Skeleton Community Guidelines Update: Discussion & Revision

As our community evolves and the digital landscape shifts, it's crucial to revisit and refine the guidelines that shape our interactions. This discussion focuses on updating the Skeleton community guidelines to ensure they continue to foster a positive, productive, and inclusive environment for all members. It's been several years since our initial guidelines were established, and the world has changed considerably since then, necessitating a thorough review and update. Let's delve into the key areas we need to address, ensuring our community remains a welcoming and thriving space.

Reviewing the Code of Conduct

At the heart of any strong community lies a robust code of conduct. Our current code is directly based on Svelte's community Code of Conduct, which has served us well. However, it's essential to periodically review and ensure it still aligns with our community's values and addresses emerging challenges. This involves not just a superficial glance but a deep dive into each section, considering its practical application and relevance in today's context. Are there any ambiguities that need clarification? Are there new scenarios or behaviors that should be explicitly addressed? By engaging in a thorough review, we can strengthen our code of conduct and ensure it remains a clear and effective guide for community behavior.

This review process should be a collaborative effort, involving feedback from various community members. Diverse perspectives will help us identify potential gaps or areas for improvement. For instance, we might consider adding specific clauses related to emerging issues like online harassment, hate speech, or the misuse of personal information. Furthermore, it's crucial to ensure the code of conduct is easily accessible and understandable to all members, regardless of their background or experience. This might involve providing translations, creating summaries, or offering educational resources to help members fully grasp the guidelines. The goal is to create a code of conduct that is not just a set of rules but a living document that reflects our shared commitment to a positive and respectful community.

The code of conduct should also outline the consequences of violating the guidelines. Clear and consistent enforcement is essential for maintaining the integrity of the community. This includes establishing a fair and transparent process for reporting violations, investigating claims, and administering appropriate sanctions. The sanctions should be proportionate to the severity of the violation and may range from warnings to temporary bans or permanent expulsion from the community. By establishing a clear and consistent enforcement mechanism, we can demonstrate our commitment to upholding the code of conduct and ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all members.

Setting Standards for AI Contributions

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and challenges for online communities. While AI can be a valuable tool for automating tasks and generating content, it's crucial to establish clear guidelines for its use within our community. Currently, we've observed that third-party AI contributions often result in inaccurate or low-effort content. This not only detracts from the quality of discussions but can also mislead or confuse community members. Therefore, it's imperative to set standards that ensure AI contributions are valuable, accurate, and aligned with our community's goals.

One approach is to explicitly disallow AI-generated content from third-party contributors, at least for the time being. This would prevent the influx of low-quality or irrelevant submissions and ensure that human expertise remains at the forefront of our discussions. However, we should also consider the potential benefits of AI and explore ways to integrate it responsibly. This might involve allowing AI contributions in specific contexts, such as for generating summaries or translating content, but only under strict supervision and with clear guidelines.

Another crucial aspect is transparency. If AI is used to generate content, it should be clearly disclosed to the community. This allows members to assess the information critically and understand its potential limitations. Furthermore, we should encourage contributors to focus on originality and creativity rather than relying solely on AI tools. By setting these standards, we can harness the potential of AI while safeguarding the quality and integrity of our community. The discussion should center around defining what constitutes a valuable AI contribution, how to ensure accuracy and relevance, and how to prevent the spread of misinformation or low-quality content.

Standards on Soliciting

Soliciting, especially within platforms like Discord, has become an increasingly prevalent issue. The rise in users and bots posting promotional content and solicitations can disrupt discussions, clutter channels, and detract from the overall community experience. To address this, we need to establish clear standards on soliciting and ensure they are effectively enforced. This involves defining what constitutes solicitation, identifying appropriate and inappropriate contexts, and implementing measures to prevent spam and unwanted promotions.

One approach is to create dedicated channels or forums for promotional content, allowing users to share their projects and services in a controlled environment. This would prevent solicitations from flooding general discussion channels and ensure that members who are interested in such content can easily find it. Another crucial step is to implement anti-spam measures, such as bot detection and content filtering, to prevent automated solicitations from overwhelming the community. Additionally, we should encourage community members to report instances of inappropriate soliciting, creating a collective responsibility for maintaining a clean and focused environment.

The standards on soliciting should also address the issue of unsolicited private messages. While private messaging can be a valuable tool for communication, it can also be used for spamming or harassing other members. We might consider implementing guidelines that restrict the sending of unsolicited promotional messages or solicitations via private channels. Furthermore, it's important to educate community members about how to identify and report spam or unwanted messages. By setting these standards, we can strike a balance between allowing legitimate promotional activities and preventing the disruption caused by excessive or inappropriate soliciting. A clear policy on solicitations will protect community members from unwanted spam and ensure that the platform remains focused on its core purpose.

Additional Topics and Ideas

Beyond the core areas of code of conduct, AI contributions, and soliciting, there are likely other topics and ideas that warrant discussion. The online landscape is constantly evolving, and new challenges and opportunities emerge regularly. We should encourage community members to share their thoughts and suggestions for improving our guidelines and ensuring they remain relevant and effective. This might involve addressing issues related to data privacy, online safety, or the use of emerging technologies.

For example, we might consider implementing guidelines on the sharing of personal information, ensuring that members are aware of the risks and take appropriate precautions. We could also explore ways to promote online safety, such as providing resources on how to protect against cyberbullying or online harassment. Furthermore, we should be proactive in addressing the ethical implications of new technologies, such as the use of AI or blockchain, within our community.

This ongoing dialogue is essential for maintaining a healthy and vibrant community. By actively soliciting feedback and ideas from our members, we can ensure that our guidelines reflect their needs and concerns. This collaborative approach will foster a sense of ownership and responsibility, leading to greater compliance and a stronger community overall. Embracing a culture of continuous improvement will help us adapt to future challenges and maintain a positive and productive environment for all.

In conclusion, updating the Skeleton community guidelines is a crucial undertaking. By revisiting our code of conduct, setting standards for AI contributions and soliciting, and embracing new ideas, we can ensure our community remains a welcoming, productive, and inclusive space for all members. This ongoing effort is vital for fostering a thriving community that adapts to the ever-changing digital landscape. For further information on community guidelines, you can check out resources like the Community Rules Guidelines website.