The WPCC aims to foster an inclusive, respectful, and productive space where contributors to the WordPress open source project can collaborate and communicate.
This Code of Conduct is designed to ensure a positive, professional, and welcoming environment for all. By participating in The WPCC and its related spaces, you are agreeing to follow this Code of Conduct, whether or not you are an official member.
Scope of this Policy
This Code of Conduct applies to all online and offline activities for The WP Community Collective, including community events, forums, and official WPCC representations in any form.
By participating in the WPCC, you agree to follow these guidelines, ensuring that we create a supportive, inclusive, and constructive community for everyone.
If you have any questions or concerns or wish to report a violation, please do so in The WPCC’s #code-of-conduct Slack channel, by contacting us at thewpcommunitycollective@gmail.com, or via our Code of Conduct report form at the end of this page.
1. Be Inclusive and Respectful
Create a welcoming environment for everyone.
We embrace diversity and inclusion. Treat all community members with respect, regardless of their background, experience, or identity, and always prioritize professionalism.
Examples of expected behavior include:
- Showing empathy and compassion toward others.
- Honoring diverse perspectives and experiences.
- Taking ownership of mistakes and focusing on growth.
- Prioritizing the community’s welfare over personal gain.
- Being warm and inclusive to newcomers and fostering a sense of belonging.
2. Constructive Feedback and Collaboration
Build up the community with supportive communication.
We value open, productive discussions. Feedback should be constructive and encourage growth, improvement, and other perspectives. Avoid making feedback personal and focus on solutions, with the aim of helping others, and thereby our community, succeed.
3. No Violence, Discrimination, or Harassment
Maintain a safe, professional space.
Discrimination, harassment, and exclusionary behavior of any kind is not permitted. Additionally, there is zero tolerance for harmful behaviors like violence or threats.
Examples of unacceptable behavior include:
- Using discriminatory language or making jokes about others.
- Harassing or intimidating others in any form.
- Sustained disruptions or causing distractions in discussions.
- Trollish or harmful remarks that create a hostile environment.
- Unwanted attention that makes others uncomfortable.
4. Conflict Resolution
Handle disagreements with professionalism.
Disagreements happen, but how we handle them is key. Approach conflicts with patience and respect. If you cannot reach a resolution, WPCC moderators are available to assist in mediation.
Slack-Specific Guidelines
These guidelines apply specifically to interactions within the WPCC Slack workspace.
1. Stay On Topic
Keep discussions relevant to the channel and purpose.
Please respect the focus of each Slack channel by staying on topic. If your conversation shifts, feel free to move it to a more appropriate space to keep discussions productive and inclusive for everyone, including those who participate asynchronously.
2. Use Visual Communication Thoughtfully
Express yourself inclusively and in moderation.
Feel free to use GIFs or emojis to add personality to your communication, but avoid overloading conversations with too many visuals, especially in serious or focused discussions. Remember that many visual communications do not translate to a global audience.
As part of our commitment to inclusivity, ALT text is required for all visual communications, such as images, in public channels—append descriptions for gifs and videos to your message. Repeated failures to use ALT text for visual communication may result in a Correction being issued.
Reaction emojis do not require ALT text.
3. External Marketing and Links
Keep promotional messages in the designated channel.
In order to keep the focus on collaboration and prevent spam or sales pitches, commercial promotion of products, companies, or people is not permitted. If you have a commercial or personal announcement, please use the #self-promotion channel to share your information. Limit your posts to once every two weeks. Please do not post job openings or work requests in The WPCC slack.
4. Messaging Etiquette
Be thoughtful when sending direct messages.
Before initiating a direct message with someone you haven’t interacted with before, request permission in a public channel. Always maintain respectful communication, and know that DMs do fall within the unsolicited; inappropriate DMs will not be tolerated.
5. Privacy and Intellectual Property
The WPCC Slack is a public community space.
There is no expectation of privacy in The WPCC Slack. Be aware that everything posted is accessible to the broader community. We recommend you not share sensitive information in any channel or via Direct Message.
The content shared within The WPCC Slack is considered part of the public WPCC discourse.
Code of Conduct Management
Reporting Violations and Contact Information
Please help keep our community safe.
If you witness or experience behavior violating this Code of Conduct, please report it immediately. You can do so through the The WPCC Slack #code-of-conduct channel or our reporting form. We take all reports seriously and aim to resolve issues swiftly and fairly. While we require reports to be filed with a community member’s name, all requests for public anonymity will be respected.
Moderation and Consequences
The WPCC Board of Directors will enforce this code of conduct.
The WPCC Board of Directors, or a designated committee, is responsible for receiving and investigating reports—the WPCC Board of Directors for enforcing the decisions and consequences of this Code of Conduct. If someone has violated the Code of Conduct, consequences may range from a private warning to suspension or permanent removal from the community, depending on the severity.
All moderation code of conduct-based actions will be transparently logged in The WPCC Slack #code-of-conduct channel and a report will be published on The WPCC website.
Enforcement Guidelines
Consequences depend on the impact of the violation.
- Correction: For minor infractions, a private warning will be issued to clarify the behavior and request correction.
- Warning: More serious incidents or multiple infractions may result in a public, written warning and potential temporary restrictions.
- Temporary Ban: For sustained or severe behavior, a temporary ban from community spaces may be imposed, with public notification of the ban.
- Permanent Ban: For repeated or egregious violations, individuals may face permanent removal from the community, with public notification of the ban.
The WPCC is committed to taking every report seriously and maintaining the safety and integrity of our community.
The WPCC is committed to taking every report seriously and maintaining the safety and integrity of our community.
Thank you for being part of The WP Community Collective!
Attribution: This Code of Conduct is loosely adapted from the Contributor Covenant, version 2.1.