[Chaoss-Board] CHAOSS response to FSF

Amy Marrich amy at demarco.com
Thu Apr 1 16:23:34 UTC 2021


As the person who brought this up, I like the idea of keeping it internal
and the suggestions everyone is making.

Thanks,

Amy

On Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 10:06 AM Ildiko Vancsa <ildiko at openstack.org> wrote:

> Hi Georg and All,
>
> Thank you for writing up this summary of actions to consider and drafting
> the communication to the community as well!
>
> Especially with our focus and efforts in DEI I think it is very important
> to think it through how these events are affecting our work and how we
> could and should react to it for the protection of our community as well as
> the free and open source software ecosystem.
>
> I really like the letter to the community that you, Matt, Nicole, and
> Elizabeth drafted. I think it is always good to remind ourselves to our
> values and who we are and at times like this it is even more important to
> remind the community of all these and point people to the code of conduct
> should they find themselves in a situation where they might need it. I
> think the letter does a great job at highlighting our values that ensures
> the positive environment we have in CHAOSS.
>
> To Sean’s addition, I got a little confused. I would consider that
> paragraph to belong in a public statement if we decide to release one
> rather than in the message that we plan to send to our community. But I may
> have misunderstood what that would be the extension of. In my view, if we
> decide to release a public statement it is worthwhile to discuss what route
> we prefer to take when it comes to demanding actions before taking taking
> that step.
>
> Thanks,
> Ildikó
>
> ———
>
> Ildikó Váncsa
> Senior Manager, Community & Ecosystem
> Open Infrastructure Foundation
>
>
>
>
> > On Apr 1, 2021, at 16:30, Kate Stewart <kstewart at linuxfoundation.org>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Georg,
> >      "free and open source software" is fine.   Just "open source" on
> its own was going to
> > be missing a key facet.
> >
> > Kate
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 9:27 AM Georg Link <linkgeorg at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Kate,
> >
> > Thanks for forwarding the GCC email and suggesting to use "free
> software".
> > How about using "free and open source software" to accommodate the
> intertwined history and relationship?
> >
> > Best,
> > Georg
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 9:05 AM Kate Stewart <
> kstewart at linuxfoundation.org> wrote:
> > Also of relevance to consider, that some of the FSF projects are
> signaling
> > they do not want to be associated with him as well.
> >
> > https://gcc.gnu.org/pipermail/gcc/2021-March/235245.html
> >
> > I'd consider using the term "free software" rather than "open source",
> as he is actively
> > harming the free software movement,  more than the open source one.
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 7:14 AM Sean Goggins <s at goggins.com> wrote:
> > To the letter drafted below, you may want to add something along the
> lines of:
> >
> > As a community, we are aware of statements made by RMS in the past that
> are exclusionary. Of equal, or perhaps great significance, is that as a
> public figure in the open source community who is recognized for
> passionately non-inclusive language, welcoming him onto the board of the
> FSF would send a strong, and possibly lasting signal that Open Source
> Software, in the very largest sense, remains a non-inclusive work context
> for many. At CHAOSS, we are working to help advance open source toward a
> more diverse, equitable, and inclusive future. In that light, we think it
> is critical that we erase any doubt about our guiding principles of a more
> diverse, equitable, and inclusive future for open source software. For
> those reasons, we ask for the immediate removal of RMS from the Free
> Software Foundation Board.
> >
> > Possibly too strong. However, my point that RMS is more of a risk to the
> future of DEI in open source as a symbol of support for non-inclusivity,
> than he is a threat to DEI individually is the main one.
> >
> > Sean
> >
> >> On Mar 31, 2021, at 3:40 PM, Georg Link <linkgeorg at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi CHAOSS Board members,
> >>
> >> In the DEI Working Group call [1] there was discussion about the
> recent/ongoing concerns related to RMS rejoining the FSF board. As the DEI
> WG is committed to helping organizations and communities center DEI in
> their open source work, the question was raised whether CHAOSS could or
> should have any response. It is possible that the Linux Foundation is also
> responding to this (or already has) and any insight on that would be
> helpful too.
> >>
> >> We have three decisions to make and I would love your input.
> >> We don't need to make the choice right now, we can first discuss.
> >> I will voice my own opinion in a response to this email tomorrow.
> >>
> >> # Decision 1 - YES/NO: Public Statement: Does CHAOSS make a public
> statement?
> >>
> >> Other organizations have publicly stated how they stand on the subject
> of bringing RMS back on board but more broadly about expecting respect and
> dignity from free software and open source leaders. Examples:
> >>      • OpenUK:
> https://openuk.uk/openuk-response-to-richard-stallmans-reinstatement-to-fsf-board/
> >>      • RedHat:
> https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/red-hat-statement-about-richard-stallmans-return-free-software-foundation-board
> >>      • Outreachy:
> https://www.outreachy.org/blog/2021-03-23/fsf-participation-barred/
> >>
> >> # Decision 2 - YES/NO: Community Communication: Do we, as the board,
> send a message to our community members?
> >>
> >> We are lucky with how inclusive the CHAOSS community is and now might
> be a good time to reinforce that this is by design and choice, affirming to
> our community members that we value and strive for DEI, respect, and
> positive.
> >>
> >> Here is a draft for the CHAOSS mailing list that we can discuss:
> >>
> >> >>>
> >> Hello CHAOSS Community members,
> >>
> >> In light of recent events surrounding the FSF, we wanted to reach out
> to our community; specifically those who may feel uncertain what our stance
> is. We wanted to assure you that this community does not condone or
> tolerate harassment or inappropriate conduct at any time.
> >>
> >> We would also like to extend our sincere thank you to all of you. Your
> effort and contributions are what make the CHAOSS community who we are. We
> welcome and support everyone.You have all been excellent in creating a
> positive environment by:
> >>      • Using welcoming and inclusive language
> >>      • Being respectful of differing viewpoints and experiences
> >>      • Gracefully accepting constructive criticism
> >>      • Focusing on what is best for the community
> >>      • Showing empathy towards other community members
> >> Should you notice unacceptable behavior, please use our process in our
> Code of Conduct to allow us to restore the positive environment we are
> currently enjoying in CHAOSS.
> >> >>>
> >>
> >> Thank you to Matt, Nicole, and Elizabeth for helping with the draft.
> >>
> >>
> >> # Decision 3 - YES/NO: Sign Open Letter: Does CHAOSS sign the open
> letter to FSF?
> >>
> >> This is the letter: https://rms-open-letter.github.io/
> >>
> >>
> >> What are your thoughts?
> >>
> >> Best,
> >> Georg
> >>
> >> PS: Please remember that the CHAOSS Board mailing list has a public
> archive. You can share your thoughts privately with me and other board
> members by sending a direct email.
> >>
> >> [1] CHAOSS DEI meeting from 2021-03-24, starting at minute 28:30
> >>
> >> --
> >> Georg Link, PhD
> >> (he/him)
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> CHAOSS-members mailing list
> >> CHAOSS-members at lists.linuxfoundation.org
> >> https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/chaoss-members
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > CHAOSS-members mailing list
> > CHAOSS-members at lists.linuxfoundation.org
> > https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/chaoss-members
> >
> >
> > --
> > Georg Link, PhD
> > (he/him)
> > _______________________________________________
> > CHAOSS-members mailing list
> > CHAOSS-members at lists.linuxfoundation.org
> > https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/chaoss-members
>
> _______________________________________________
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> CHAOSS-members at lists.linuxfoundation.org
> https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/chaoss-members
>
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