W3C

– DRAFT –
Positive Work Environment CG

30 June 2020

Attendees

Present
Jeff, Jory, Judy, Ralph, Tzviya, WendyReid
Regrets
-
Chair
Tzviya
Scribe
Ralph, Jeff

Meeting minutes

previous: 16-June

Response to feedback and PRs

Tzviya: see pull requests 141 and 142

Tzviya: #141 points to Mozilla's comments (in a public archive)

Tzviya: we might conclude that these are editorial comments
… in which case we could merge and move forward with a final document
… there was some concern about whether these are "editorial"

Jeff: in the public comments there is reference to law enforcement being harmful
… some may disagree with that
… and might therefore consider the change non-editorial

Wendy: depending on the nature of the emergency, different services are appropriate
… I think it

<jorydotcom> agree with Wendy

Wendy: I think it's not a substantial change; it's just a better word

Tzviya: the public comment doesn't say "harmful"
… I think "emergency services" is actually more accurate and improves the text

Judy: we have several intersecting issues that I hope we could separate
… I'm not concerned about the timing of the comment, after the review closed
… I think "emergency services" is a better term
… there's definitely context around which services are most appropriate for someone to go to, and those are well-documented
… if an ombuds becomes aware of something it's important for them to know what service might be best

Jeff: I have no problem with the term "emergency services"
… Mozilla's statement does say

"it behooves us as W3C to acknowledge these ongoing harms"

… for that reason I believe it would be a substantive change to strike "law enforcement" apparently only in response to these remarks

Ralph: The context in which "law enforcement" appears twice
… is about immediate safety
… I don't want W3C to get close to Tantek's political question
… I do feel, however, that the first instance of law enforcement
… links to a wikipedia page
… so we could have a different tweak
… similar to Judy's points

Ralph: The link under the first instance of "law enforcement" in Section 4 is to a (Wikipedia) "list of emergency telephone numbers". Therefore expanding the text in the link to "local law enforcement or other emergency service" can be argued as editorial. Then the end of the following sentence could simply read "... for assistance contacting local services".

… The reason for the second sentence is that some venues have their own security staff (e.g. MIT Campus Police) with associated considerations.

Ralph: to acknowledge there are other types of emergency services
… so we could find an addition to the language
… but I'm very concerned about a political statement in the thread

Tzviya: we have to respond to Mozilla's comment

Tzviya: We had deferred other services (e.g. rape hotlines) to later
… I think we can tweak the language to the scope
… the Wikipedia entry that we link to has the broader title

<Zakim> tzviya, you wanted to talk about making this more robust

Wendy: +1 to Tzviya
… we can accept the PR as it stands
… it's neutral editorially
… 9-1-1 decides which service to send
… even though there is a political context in Mozilla's remark
… "emergency services" is a more accurate statement

Judy: we're at a sensitive moment in time
… some people are thinking differently than they may have had to in the past
… we're obligated to be practical and serve the community
… even for people who might be at risk for who they contact in some contexts
… we should be sensitive to the concern that Tantek raised even if some may wish it were raised differently

<Ralph> "local law enforcement or other emergency service"

<tzviya> https://‌pr-preview.s3.amazonaws.com/‌w3c/‌PWETF/‌141/‌b0398dc...tantek:57b7ddf.html

Ralph: For the first sentence it should say law enforcement or other emergency services

Tzviya: How about switching the order

Ralph: OK with that

<tzviya> proposal: s/contact emergency services or local services

Judy: Emergency services is the right umbrella term
… despite the problems with law enforcement; unless you document with law enforcement - the ability to follow-up with the rest of CEPC is limited
… having that hook in place may be important to retain
… the last thing is closest to most efficacious

Wendy: I don't know an example where you have to call law enforcement separately
… in Canada, when you call 911, the first people that come are the fire department
… trained for first aid
… they can call for police officers if needed
… more accurate to call emergency services
… this laboring reinforces the political

<Ralph> propose "... contact local emergency services or law enforcement. ... contact venue staff for assistance contacting local services."

Judy: You may be assuming a more coherent system then much of the world
… in this country it depends on state or town
… other countries are less predictable
… maybe even within Canada
… that's why I like the Tzviya/Ralph language
… an umbrella and a hook
… avoids AC re-review

Tzviya: Even in the US
… no 911 where I lived as a child

<Ralph> propose "... contact local emergency services or law enforcement. ... contact venue staff for assistance contacting local services."

<tzviya> +1

new preview

Tzviya: Do we like this?

Judy: Better than what was there
… no AC re-review
… respectful way to address comment that was made

Jeff: I believe this should be viewed as editorial
… separately work needs to be done on the Disposition of Comments

propose: "If you are concerned about your immediate safety, contact [local emergency services or law enforcement]. For a face to face event you may need to contact venue staff for assistance contacting local services."

<tzviya> +1

<Ralph> +1

<jeff> +1

<Judy> +1

<jorydotcom> +1

Tzviya: so resolved

<wendyreid> https://‌github.com/‌w3c/‌PWETF/‌pull/‌143

Tzviya: this improves the CEPC; it is more all-encompassing

Judy: "given multiple considerations, we've added the phrase "emergency services"

Jeff: the assertion that "law enforcement is harmful" may be viewed differently in different parts of the world so we felt that removing "law enforcement" would be viewed as substantive
… however, Mozilla is welcome to [re]propose that for a future revision

<tzviya> https://‌pr-preview.s3.amazonaws.com/‌w3c/‌PWETF/‌142/‌b0398dc...tantek:4a55f9a.html

<Zakim> jeff, you wanted to ask a question about caste

#142 add caste to section 3.2 first list

Tzviya: if we add "caste" should we also add "class" ?

Jeff: I mostly view this as editorial
… and note that "caste" does appear in Mozilla's Code of Conduct
… in my limited experience "caste" is most closely associated with India and certainly in India we would not discriminate on caste
… but how is that used now in India; is referring to caste acceptable? do we know how this would be received there?

Judy: my understanding from conversation with close friends is that using "caste" as it had been used historically is no longer accepted, but the practice of caste discrimination is still widespread, paralleling issues around racial discrimination in some countries

Judy: I would support adding "caste" based on my conversations with Indian friends and colleagues

<Zakim> jorydotcom, you wanted to ask if caste would need to be defined?

Jory: "caste" is a word that is not well-understood outside of India; does it need a definition?

Tzviya: I think the word is fairly widely understood

Judy: my understanding is that "class" could be considered a parallel issue in many countries

Tzviya: it was my idea to add "class" after reading Tantek's suggestion to add "caste"

<Zakim> jeff, you wanted to not support adding class

Tzviya: I think these would improve CEPC but do not think it's essential

Jeff: not having discrimination on caste is clearly law in India
… I'm uncomfortable adding "class" now as editorial as it is somewhat ill-defined
… I think it would be prudent to wait until we have a more careful definition of the word

<wendyreid> +1

propose: add "caste"

<jeff> +1

<Judy> +1

<Ralph> +1

<tzviya> +1

<jorydotcom> +1

Tzviya: so resolved

Tzviya: what's next in finalizing this?

Jeff: get a Director's Decision
… I'm certain the Director has delegated this decision to W3M

Next meeting

Tzviya: we are scheduled to meet again on 14 July

Jeff: on behalf of W3C, thanks to everyone who participated in this, starting with Tzviya

Tzviya: thank you all for your participation

Minutes manually created (not a transcript), formatted by scribe.perl version 121 (Mon Jun 8 14:50:45 2020 UTC).