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Discipline in Open Source Projects?

Posted by Cliff on from the handling-disruptive-elements dept.

An anonymous reader asks: "I've recently been elected (with another project member) to lead an open source project that we helped start several years ago. One of our goals as project leads is to implement some way to discipline project members who are disruptive to the project. In the past, the project has been slowed by flames, trolls, and even filibustering. Everyone says they want to work together, but some refuse to accept majority opinion. This passive-aggressiveness, coupled with growing despair on the part of other members, would have caused the project to dissolve if a vote had not taken place to elect new leadership (which the project has been lacking for some time). As co-leads we want the project to continue and grow, and we welcome all opinions, but how can disruptive members be told 'enough is enough'? We've read Ubuntu's Code of Conduct, but how can it or something similar be enforced?"

3 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. There can be only 1. by Aladrin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There's only 1 way that I know of: Remove their privileges.

    In a project, that means removing their ability to contribute. You can do this by either breaking their arms or removing their commit privileges.

    Seriously, though, if someone is disruptive and filibustering, WHY are you letting them have important tasks? Either go on without the task or give it to someone else.

    --
    "If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
  2. What is this, kindergarten? by Zerth · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If somebody is detrimental to a voluntary project, you only have 2 real choices. If they are in charge, fork the project. If they aren't, ignore them.

    Trying to punish them is kind of futile. Unless you want to keep this person around and are trying to "reform" them, just add them to your killfile, ban them from your forum, and revoke their CVS access.

  3. Simple: Do Not Feed Trolls. by chris_sawtell · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Let me say it again.

    Do NOT Feed Trolls

    Honest; it's a simple as that.

    As a further protection take away their posting
    rights to the SCM system you use, and be sure to keep offline
    backups because poisonous people can get very nasty.