Requests for Comment/Abolish the Code of Conduct Commission
Add topic- Thank you for the constructive and helpful comments, DeeM28, as always. Your question is a good one, though based on the community's currently authorized setup for the Code of Conduct Commission, it's not that much different from the status quo in that whenever a user had appealed their global sanction to the Commission, they were referred to the local platform moderators (i.e., Stewards, if it occurred on-wiki, or applicable Discord/IRC platform moderator, if it occurred on either of those channels) to ask for a reconsideration of their sanction. We would further advise them that if the local platform moderator(s) declined their appeal, or they had not received a response from local platform moderator(s) within a reasonable period of time (say 3-4 weeks), they could resubmit their appeal to the Commission for consideration. No appeal(s) have been heard thus far in this Commission's mandate, so I can only surmise the original requesting user(s) were either satisfied with local reconsideration or haven't yet applied for local reconsideration. Essentially, yes, though, to answer your question, Stewards collectively would discuss appeals by Steward- or Global Sysop-imposed sanctions in much the same way the Commission would've considered sanction appeals. Hope that helps. Dmehus (talk) 14:48, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
Oppose[edit | edit source]
Weak opposeAbstain. From what has been presented here, this proposal has been made because the proposer doesn't like the pace of the commission's investigation and deliberation of a single case brought before the commission. If this is the only justification to bring this proposal forward, then there is an obvious conflict of interest here. --Robkelk (talk) 14:37, 27 March 2021 (UTC)- @Robkelk: That is not the only justification. There are many other issues with the CoCC that were listed above. Additionally, I believe that particular issue was included because it highlights their lack of organization in some sense, as they were unable to produce the final report that they had promised to produce on multiple occasions. Joritochip (talk) 15:51, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- There are multiple issues, really, but for me they mainly revolve around organizational design of the Commission, the lack of apparent need, and in regards to the Commission's final report on the case, that will still be delivered as part of the Commission's conclusion of existing cases. The main reason why it has not been delivered is because of the fact that the composition of the current Commission (and indeed, most past Commissions) is all or nearly all Stewards, SRE, and/or Global Sysops, so each member has multiple conflicting priorities. So, in short, I would characterize the main issues as being organizational design, functional duplication/lack of apparent need, and lack of volunteers to put their names forward on a consistent basis. Dmehus (talk) 15:58, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- In that case, I change my vote to "abstain". --Robkelk (talk) 16:13, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- There are multiple issues, really, but for me they mainly revolve around organizational design of the Commission, the lack of apparent need, and in regards to the Commission's final report on the case, that will still be delivered as part of the Commission's conclusion of existing cases. The main reason why it has not been delivered is because of the fact that the composition of the current Commission (and indeed, most past Commissions) is all or nearly all Stewards, SRE, and/or Global Sysops, so each member has multiple conflicting priorities. So, in short, I would characterize the main issues as being organizational design, functional duplication/lack of apparent need, and lack of volunteers to put their names forward on a consistent basis. Dmehus (talk) 15:58, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- It's also one of the very few cases that have ever been handled. ~ RhinosF1 - (chat)· acc· c - (on) 16:13, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- @Robkelk: That is not the only justification. There are many other issues with the CoCC that were listed above. Additionally, I believe that particular issue was included because it highlights their lack of organization in some sense, as they were unable to produce the final report that they had promised to produce on multiple occasions. Joritochip (talk) 15:51, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- Oppose I don't want to convert this into BS like FANDOM, where you're banned just for saying some random insult or defending your friends. FtosorciM (talk) 14:40, 2 April 2021 (UTC)
- @FtosorciM: This request for comment does not change the Code of Conduct itself, it just changes who enforces it. Currently, the team that is tasked with handling cases related to the Code of Conduct has many issues, which is why this RfC is proposing it is abolished. Joritochip (talk) 02:57, 4 April 2021 (UTC)
Comments[edit | edit source]
- Comment: Could you maybe clarify on what you mean when you said it makes a complete mockery of the process? DarkMatterMan4500 (talk) (contribs) 21:54, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- Sure, essentially my argument revolves around the fact we have a Code of Conduct Commission that can't resolve Code of Conduct investigations, can't maintain the confidentially of them, can't maintain timelines and can't meet community expectations on transparency. We have a Commission set up to 'solve the fact the Code of Conduct is unenforceable' which itself fails to enforce the Code of Conduct. If you had filed a complaint under the pretence the complaint would be investigated with urgency and confidentially, how would you feel to find out that after four months, there is little to no progress, that a Commissioner is attempting to prevent other members of the Commission from investigating the complaint and to top it all of, information you submitted and shared in confidence, is being shared to people who shouldn't have access to it? John (talk) 22:07, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- @John: That makes total sense now. What you're saying is that it's just as ineffective as teaching a baby to not cry. In other words, even if we enforce it, it's not truly showing off its effectiveness, but rather the opposite effect. So what this means, it could potentially backfire and cause quite a ruckus for both parties. Just recently (going off-topic, but still somehow relates to the Code of Conduct), I've investigated 3 wikis (although one of them is already deleted) with serious violations of not only that type of violation, but also the Content policies. I'm sure you're probably know which wikis I'm talking about as I heard the Stewards (aside from you and Doug), are reviewing on what to do with them. DarkMatterMan4500 (talk) (contribs) 22:31, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- @John:, it's extremely difficult to have both confidentiality and transparency - one precludes the other. But you've cited lack of both as reasons to abolish the commission. Perhaps the underlying issue here is with expectations rather than with the commission's effectiveness. --Robkelk (talk) 14:33, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- It is not difficult at all to have confidentiality of reports but transparency in reporting the progression of reports. In the last RfC, the community mandated that every 90 days the Commission needs to be transparent in reporting the number of cases open, number of cases closed and number of cases declined - I don’t believe providing these figures breaches confidentially but is definitely transparent. The issue of confidentiality I raised was that my report was shared with members not part of the Commission, without my consent or without the Commissions consent either - one member chose to discuss material with someone else who wasn’t privy to the confidential report I thought I filed. I do not believe it is an unreasonable expectation that the Commission state the number of open requests and don’t share a confidential report without consent of either the reporter or the Commission deciding it is necessary or beneficial to do so. John (talk) 17:43, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- Sure, essentially my argument revolves around the fact we have a Code of Conduct Commission that can't resolve Code of Conduct investigations, can't maintain the confidentially of them, can't maintain timelines and can't meet community expectations on transparency. We have a Commission set up to 'solve the fact the Code of Conduct is unenforceable' which itself fails to enforce the Code of Conduct. If you had filed a complaint under the pretence the complaint would be investigated with urgency and confidentially, how would you feel to find out that after four months, there is little to no progress, that a Commissioner is attempting to prevent other members of the Commission from investigating the complaint and to top it all of, information you submitted and shared in confidence, is being shared to people who shouldn't have access to it? John (talk) 22:07, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- Why Abolish it ROSHAN SHANU OFFICIAL (t) 13:12, 28 March 2021 (UTC)
- Abstain I originally wanted to oppose this and suggest changes to the policy instead. But considering there is not enough apparent need, I am abstaining from this RfC instead. It's obvious that this proposal would pass anyway. Redmin Contributions CentralAuth (talk) 09:19, 29 March 2021 (UTC)
Proposal 2: Reform Initiative[edit | edit source]
There is a recognised problem with the current Code of Conduct Commission, but rather than abolish, another attempt should be made to reform the Commission. If this proposal is passed, a discussion on reform must have taken place prior to the end of the current Commission's terms ending on July 31st, 2021. If no reform RfC has taken place, the Commission is suspended until such a reform RfC has concluded.
Support[edit | edit source]
Oppose[edit | edit source]
- Per my comments above, we can not reform a system which doesn't work at a fundamental level - we can only make it a little less broken, but that does not mean it works. John (talk) 21:43, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- I don't think reform can help and also I don't think there can be something reformed with success,--MrJaroslavik (talk) 22:04, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- Regrettably, I also don't feel reform is feasible, as this would require the current Commission members, encumbered with other responsibilities, to draft such a plan. The Commission was a good-faith idea, but functionally, I just don't think it is fit for its purpose, and there's simply a lack of willing volunteers to put their names forward, who don't hold other (and multiple, in some cases) global responsibilities. Dmehus (talk) 22:20, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- As has been said above, the commission has ran out of rope and reform is long past feasible. ~ RhinosF1 - (chat)· acc· c - (on) 22:46, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- Doesn't seem feasible at this point. User:Universal Omega/Sig 22:50, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- Strongest oppose After having a look at the Code of Conduct Commission, it seems that I will cast my vote here as it does seem to be out of commission itself. Such irony, isn't it? DarkMatterMan4500 (talk) (contribs) 22:59, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- Oppose: As I said above I cannot support a commission that has active members sabotaging, a commission which misleads or down right lies. I would support creating a total new commission under a new name and ran differently. But the current commission cannot be reformed. It has lost the support of the community. Paladox (talk) 23:15, 26 March 2021 (UTC)
- Oppose: Unfortunately it sounds like the Commission has no interest in reforming themselves following the failed attempt at reform in 2020. Joritochip (talk) 04:26, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- Oppose - For reasons stated above. ― C.Syde (talk | contribs) 09:43, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- Oppose Given the airtight case for repeal made above, this counterproposal calls for us to tread water while we await more paperwork, to decide not to decide. Repeal, already! A persuasive RfC to re-create the Commission, along lines more likely to work, will remain in order. Spıke (talk) 14:58 27-Mar-2021
- Strong oppose Reasons stated above. --Matttest (talk) 09:28, 29 March 2021 (UTC)
Comments[edit | edit source]
- What if the requirement for a discussion by a stated deadline is met by a positive acknowledgement but no positive follow-up, much like the work of the Commission itself? Spıke (talk) 15:00 27-Mar-2021
- Interesting hypothetical question. My understanding from the reading of Proposal 2 is that an RfC would need to have been initiated and underway (if not closed and in the implementation phase) by the Commission by the stated deadline otherwise the Commission would be functionally suspended with no current members of the Commission after their terms expired on July 31, 2021. Hope that helps. Dmehus (talk) 15:07, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- Question: Why can't reform initiatives be taken on this RfC? Redmin Contributions CentralAuth (talk) 15:04, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- Because no one has any idea what reform would look like nor a desire to implement it. ~ RhinosF1 - (chat)· acc· c - (on) 16:16, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- You cannot say that with certainty. I do not agree with the idea of abolishing anything that does not work out well just on the basis of a failed Commission elected for one single year. I will elaborate on this and share my ideas in a comment later. Redmin Contributions CentralAuth (talk) 07:39, 28 March 2021 (UTC)
- The commission has been failing ever since it started. That's why we attempted to reform it. If anyone has ideas, they should share them. I can't say no one has with certainty but the fact none have been presented gives me that opinion. ~ RhinosF1 - (chat)· acc· c - (on) 07:44, 28 March 2021 (UTC)
- You cannot say that with certainty. I do not agree with the idea of abolishing anything that does not work out well just on the basis of a failed Commission elected for one single year. I will elaborate on this and share my ideas in a comment later. Redmin Contributions CentralAuth (talk) 07:39, 28 March 2021 (UTC)
- Because no one has any idea what reform would look like nor a desire to implement it. ~ RhinosF1 - (chat)· acc· c - (on) 16:16, 27 March 2021 (UTC)
- Frankly, if it does get abolished, will the Code of Conduct Commission be replaced with an advanced role? DarkMatterMan4500 (talk) (contribs) 14:36, 3 April 2021 (UTC)
- DarkMatterMan4500 No, the Code of Conduct Commission would conclude its term on July 31, 2021, and local platform moderators would handle any appeals and restrictions. In both cases, practically speaking, this was in many respects the status quo in that the Code of Conduct Commission was always to be a final point of dispute resolution, arbitration, and appeal. Abolishment of the Commission would not preclude some successor committee from being proposed for discussion, if the community felt it was needed to fill a gap, though. Any future proposal would be well advised to take heed from this RfC and consider the shortcomings of this Commission. Hope that helps. Dmehus (talk) 14:50, 3 April 2021 (UTC)
- @Dmehus: Thanks for the clarification. DarkMatterMan4500 (talk) (contribs) 14:52, 3 April 2021 (UTC)
- No problem. Dmehus (talk) 14:57, 3 April 2021 (UTC)
- @Dmehus: Thanks for the clarification. DarkMatterMan4500 (talk) (contribs) 14:52, 3 April 2021 (UTC)
- DarkMatterMan4500 No, the Code of Conduct Commission would conclude its term on July 31, 2021, and local platform moderators would handle any appeals and restrictions. In both cases, practically speaking, this was in many respects the status quo in that the Code of Conduct Commission was always to be a final point of dispute resolution, arbitration, and appeal. Abolishment of the Commission would not preclude some successor committee from being proposed for discussion, if the community felt it was needed to fill a gap, though. Any future proposal would be well advised to take heed from this RfC and consider the shortcomings of this Commission. Hope that helps. Dmehus (talk) 14:50, 3 April 2021 (UTC)
Administrative Point[edit | edit source]
If all proposals fail - the Commission continues to operate as-is. This is effectively the 'Status Quo', but rather than vote on the status quo, rejection of change should effectively identify the status quo as being the preferred route.
- The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section