Hi, Shelley and Tab-
Tab, please refrain from using words with negative connotations like
"pollute". We know what you meant, but there is a more polite way to
say that.... something like, "Please be mindful to stay on topic for the
list you are emailing (in this case, www-style), or trim the CC list
accordingly" would have been a nicer way to phrase it. Also, as
frustrated as you may be, describing someone's contributions as
"ridiculousness" in public is impolite and incendiary (and ridiculous).
You know better than that.
Shelley, Tab is correct that your response to my CSS-specific reply on
the topic of stylable controls (which I clearly labeled "CCing CSS
list") was not pertinent to the CSS list, and should have been
redirected; you took an opportunity to contribute in a positive manner
and used it to simply complain. Your reaction to Tab, and name-calling
on Twitter, is not an appropriate response for participation in W3C, and
doesn't help foster a positive work environment. Tab may have been a
bit impolite, but your reaction seems rather extreme to me. In the
future, please give people the benefit of the doubt and act accordingly.
It's very hard to ignore slights; it's also very important.
We want you both to participate, and we want everyone to feel like they
are getting the respect they deserve. But the tone of these emails
makes this difficult. We all get frustrated sometimes. When I find
myself particularly vexed, I will ask my girlfriend or someone else to
read my emails to make sure the tone is reasonable, or I will write the
email, then wait a few hours to review and revise it. Perhaps this
might help you, too.
If you have not already done so, please watch this video on "How Open
Source Projects Survive Poisonous People" to understand the impact
individuals' attitudes and actions have on collaborative projects:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4216011961522818645
I don't think there are "poisonous people", I think there is poisonous
behavior; I don't think either of you are at that point, but your tone
is too negative for productive contribution. I am confident that you
are both genuine in your desire to help make the Web better, so I'm
asking you to calm down.
Regards-
-Doug Schepers
W3C Team Contact, SVG and WebApps WGs
Shelley Powers wrote (on 4/5/10 3:41 PM):
On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 12:41 PM, Tab Atkins Jr.<[email protected]> wrote:
Um, what? It was a simple request. I even put a smilie at the end to
make sure the correct intention, that of a helpful correction, was
sent over the wire.
Chill, Shelley.
That it's seemingly OK for Doug to cc the list, but was not OK for me
to reply to his email, and also include the list, was rude.
That you termed my email "polluting" when it was focused on relevant
topic material, but considered Doug's email was OK, was also rude.
That you would instruct me to pay attention to the cc list, like I'm
some kind of newbie in this forum was rude.
And if I were to tell you where you can shove your smiley, why then my
statement would also be rude. So I won't.
Shelley
PS Notice lack of smiley
~TJ
On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 9:37 AM, Shelley Powers<[email protected]> wrote:
This was the rudest email I have received related to W3C efforts.
You have personal problems with me. Frankly, that's your problem. If
you can't maintain a professional attitude with me, then don't
communicate with me, period.
Shelley
On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 11:19 AM, Tab Atkins Jr.<[email protected]> wrote:
Please don't pollute the www-style list with something entirely
unrelated to it. I know that Doug was the one that originally CCed
us, and that was valid. Just pay attention to who's in the CC box.
^_^
~TJ
