One of the great things about Free/Libre and Open Source Software is its potential for diverse participation: all you need is a computer, an internet connection, a chunk of free time and the desire to do something.
A further advantage of the FLOSS model is software can be modified to meet the needs of underrepresented groups. These might otherwise not have enough critical mass to convince the producers of proprietary software to cater to them, and with FLOSS should be able to take matters into their own hands.
So far we have only scratched the surface of this potential.
Notion is a relatively small community. At this scale it doesn't seem worth it to set up a governance structure as found in larger communities, so raboof is acting as a BDFN: "Benevolent Dictator For Now". We will revisit this choice when the community grows.
To clarify what kind of behaviour we encourage in our community, we have taken inspiration from the Community Guidelines used in the Blender project:
Be respectful and considerate
- Disagreement is no excuse for poor behaviour or personal attacks.
- Remember that a community where people feel uncomfortable is not a productive one.
Be patient and generous
- If someone asks for help it is because they need it.
- Do politely suggest specific documentation or more appropriate venues where appropriate, but avoid aggressive or vague responses.
Assume people mean well
- Remember that decisions are often a difficult choice between competing priorities.
- If you disagree, please do so politely.
- If something seems outrageous, check that you did not misinterpret it.
- Ask for clarification rather than assuming the worst.
Try to be concise
- Avoid repeating what has been said already.
- Making a conversation larger makes it difficult to follow, and people often feel personally attacked if they receive multiple messages telling them the same thing.
If, despite the above guidelines, you would ever feel disrespected or even threatened, feel free to contact Arnout Engelen (raboof). All such reports will be treated with respect and privacy, and we will work together to find a way to resolve the situation.
We recognize that misunderstandings happen and well-meant actions may have unintended effects. We will only take actions when a user appears unwilling or unable to sufficiently adjust their behaviour after repeated conversations.