[diversity-talk] abusive leadership

[alyssa wright]

And to be clear -- we all have our own personal 'lines' for appropriate behavior. However, we have no (or not enough) structure for what that looks like as a community. 

On Jun 27, 2013, at 11:41 PM, alyssa wright <alyssapwright at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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