Frequently Asked Questions
Is Contributor Covenant just for open source communities?
Contributor Covenant was originally written for open source communities, but in the decade since its creation it has been adopted by online and offline communities, events, and organizations of all kinds– from Discord servers to garden clubs, tech conferences to artist collectives. We designed Contributor Covenant 3 to be even more flexible in the types of communities that it serves.
Contributor Covenant includes information on enforcement. If my community or organization has its own enforcement policies, can we still adopt Contributor Covenant?
Yes! The enforcement ladder introduced in Contributor Covenant 2.x and revised in 3.x is intended as a guideline based on best practices, not as a prescribed set of enforcement policies. Communities are encouraged to customize the “Addressing and Repairing Harm” section to clearly and accurately reflect their own policies and procedures, including linking to more detailed documentation as appropriate.
Contributor Covenant refers to “community moderators”. What does that mean?
We chose “community moderators” as a neutral, non-specific label for whoever is responsible for code of conduct enforcement. We needed a flexible term that would accommodate a variety of communities with a variety of approaches to enforcement.
While large-scale open source projects often have a code of conduct committee, smaller communities may not have the same kind of infrastructure, and may rely on a single individual for code of conduct issues. In forums and chat servers, it may be more common for moderators (mods) to take responsibility for code of conduct enforcement. Events may have a designated team of volunteers, or rely on the event organizers to handle any issues that come up.
If you prefer to use a different term, feel free to replace “Community Moderators” with something more appropriate to your community.
Does a code of conduct give too much power to community leaders?
The philosophy behind Contributor Covenant is that everyone benefits when the implicit is made explicit. A code of conduct does not give community leaders any power that they did not already have, but creates accountability for how that power is used in service of the greater community.
Why are ’ethnicity’ and ‘race’ called out as separate characteristics?
Ethnicity (or ethnic group) is a category of people who identify with each other based on similarities such as common ancestry, language, history, society, culture or nation.
Race is the grouping of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into categories often viewed as distinct by society and usually resulting from genetic ancestry.
We recognize that different cultures and the process of translation might make the differences between these terms less apparent. Violence and discrimination can occur based on the perception of either and sometimes both at the same time, which is why it is important to call them out as two separate concepts.
Does Contributor Covenant prohibit discrimination based on factors that aren’t explicitly listed?
Contributor Covenant explicitly lists protected classes for many reasons, such as reminding people to give them appropriate consideration, and assuring people in those protected classes that they are welcome. However, this is not an invitation to discriminate against others or make people feel unwelcome based on criteria not listed here.
Can someone be kicked out of a community for a simple mistake, holding an unpopular belief, or sharing an opinion on social media?
Behavior, actions, and communications outside the scope of the community cannot be considered violations of the code of conduct, unless the person in question is representing the community in an official capacity. However, the behavior of an individual outside of community spaces may impact those within community spaces as well. Communities are encouraged to explore additional ways to ensure the safety and well-being of their members beyond code of conduct enforcement.
What should I do if I have been accused of violating a code of conduct?
The first step when dealing with accusations of violation of a code of conduct is to respond in a professional manner. Do not respond with sarcasm, attack the code of conduct, or criticize the accuser. Calmly focus on the evidence of what happened, work to understand any harm you may have caused, and examine how that harm can be repaired. Stick to the facts of what happened, and demonstrate your willingness to work with Community Moderators as they evaluate the report. If you disagree with their decision, you may ask about what sort of appeal process is available to you.
In all enforcement matters, Community Moderators are expected to respond to a violation with a consequence that is proportional to the offense and to work with the offender to prevent future violations. Everyone wants a safe, collaborative community of bright, kind, compassionate people of all kinds.
Does Contributor Covenant promote a particular political or ideological agenda?
A code of conduct is not about the advancement of a particular political agenda. It’s about establishing a minimal baseline of civil and professional collaboration.
Why should my community have to change to accommodate marginalized people?
The level of accommodation that the code of conduct implies is not higher than the one that is expected when dealing with peers in other professional settings. It is not about being accommodating to one group, it’s about making all participants feel welcome and safe.
How can I add my project or community to the list of Contributor Covenant adopters?
If you’re comfortable with using GitHub, please see our contributing guide for instructions on opening a pull request. For the less technically inclined, please feel free to let us know about your adoption using our contact form.
Who wrote Contributor Covenant?
Contributor Covenant was first released in 2014, authored by Coraline Ada Ehmke. Versions 3.0 and later were collaboratively written by a diverse and dedicated group of volunteers from around the world, including Greg Cassel, Coraline Ada Ehmke, Gerardo Lisboa, Rynn Mancuso, Mo McElaney, Maryblessing Okolie, Ben Sternthal, and Casey Watts.
Who is responsible for maintaining Contributor Covenant?
Contributor Covenant is a living document maintained by the volunteer community of the Organization for Ethical Source. Contributor Covenant is a vital part of the Organization for Ethical Source’s “ethical stack”, a set of tools and principles that together define a more equitable approach to the practice of open source. You can learn more about the ethical stack at https://ethicalsource.dev/what-we-do/.