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Code of Conduct

Code of conduct for the ODE community.

Overview

The OpenDataEnsemble (ODE) project is committed to building an inclusive, respectful, and harassment-free community. We welcome contributors from all backgrounds and experiences, and we are dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for everyone.

This Code of Conduct applies to all community spaces, including:

  • GitHub Issues and Pull Requests
  • GitHub Discussions
  • Code repositories
  • Community meetings and events
  • Official communications from maintainers

All community members, contributors, and maintainers are expected to uphold this Code of Conduct. By participating in the ODE community, you agree to abide by these principles.

Our Standards

Examples of Behavior That Contribute to a Positive Environment

  • Be respectful - Treat all community members with courtesy and respect, regardless of their background, experience level, or viewpoint
  • Be inclusive - Welcome newcomers warmly and help them feel comfortable participating
  • Listen actively - Take time to understand others' perspectives before responding
  • Be constructive - Provide helpful feedback and criticism that is focused on ideas, not individuals
  • Be patient - Remember that contributors volunteer their time and may not respond immediately
  • Be honest - Be truthful in your communications and acknowledge when you're wrong
  • Assume good intent - Interpret others' words and actions positively unless clearly malicious
  • Give credit - Acknowledge others' contributions and ideas
  • Stay on topic - Keep discussions focused and relevant to the project

Examples of Unacceptable Behavior

  • Harassment - Any unwelcome comments or conduct based on protected characteristics (race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc.)
  • Discrimination - Treating individuals unfairly based on their identity or background
  • Intimidation - Threatening or hostile behavior intended to make others feel unsafe
  • Bullying - Repeated unwelcome behavior targeting specific individuals
  • Sexual harassment - Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or sexually suggestive comments
  • Trolling - Deliberately provoking conflict or disrupting constructive discussions
  • Spam - Repetitive, off-topic, or self-promotional content
  • Exclusion - Deliberately excluding individuals from discussions or opportunities
  • Doxxing - Sharing others' personal information without consent
  • Plagiarism - Presenting others' work as your own
  • Abuse of power - Maintainers or moderators using their position to silence or harm others

Expected Behavior

For All Community Members

  1. Participate authentically - Bring your genuine self and perspective to discussions
  2. Respect boundaries - Honor others' privacy and personal limits
  3. Accept responsibility - If you make a mistake, acknowledge it and learn from it
  4. Communicate clearly - Be explicit and kind in your communication; avoid sarcasm that might be misunderstood
  5. Respect decisions - Accept maintainers' decisions on project direction and issues

For Maintainers and Moderators

  1. Model the behavior you want - Demonstrate the standards outlined in this Code of Conduct
  2. Be transparent - Explain decisions clearly and publicly when appropriate
  3. Show empathy - Understand that most conflicts arise from misunderstandings
  4. Be fair - Apply standards consistently across all community members
  5. Protect community - Take swift action when someone violates the Code of Conduct

Reporting and Enforcement

Reporting Violations

If you witness or experience a violation of this Code of Conduct, please report it by emailing:

[email protected] (or project maintainers' email)

When reporting, please include:

  1. Description - What happened?
  2. When - When did this occur?
  3. Where - Which platform or space? (GitHub issue, discussion, email, etc.)
  4. Who - Who was involved? (usernames or names)
  5. Evidence - Links, screenshots, or other documentation
  6. Impact - How did this affect you or others?
  7. Contact - How should we reach you for follow-up?

All reports are confidential. We will not share your identity without your permission, except as necessary to address the violation.

Investigation and Resolution

When we receive a report, we will:

  1. Acknowledge - Send you confirmation that we received your report within 24 hours
  2. Investigate - Gather information and talk to involved parties
  3. Determine - Assess whether the Code of Conduct was violated
  4. Decide - Determine appropriate consequences
  5. Communicate - Inform you of the outcome (while respecting confidentiality)

Consequences

Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in:

  • Warning - First-time minor violations may receive a warning
  • Temporary suspension - Removal from community spaces for a set period
  • Permanent ban - Serious or repeated violations result in permanent removal
  • Legal action - In cases of illegal activity, we may report to appropriate authorities

Consequences are applied consistently and proportionally to the violation.

Appeals

If you disagree with a decision, you may appeal by:

  1. Sending a detailed written explanation to the maintainers
  2. Clearly stating why you believe the decision was unfair
  3. Providing new information that wasn't available in the original investigation

Your appeal will be reviewed by a different group of maintainers to ensure fairness.

Attribution and References

This Code of Conduct is adapted from:

Questions?

If you have questions about this Code of Conduct or how to report a violation, please contact the maintainers at:

[email protected]

We're here to help create a welcoming community for everyone.

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