[Air-L] AoIR 2016 Conference Code of Conduct

[Dan L. Burk]

I would say that Steve's last line here is the critical one. 

I doubt that there are any pressing issues at AoIR meetings that demand
a written code of conduct (among many other reasons, every meeting I
have attended, and all the ones I can think of, have occurred on
university campuses where there is undoubtedly already some type of
regulation in place).   

And, speaking from experience, when an issue does eventually come up,
you will find that a code of conduct is unlikely to be especially
helpful in dealing with it. 

However, the *process* of producing the statement may well be useful and
productive to the organization.  That goes to Steve's other point about
developing a particular culture.  And that's the main reason you don't
want someone to whip one up in an afternoon.  Engagement takes time and
it might be several meetings down the road before the process reaches
its endpoint.  But most of the value accrues in what happens between now
and then. 

DLB 

On 2016-09-22 19:10, Steve Jones wrote:

> I remember that, 2003 I think it was, and I think it was incorporated in the statement that's now online at http://aoir.org/diversity-and-inclusivity/. 
> 
> ...and it was 2003, the wayback machine has it at https://web.archive.org/web/20030618044614/http://www.aoir.org/bylaws.html and it reads:
> 
>> The Association of Internet Researchers is committed to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity.
>> 
>> It is the policy of the Association of Internet Researchers, its members and executive officers, not to engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation. The policy applies to treatment in the association's online forums as well as at its conferences and in other activities. Complaints of discrimination or harassment should be directed to an officer of the association's executive committee at the AoIR member's discretion.
>> 
>> [Statement of Principles adopted unanimously by the Executive Committee 31 March 2003]
> 
> There's an essay that I think is worth reading at https://chroniclevitae.com/news/1182-should-academic-conferences-have-codes-of-conduct. The author, Kelly J. Baker, wrote, "Maggie Zhou, Alex Clemmer, and Lindsey Kupper argue that 'a code of conduct is not a replacement for culture.' We also have to take a hard look at how we treat one another." I agree. AoIR has I think had an open and respectful culture, but it's reasonable to say, too, that culture is not a replacement for a code of conduct (or policy on harassment, statement on diversity and inclusivity, or whatever it might be called). Both have their place and utility, and together they ought to help continue the AoIR tradition of respectful engagement and discourse. 
> 
> FWIW back in the day we'd ask people who came up with ideas to follow through on them and form working groups, hold birds of a feather sessions at conferences, engage discussion on air-l, and so on. I'd encourage that now as it was then. 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Steve