future and link to it on the main site.

Wdyt?

[ahazem]

@anikalindtner I have been thinking about doing the same for our local chapter events. I believe one for all the events that can be later translated (like the guides, for instance) would be more than enough.

[keikoro]

I asked about this on the mailing list when @lindaliukas updated with having added example Codes of Conduct to the guides. Her reply was: "I kinda shy away from mandatory/panacea things, CsoC are only as helpful as the people who understand their value, implement them properly and take care that they are followed." (mails between 23-28 July, for reference)

I'm a huge advocate of CsoC but I agree with Linda here. Just because I know about the importance of them (1st-hand experience with incidents here) doesn't mean everybody else does.

There is no point in adding a CoC/having organisers add one if not every single person involved in running one such event is very aware of the meaning, importance and implications of the CoC. There's little worse than slapping one onto events just because "it's what one does now"; all that does is create a false sense of security and that's worse than having no CoC at all -- and is, sadly, already happening too often. RG organisers are not 1:1 comparable to organisers of stand-alone confs in this regard. (Personally, I think the almost non-existent number of RG events with a CoC so far already speaks volumes about the whole topic on a "global RG level".)

Sorry if I'm coming off as negative here, but this is a super sensitive topic that I'm very invested in and I believe that "forcing" CsoC as well as improperly implemented CsoC are a bad idea bordering on irresponsible.

Having said all that, encouraging organisers and coaches to familiarise themselves with the concept of/educate themselves about Codes of Conduct is a really great idea, of course, as is implementing CsoC at events if done by people who know what they are doing!

[abelards]

Hi all,

CsoC are only as helpful as the people who understand their value,
implement them properly and take care that they are followed

Agreed. That said, we have nice guides for organisers, which might just need updating.
Why not adding a few words to http://guides.railsgirls.com/guide/ ?
I'd love to do a PR but can't find the file.

Based on

Rails Girls events are inclusive, friendly and safe environments.
They have zero tolerance of harrasment or bullying. You can include
a Code of Conduct to your event. Below are examples:

I'd probably just say

Rails Girls events are inclusive, friendly and safe environments.
They should have zero tolerance of harrasment or bullying.
We suggest you include a Code of Conduct to your event (examples below).

We know that CoCs are only as useful as the people enforcing them.
You should be clear to your organisers, mentors and attendees where the line is,
and what to do if they have, see or learn about any problematic behaviour.

How would you feel about this?
Cheers,

[hsbt]

RailsGirls JP added code of conduct to railsgirls event in Japan based The Ruby Community Conduct Guideline

http://railsgirls.jp/code-of-conduct [JA]