Re: Update on Off-Topic Content On This List

On Sat, 3 Apr 2021, John Goerzen wrote:

> Hello,
>
> The conduct of Christoph Lohmann has been reported to the Debian listmasters. 
> They have placed an 8-week ban on him on this list.
>
> I would anticipate similar treatment for any of his sockpuppet accounts or 
> others engaging in that kind of behavior, or him if he returns to the same 
> behavior after his ban.
>
> If any of you observe other questionable content, please feel free to contact 
> me off-list and I can assist with reporting to the listmasters (or make the 
> report myself).  I want this to be an ethical and welcoming community, and 
> pledge to be an ally to anyone that wants to keep it that way.  You may also 
> contact the Debian listmasters directly.
>
> This list is about Gopher and related technologies (Gemini, etc.). It is not 
> a forum to advance political, racist, or sexist goals. It is not a forum for 
> sharing jokes, particularly un-welcoming ones.
>
> I have been online long enough to see trolls and other poisonous people use 
> the tired "it's just a joke; lighten up" line (and the related ones we've 
> seen here lately) many more times than I care to.  I will not fall for it and 
> neither will the Debian listmasters.
>
> Free Software is about making the world a better place, about treating all 
> humans ethically, about respect for users and developers.  Racism and sexism 
> are counter to these goals, and people that are spreading racist or sexist 
> material using Free Software communities are no friends to Free Software.  If 
> you do not understand how your own behavior is harming the cause and are open 
> to learning, you may contact me off-list.
>
> Thanks,
>
> John
>
>

John,

Thank for taking care of this issue. I hope that Christoph and others on
the list will use this as a teachable moment and realize that crass
behavior in a public forum has consequences. Racism and sexism should be
canceled post haste.

Christoph has good things for gopher in the past, and I hope he'll do some 
more after his ban expires. Decades from now, I'd like to see him
remembered as ``one of those guys who kept gopher running" rather than 
"that guy who wouldn't stop with the racist jokes"... Choice is totally 
his though...

-- 
  Zachary Lee Andrews
<[email protected]>
gopher://gopher.zcrayfish.soy/