This document combines the Reporting Guidelines and Conflict Resolution Guidelines: [Combined Reporting Docs] (https://pad.disroot.org/p/combined-reporting-docs)
This is a revised version of the Reporting Guidelines that were approved in a membership vote on 9/1/2018.
# Handling conduct violations
Social.Coop is based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
Overall, we aim to resolve problems simply, effectively, and in ways that avoid exacerbating any tensions.
We want to give people a chance to correct mistakes and learn from them.
We also want to avoid having productive discussions get derailed by problem posts or by meta discussions of such posts.
If you believe someone has violated the code of conduct, you should use your best judgment in choosing from the following options:
*[Bring the concern to the other member directly](#bring-the-concern-to-the-other-member-directly)
*[Enlist more support](#enlist-more-support)
*[File a formal report to the CWG](#file-a-formal-report-to-the-cwg)
### Bring the concern to the other member directly
If you feel capable and safe in doing so, discuss your concerns directly with the other person.
When feasible, avoid replying directly to the problem post. Instead, start a new discussion referencing the problem.
Use your best judgment to decide whether to discuss the issue publicly or privately.
* Either way, consider a short public notice in the original context to indicate that discussion of the item is happening. That notice can be deleted once the issue is resolved.
Suggestions for revision can be made on this [Disroot Pad](https://pad.disroot.org/p/Social.Coop_Reporting_Guide_v3.1revs)
---------
For addressing a particular problem post, consider the following template:
**Social.Coop Reporting Guide**
>>>
"I noticed your [post]. Although you may not have intended it, one interpretation is ______, and I feel that is not reflective of [list specific relevant portion(s) of CoC]. Would you please (edit your post / delete and repost improved version | take down your post | put a CW on your post)?"
>>>
**How to report Code of Conduct violations**
When engaging in dialogue to resolve concerns, consider the following:
* Foster inclusive dialogue by *sharing* ideas, *asking* clarifying questions, and *responding* to others' ideas.
* Identify personal *wants* and *needs*.
* Make *offers* or *requests*.
* Propose plans to help resolve in a mutually satisfactory way.
For toots in Mastodon, editing isn't possible yet, so you'll have to request deletion (and potential reposting of an improved version).
For editable content such as at Loomio, wikis, or similar, editing can be requested.
For permanent contexts such as a live call or Matrix.org discussion, a request for a public retraction / correction / clarification would be appropriate (and that also may make sense for edited or deleted posts in cases where lots of people saw the original problem version).
## Enlist More Support
If you aren't comfortable contacting someone yourself but think such outreach from someone else would be appropriate, ask for help.
#### Private support
Talk privately to your Social.Coop Steward(s) or a mutually trusted friend to help you resolve conflicts with other Social.Coop members or other participants in Social.Coop spaces. Make a plan together about what you're going to do.
#### Expanded dialogue
Social.Coop members may seek to informally resolve their conflicts by discussing them with a group of mutually trusted Social.Coop members. This should be done confidentially.
Social.Coop is based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
Someone else can contact the other person on your behalf and keep you anonymous.
Our top priority is the safety of each of our members and our community as a whole. We will not tolerate bigotry, including fascist, racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or transphobic content and will act swiftly and decisively to protect our members from abuse.
* If you can, you could still help by providing a clear message to send, such as using the template in the section above.
We would rather get "false alarms" than have Code of Conduct violations go unaddressed.
If you think someone is violating the Code of Conduct, please report them to the social.coop moderators.
## File a formal report to the CWG
<screenshotofMastodon'sreportinginterface>
If:
Click "report @[user]".
* you believe someone to be acting in bad faith
* or suspect they otherwise are unlikely to resolve the issue voluntarily and effectively
* or you want other help addressing the problem and could not get adequate support from the options in the "enlist more support" section,
<screenshotofsampleDM>
Or DM someone on the Community Moderation Team: <listofhandles> You can include screenshots, links, and any other context that will help us understand the situation.
You can file a conduct report using this form [link].
All reports will be kept confidential.
In some cases, [CWG] may decide to make a public statement. Such statements will keep the identities of all victims and reporters confidential unless those individuals instruct us otherwise.
**What happens after I make a report?**
If you are unsure whether the incident is a violation, or whether the space where it happened is covered by this Code of Conduct, we encourage you to still report it. We would much rather have a few extra reports where [CWG] decides to take no action, than to have violations go unaddressed.
You will get an automated email acknowledging that we've received it. We will do our best to get back to you within 24 hours (understanding that people live in different time zones, have different schedules, etc.).
We do not generally look negatively on reports that we determine to describe no real violations. In some cases, we may discover the need to improve the CoC to cover unforseen problems.
However, to repeatedly report someone over issues that have been judged as non-violations may itself be a form of harassment in violation of the CoC.
note to readers of this draft: the above line aims to address the important complex issues brought up here: https://social.coop/web/statuses/100512998346505570
Our first priority is making sure everyone is safe. If necessary, we will:
### Reporting Form
Delete, edit, or hide a problem post
The form will include questions about:
This may be proactive to deal with the item in order to not wait for the person to take care of it
* Your contact info (so we can get in touch with you if we need to follow up)
* Names (real, nicknames, or pseudonyms) of any individuals involved. If there were other witnesses besides you, please try to include them as well.
* When and where the incident occurred. Please be as specific as possible.
* Your account of what occurred. If there is a publicly available record (e.g. an archive or thread available online) please include a link.
* Any extra context you believe existed for the incident.
* If you believe this incident is ongoing.
* Any other information you believe we should have.
or this may be necessary when the person will not voluntarily address the item
Privately tell the violator(s) to knock it off, delete/redact posts on Mastodon/Loomio/in Matrix chat, or apologize
### What happens after you file a report?
Publicly tell the violator(s) to knock it off, delete/redact, or apologize
You will receive an [automated] email from [CWG] acknowledging receipt as soon as we receive your report. [CWG] will also do its best to acknowledge receipt and make contact within 24 hours.
Mute or block the violator(s)
The [CWG] members will immediately be notified of the incident and will start an investigation in order to determine:
* What happened.
* Whether this event constitutes a code of conduct violation.
* Whether this is an ongoing situation, or if there is a threat to anyone's physical safety.
We may delay an official response until we have dealt with the immediate situation.
If this is determined to be an ongoing incident or a threat to physical safety, the [CWG]'s immediate priority will be to protect everyone involved. This means we may delay an "official" response until we believe that the situation has ended and that everyone is physically safe.
Once we have an understanding of what's going on, we will make a decision and contact you. We will take your feedback into account, but the action we take is our responsibility. This might involve:
Once the [CWG] has a complete account of the events they will make a decision as to the action(s) to be taken. Actions may include:
Nothing (if we determine no violation occurred)
* Nothing (if we determine no violation occurred)
* Deleting or otherwise editing or hiding a problem post
* This may be proactive to deal with the item in order to not wait for the person to take care of it
* or this may be necessary when the person will not voluntarily address the item
* A private reprimand from the working group to the individual(s) involved
* A public reprimand
* An imposed vacation (ie asking someone to "take a week off' from social.coop or Loomio or other spaces)
* A permanent or temporary ban from some or all social.coop spaces (mastodon instance, chat, wiki, blog, loomio etc.)
* A request for a public or private apology
* A request to participate in mediated resolution planning to determine the best full resolution bringing everyone back to good standing as much as possible
A temporary ban
A permanent ban
We aim to respond and act as swiftly as possible.
Once we've determined our final action(s), we'll contact the original reporter to let them know the decision. We'll take into account feedback from the reporter on the appropriateness of our response, but we are not bound to follow their requests or suggestions.
Finally, the [CWG] will make a report on the situation to the Social.Coop membership. The membership may choose to make a public report of the incident.
A request for a public or private apology
### Reconsideration
A request to participate in mediation
Any of the parties directly involved or affected can request reconsideration of the committee’s decision. To make such an appeal, contact the [CWG] via this form [link] with your request and motivation and the Community Working Group will refer the case to the membership.
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We embrace the principles of restorative justice. We want to give people a chance to correct mistakes and learn from them.
If you disagree with our final decision, you can appeal it here: <linktoCMT>
