Core Python developer suspended for three months (www.theregister.com)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by pnutzh4x0r@lemmy.ndlug.org to c/python@programming.dev

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The Python Steering Council has decided to suspend a core Python developer for three months for alleged Code of Conduct violations.

Citing the recommendation of the Code of Conduct Working Group, Python developer Thomas Wouters revealed on behalf of the Steering Council that the unidentified developer was deemed to have repeatedly violated the Python Software Foundation (PSF) Code of Conduct.

The suspended developer is Tim Peters, who told The Register it was fine to name him but declined to comment – beyond observing that one of his objections to the governance process is the secrecy involved.

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[-] banshee@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

Having read the comment in context, I think Gregory was reaching. Tim generally communicates in a disarming manner and simply observed that he doesn't like how "sexual harassment training" sounds and prefers not to use that phrase.

It's also not clear if posts have been deleted or altered, so I might be missing something.

[-] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 0 points 3 months ago

Complaining about what it's called isn't what a person taking it seriously would do. It's disruptive or subversive at best. With the general picture of his behavior from the suspension and his responses in the thread, I'm disinclined to believe his comments were merely said in a disarming manner.

[-] FizzyOrange@programming.dev 5 points 3 months ago

So either you agree with what it's called or you're "disruptive" and should be banned? Hmm.

I read a load of his comments and they seem quite reasonable. A million miles from ban-worthy.

[-] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev -3 points 3 months ago

Yes. If you pulled that at your job, you'd be fired. He got suspended because he refused to accept feedback, he kept pushing and showing he had no intention to change his problematic behavior. Some people don't get it until there are consequences to them.

[-] FizzyOrange@programming.dev 3 points 3 months ago

If you "made light of sexual harassment training" at your job like this you would be fired?

And I lost count of how many times an executive at a startup I’ve worked for was charged with sexual harassment. The outcome was always the same: nothing actually happened to them, but the entire company was sentenced to days of “sexual harassment prevention” training, as part of the deal the bigwig cut to get off easy. By now I must be one of the most highly trained people on Earth in that specialty :wink:.

Jesus you should leave now! That's not ok. (At least in countries with proper labour laws; I guess in America they can fire you for anything.)

I mean I wouldn't advise writing that on your company Slack, but nowhere I have ever worked would fire you for it.

In any case the Python community isn't a company & as far as I understand it Peters isn't getting paid.

[-] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev -2 points 3 months ago

Right, it's not a company, and it relies on the unpaid labor of volunteers, who Peters was driving away. That's mentioned in the thread. Though they are not a company with employees, they are still a community that needs to attract talent. You seem to be giving a lot more leeway to interpretations of Peters' words than my comparison. Odd.

So he's dismissing the training; in doing so he's also dismissing that it's worthwhile to try and have an environment free from sexual harassment. That's not somebody I'd want as a representative of an inclusive community. The steering committee seems to agree.

From the Coc:

Showing empathy towards other community members. We're attentive in our communications, whether in person or online, and we're tactful when approaching differing views.
Being considerate. Members of the community are considerate of their peers -- other Python users.
Being respectful. We're respectful of others, their positions, their skills, their commitments, and their efforts.
Gracefully accepting constructive criticism. When we disagree, we are courteous in raising our issues.
Using welcoming and inclusive language. We're accepting of all who wish to take part in our activities, fostering an environment where anyone can participate and everyone can make a difference.

[-] FizzyOrange@programming.dev 3 points 3 months ago

You seem to be giving a lot more leeway to interpretations of Peters’ words than my comparison. Odd.

It doesn't require any leeway. It's a totally mainstream opinion supported by actual research. It's only in woke CoC teams that comments like that are objectionable.

he’s also dismissing that it’s worthwhile to try and have an environment free from sexual harassment.

Complete misunderstanding of his comment. Read it again.

Gracefully accepting constructive criticism.

Lol the irony is overpowering.

[-] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev -1 points 3 months ago

woke

There it is. Thanks for finally being explicit about the kind of person you are. People like you are the reason cocs have to be made in the first place. Don't bother responding, I'll be blocking you.

[-] simplymath@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

wow. Someone besides either author got all the way here in the thread to downvote the guy saying open source communities shouldn't keep people around who make volunteers uncomfortable. Like, what exactly was lost here? A guys right to do free labor? Python is just about the worst language for any task you can imagine anyway, yet someone is going around spending their free time picking 3rd party fights about the community that manages it.

question for the downvoters:

Why do you care? Personally, I like having women and racial minorities in computer science. That's why I care.

But why would you defend Tim? Please note that I'm not saying you shouldn't-- it's just clear that this was never an argument in good faith.