[diversity-talk] abusive leadership

[alyssa wright]

Hi Serge,

Thank you for responding with such direct respect. While I continue to (strongly) disagree with your assessment, I think it's clear that we are both upset; we both think the other 'crossed the line.' 

My major concern, however, is not our specific upsets but the larger question: who decides where that line is and what it signifies?

Personally, I do not want individual emotions (whim) to determine the nature of appropriate behavior or the consequence of a transgression. Instead I suggest implementing a specific community structure/process to guide us. I do not know what that structure is. Maybe others have suggestions.

I'd like to think that when we do resolve our current situation, we can build a community of less upset, together. 

Best,
Alyssa.

On Jun 27, 2013, at 9:04 PM, Serge Wroclawski <emacsen at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear all,
> 
> I've gotten several people asking me if I'm the person mentioned in
> this mail. While I am the person Alyssa mentioned, I strongly disagree
> her categorization of me, and will explain why I had to take the
> strong, but necessary stance that I did.
> 
> Simply put, Alyssa's behavior in the NYC community has been quite
> inappropriate, and after talking to her several times and trying to
> work things out, via email and via chat, I decided that certain
> behaviors simply were not acceptable.
> 
> Out of respect for Alyssa, and because I do not believe in public
> shaming or public arguments, I do not want to go into the specific
> details of Alyssa's inappropriate behaviors on this, or any other
> public forum.
> 
> I respect and encourage diversity in the OpenStreetMap community. I
> have worked hard in my years of an OSM contributor, as one of the
> founders of the OpenStreetMap US chapter, in my role in founding and
> organizing MappingDC, in my role founding OSM NYC and in my work
> outside the OpenStreetMap community to encourage all people, no matter
> what their backgrounds, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion,
> political stance, etc. to join not only the OpenStreetMap community,
> but the larger Free Software and Free Culture communities. I believe
> that Free Culture (of which OSM is a part) is a vehicle that brings
> people together, and increases our understandings of one another. I'm
> proud to be a part of such a movement.
> 
> The specific action I took was to remove Alyssa as an "organizer" of
> the OSM NYC meetup, meaning that she can fully participate in OSM NYC,
> just like any of our other >140 members, but she cannot organize
> events within OSM NYC, but will need to request that another organizer
> (and there are several of us), do it for her.
> 
> As to any claim that I "own" (or stated I own) the OSM NYC meetup,
> this is false. I did start the OSM NYC meetup, and I do pay the
> meetup.com dues for it.  At the time I started the meetup, I chose two
> other long standing members of the OSM, and NYC communities to act as
> co-organizers along with me.
> 
> Frankly, removing Alyssa was one of the most difficult decisions I've
> ever had to make. I respect Alyssa's professional credentials, and I
> respect her interest in OpenStreetMap, but we must have OpenStreetMap
> NYC be a safe place for everyone to participate. At the time I made
> the decision, I was quite upset, shaking and cold, and even now,
> revisiting the decision, I feel the same sensations.
> 
> Frankly this is not something I want to revisit or discuss, but
> especially not in a public forum.
> 
> Thank you for reading,
> 
> - Serge
> 
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