Proposed General Resolution: IRC as a Debian communication channel

[Martin Schulze]

[ Posted as requested by Courtesy Raphaël Hertzog <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ]

[ Please respect the reply-to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ]

Hello,

I have proposed the following general resolution a few days ago (my
initial mail to debian-devel-announce didn't get through). The
discussion takes place on debian-project@lists.debian.org

I already have the five required "seconds" (but you can still second it
if you want).

Please read what has already been said there before eventually
replying :
http://lists.debian.org/debian-project/2001/debian-project-200110/threads.html

In particular my clarification message :
http://lists.debian.org/debian-project/2001/debian-project-200110/msg00103.html

Thanks,
 buxy.


PROPOSED GENERAL RESOLUTION

IRC AS A DEBIAN COMMUNICATION CHANNEL

1. Context

A #debian-devel operator regularly kicks (sometimes bans) people from the
channel if they are not Debian developers. He does so even if
they have been introduced by developers as valuable Debian contributors
and behave correctly in the channel.

The invoked reason is historic. #debian-devel used to be for developers
only and from time to time issues discussed on
[EMAIL PROTECTED] are discussed on #debian-devel. Even the
channel founders argued about the policy that should be applied to
#debian-devel.

Other facts :
- #debian-private exists and is key protected (the key should be known
  by debian developers only), although it is not really used
- #debian-devel is useful for many people and is useful for Debian
  contributors (not yet developers) :
  * the topic regularly asks for testers of prerelease of some packages
  * the topic usually warns about the worst problems of unstable
  * future developers can learn many things by following the discussions
- #debian-devel is used for day to day work related to Debian's
  development


2. Problems

* The IRC channels #debian-* are not officially recognized as part of
  Debian's communication channels. 

* Debian can't treat valuable contributors like it's done actually on IRC.
  Kicking a person who naturally has its place within the developer's
  community (because of his interest and his work) is not reasonable.
  
  (Personal note: this kind of behavior gives Debian its bad image of a
   closed community preaching openness)

* Debian's philosophy concerning the development has always been to open
  the communication channels. There's a mismatch here.


3. Proposed changes

We should ackowledge the fact the IRC channels are used to communicate
within Debian. They are only an alternate way to discuss things. They
are not the main communication channels (the mailing lists are). This
should be documented in Debian Developers Reference and wherever it's
applicable.

By acknowledging their existence, we also have to apply the usual Debian
policies :
- all #debian-* channels on OpenProjects should be open to everyone
  except #debian-private which is for registered debian developers only
  (the actual "key protection" may be replaced by a better identification
   mechanism at any time)
- the "netiquette" (RFC 1855, section 4.1.2) applies, channels'
  subjects should be respected

Nevertheless, some specific IRC rules apply :
- the channels should not be publicly archived without notice
- public quotations may not be accepted by everyone


4. Item proposed to vote (after the discussion period)

[ ] I accept the ratification of IRC channels as a communication medium
and as such they have to follow the usual Debian policies (adapted
for IRC habits)

-- 
Raphaël Hertzog -+- http://strasbourg.linuxfr.org/~raphael/
Le bouche à oreille du Net : http://www.beetell.com
Naviguer sans se fatiguer à chercher : http://www.deenoo.com
Formation Linux et logiciel libre : http://www.logidee.com


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General Resolution : IRC as a Debian communication channel

[Manoj Srivastava]

-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-

Hi folks,

I have been gently chastized to sign all such official
 communications. Please pardon the duplication of real content.

This general resolution, titled "IRC as a Debian communication
 channel" has met its minimum requirement of 5 sponsors on Wednesday,
 31 October 2001, and has entered the discussion period.

The full text of the resolution can be seen in the message by
 Raphael Hertzog <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with message ID:
   <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
 on the mailing lists: debian-devel-announce@lists.debian.org,
 debian-project@lists.debian.org, or debian-vote@lists.debian.org

The minimum discussion period is two weeks, and barring any
 amendments and changes, shall end on the 14th of October, 2001.

manoj
- -- 
 Knowledge, sir, should be free to all! Harry Mudd, "I, Mudd",
 stardate 4513.3
Manoj Srivastava   <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
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