Like the technical community as a whole, the Tails team and community is made up of a mixture of people from all over the world, working on every aspect of the mission — including mentorship, teaching, and connecting people. The commitments that we stand by as a community are described in the Tails Social Contract.

Diversity is one of our huge strengths, but it can also lead to communication issues and unhappiness. To that end, we have a few ground rules that we ask people to adhere to when they're participating within this community and project. These rules apply equally to founders, mentors and those seeking help and guidance.

This isn't an exhaustive list of things that you can't do. Rather, take it in the spirit in which it's intended — a guide to make it easier to enrich all of us and the technical communities in which we participate.

This policy applies to all spaces used by the Tails project. This includes XMPP, the mailing lists, the issue tracker, the website, events, and any other forums which the community uses for communication.

If you believe someone is violating this policy, we ask that you report it by emailing the Board.

  • Be welcoming, friendly, and patient.

  • Be considerate.

    Your work will be used by other people, and you in turn will depend on the work of others. Any decision you take will affect users and other contributors, and you should take those consequences into account when making decisions. Remember that we're a world-wide community, so you might not be communicating in someone else's primary language.

  • Be respectful.

    Not all of us will agree all the time, but disagreement is no excuse for poor behavior and poor manners. We might all experience some frustration now and then, but we cannot allow that frustration to turn into a personal attack. It's important to remember that a community where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not a productive one. Members of the Tails community should be respectful when dealing with other members as well as with people outside the Tails community.

  • Be careful in the words that you choose.

    Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down other participants. Harassment and other exclusionary behavior aren't acceptable. This includes, but is not limited to:

    • Violent threats or language directed against another person.

    • Sexist, racist, or otherwise discriminatory jokes and language.

    • Exhibiting sexually explicit or violent speak or material.

    • Publishing (or threatening to publish) other people's personally identifying information ("doxing").

    • Recording, photographing or filming other persons without their consent. Seek consent before recording. Also ask people who may be seen or heard in the background. Similarly, don't publish private communication without asking first, except if the communication was unwanted (harrassment, threats etc). In doubt, you can ask us before publishing something.

    • Personal insults, especially those using racist or sexist terms.

    • Unwelcome sexual attention.

    • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

    • Repeated harassment of others. In general, if someone asks you to stop, then stop.

  • When we disagree, try to understand why.

    Disagreements, both social and technical, happen all the time and Tails is no exception. It is important that we resolve disagreements and differing views constructively. Remember that we're different. The strength of Tails comes from its varied community, people from a wide range of backgrounds. Different people have different perspectives on issues. Being unable to understand why someone holds a viewpoint doesn't mean that they're wrong. Don't forget that it is human to err and blaming each other doesn't get us anywhere. Instead, please consider offering your help in order to resolve issues and to help learn from mistakes.

Adapted from the Django Code of Conduct, that itself attributes it to the Speak Up! project.