On Wed, 2018-03-14 at 10:00 +0000, Allan Day wrote:
= Foundation Board Minutes for Tue, March 13th 2018, 18:00 UTC = [...] == Minutes == * Tile server options for Maps (Allan) * The board has previously discussed paying Mapbox to use their tile servers. Since then some cheaper alternatives have appeared. Our current options: 1. Use OpenStreetMap's tile servers directly. This would be free, but there aren't any satellite images. 2. tilehosting.com - costs $40 a month for their "vector" plan - provides relatively low resolution satellite images. 3. Mapbox - costs about $300 a month (this would be capped) and includes detailed satellite images. This cost falls within budget tolerances. * There is a Maps branch which allows these different options to be used. The Maps developers are fine with any of them, but would like a decision. * Neil has talked to OpenStreetMap and they're OK with us using their servers directly. * Mapbox currently isn't providing Maps with tiles, so this is somewhat urgent. * Nuritzi - in favour of Mapbox, on the basis of quality * Allan - no satellite images would be a major regression for Maps * Neil - the quality of anything other than Mapbox is low * VOTE: approve $300 a month to pay Mapbox - passed unanimously * ACTION: Meg to inform Mapbox and the Maps team, cc'ing Rosanna and Neil * We might want to revisit this when we set future budgets
From outside, and setting aside the quality of the product, it is hard to asses whether this is a good decision or not. To do so, we would need to know what the recurrent income and expenses are. It could be monthly or yearly. If we receive more than we spend, then it might be a doable decision. Otherwise, we need think a better long term solution.
* Moderation of public mailing lists (Carlos) * There have been some complaints that mailing lists aren't being properly moderated - primarily unpleasant/toxic emails being ignored * There's no escalation process - what can people do if they feel they've been mistreated? * There's no process for becoming a moderator or joining a moderators team * Questions: * Would it be better to tackle this issue once we have a code of conduct? * Is it the moderator's role to police behaviour, or is it more of an admin role? * Rosanna - some moderators have taken a more active role in the past.
FWIW, I am the administrator of the gtk-list, and my role has always been checking the queue of pending messages to the list. Some eons ago I requested to pass the list to the moderators team, with no response (AFAIU). When I stepped in, I think that was the role it was always expected for the list's "moderator". The thing is, I could barely moderate the behaviour in the list if I unsubscribed myself of such list several years ago (more than 5 or 6, for sure). Whenever I need to figure out something, I read (or search) the archives. My understanding is that many in the moderator team (or as it was originally proposed) did not need to be subscribed. Even more, it was a way for newcomers to get involved. Anyhow, if someone in the gtk-list is giving a headache to anyone, drop me an email.
* Allan - moderators will have to play a role in policing once we have a code of conduct - they are the ones who have the power to ban people. A code of conduct will require some procedures and agreements for how and when people get banned.
By doing so, you will either need to recruit moderators or establish a mechanism that an unsubscribed moderator get the message or complain.
* Carlos - even if we don't have a code of conduct in place, there might be other things we can do, like trying to recruit extra modorators. The problem is, right now there's no process for appointing moderators. * The board isn't currently managing the mailing lists, but they are hosted on GNOME infrastructure and they do therefore fall under the board's remit. * Carlos - we should write a process for putting more people into moderator and administratory roles. * Nuritzi - we could put out a public call to find out if there are any moderators who want help, or if anyone has had problems with a list. * Cosimo - would prefer to wait until we have a code of conduct. Didier and Nuritzi too. Carlos is mindful that this topic is already overdue. * ACTION: add this item to ongoing items and check back in a month
When there is lack of volunteers for a boring role, why would you need a process? Who are you going to recruit? What are you going to do if a core developer or a maintainer or the list moderator is the one misbehaving? (other than talk to them) In practical terms, Code of conducts are guidelines, it shows what a community aims; but Code of conducts are hard to enforce. The exception could be a gathering or conference. There is no balance in power. To put it simple: it is easy to ban a random troll, but banning a troll with power is a different thing without paying a high toll (like discarding a project). FWIW, I have been trying to find records where a CoC has been enforced (other than node.js), no luck so far. Perhaps there has been no need. Pointers are welcomed :-) -- Germán Poo-Caamaño http://calcifer.org/
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