Creating a healthier community, together  ## Metadata - Author: [[Crystal Dionysopoulos]] - Full Title: Creating a healthier community, together - Category: #articles - Document Note: ## Summarize The article discusses the issue of conflicts and toxicity in the Joomla community, as well as the reasons behind them and potential solutions. It emphasizes the importance of effective communication in avoiding misunderstandings and escalating conflicts. The author acknowledges the past failures in handling conflicts and expresses a commitment to creating a safe and positive community environment. Steps to address the issue include the appointment of an ombudsman, the nomination of a new Advisory Board, updating the code of conduct, creating a working group for project sustainability, and holding open "meet the board" calls. The article concludes with a request for readers to reach out and express gratitude to someone in the Joomla community. ## Bullet Points - Conflicts and toxicity are prevalent in the Joomla community. - Misinterpretations and misunderstandings in written communication can escalate conflicts. - Individuals' mental state when reading messages can influence their responses. - Trust, kindness, and accountability are crucial for creating a supportive community. - The author acknowledges past failures in handling conflicts. - Steps to address the issue include appointing an ombudsman, nominating a new Advisory Board, updating the code of conduct, creating a working group for project sustainability, and holding open "meet the board" calls. - The article concludes with a request to express gratitude to someone in the Joomla community. ## Paraphrase 1 The article delves into the issue of conflicts and toxicity within the Joomla community. It acknowledges that disagreements and personal attacks are not unique to Joomla, but rather a common challenge faced by many open-source projects. The author then poses a hypothetical scenario where someone accuses them of being toxic due to voicing criticism about Joomla. They express the hurt and invalidated feelings that arise from such an accusation. The paragraph highlights how negative assumptions or accusations hinder constructive discussions. The author suggests that people's reactions are often driven by their mental state and not necessarily related to the original message. By understanding the impact of our mental state when we read messages, we can respond more effectively and avoid unnecessary conflicts. ## Paraphrase 2 The article reflects on the challenges of written communication and the potential for misinterpretation. The author, who describes themselves as a sensitive person with anxiety, reveals how even a simple message asking about their absence from a meeting can trigger negative thoughts and assumptions. They share their thought process, detailing the escalation of their anxiety and self-doubt. The paragraph suggests that misinterpreting messages is a common human tendency, as individuals tend to attach more meaning to things than may be intended. The author emphasizes the need for awareness and adjustment in reading messages. They recommend using tools like "The Judge" to analyze the objective tone of messages and avoid misunderstandings caused by emotional undercurrents. ## Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Creating a Positive and Supportive Community: Addressing Conflicts and Toxicity in the Joomla Community [City, Date] - In a groundbreaking article, the Joomla community addresses the prevalent issue of conflicts and toxicity within its community. The Joomla project, like many open-source projects, has come face to face with the challenges of creating a harmonious working environment. The article reveals the underlying causes of conflicts and explores potential solutions to foster a healthy and positive community. The article highlights the role of effective communication in avoiding misunderstandings and minimizing conflicts. It emphasizes that individuals' mental state when reading messages often dictates their response, and an awareness of this can lead to better outcomes. With an honest reflection on past failures in conflict resolution, the Joomla community commits to change. Steps towards creating a safe and supportive community include appointing an ombudsman, nominating a new Advisory Board, updating the code of conduct, and forming a working group for project sustainability. Additionally, the community will initiate regular "meet the board" calls to provide transparency and accountability. As part of this initiative, readers are encouraged to reach out and express gratitude to someone in the Joomla community who has made a positive impact. The power of words is emphasized, and the act of expressing gratitude is seen as a way to create a more enjoyable and supportive environment. The Joomla community understands the importance of change and invites feedback and ideas from its members as they work together towards a better future. ### ## Conclusion Conflicts and toxicity have been a persistent issue in the Joomla community, as in many open-source projects. The article sheds light on the importance of effective communication and the impact of individuals' mental state on their response. The author acknowledges past failures in handling conflicts and expresses a firm commitment to create a safe and positive community environment. Various steps, such as appointing an ombudsman, updating the code of conduct, and forming a working group for project sustainability, are being taken to address the issue. The Joomla community aims to forge a stronger and more supportive future for its members. ## Questions 1. How can individual mental states influence the interpretation of written messages? 2. What are some potential solutions to address conflicts and toxicity in open-source projects? 3. Why is effective communication crucial in avoiding misunderstandings and conflicts? 4. How can a community hold each other accountable for maintaining a positive and respectful environment? 5. What steps can individuals take to prevent the escalation of conflicts in online communities? ## Auto-tagging communication, conflicts, toxicity, Joomla, open-source, community, code of conduct, trust, accountability, mental state, effective communication ## Index Creation - Joomla community: page 1 - Conflict and toxicity: pages 1-2 - Effective communication: pages 2-4 - Mental state and interpretation: pages 4-6 - Trust and accountability: page 7 ## Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Conflicts and toxicity in the Joomla community - 2.1 Causes and impact - 2.2 Communication challenges 3. The role of effective communication - 3.1 Influence of mental state - 3.2 Tools for better understanding 4. Creating a trusting and accountable community - 4.1 Responsibility of the community - 4.2 Past failures and commitment to change 5. Steps towards a positive environment - 5.1 Appointing an ombudsman - 5.2 Nominating a new Advisory Board - 5.3 Updating the code of conduct - 5.4 Establishing a working group for project sustainability - 5.5 Regular "meet the board" calls 6. Expressing gratitude and promoting positivity - 6.1 The power of words - 6.2 Celebrating the Joomla community 7. Conclusion ## References (To be determined based on the sources consulted for the article) ## Future Research 1. Investigate the effectiveness of different conflict resolution strategies in online communities. 2. Examine the impact of open-source project governance structures on community conflicts. 3. Explore the role of empathy and emotional intelligence in promoting positive interactions within online communities. 4. Investigate the influence of cultural backgrounds on communication and conflict resolution in global open-source projects. 5. Examine the long-term effects of improved conflict resolution processes on community engagement and sustainability in open-source projects. ## Hypotheses 1. Open and transparent conflict resolution processes within open-source projects will lead to a decrease in the frequency and severity of conflicts. 2. Effective communication training and tools can mitigate the amplification of conflicts in online communities. 3. The presence of a neutral mediator, such as an ombudsman, can help de-escalate conflicts and promote fair resolution. 4. Stre - Summary: Creating a healthier community requires understanding and addressing conflicts that arise within the Joomla community. Misinterpretation is common in written communication, leading to escalated conflicts. It is essential to recognize that how we respond to messages is influenced by our own mental state. Building trust and holding each other accountable is crucial for a safe community environment. Steps being taken include the appointment of an ombudsman for conflict mediation, the nomination of a new Advisory Board, and updating the code of conduct to ensure a fair resolution process. Additionally, efforts are being made to enhance project sustainability, provide resources for conflict resolution, and establish regular open community calls with the board. - URL: https://magazine.joomla.org/all-issues/june/creating-a-healthier-community-together [](https://magazine.joomla.org/images/easyblog_articles/3267/2023-JCM-AHealthy-Community.jpg) This is a long article, my friends, but stick with me to the end. It will be worth it. For anyone who’s been involved in Joomla as a contributor, event attendee, or even just social media follower, it’s a bit of an open secret that not everyone has a good experience in this community. Disagreements and conflicts are a fact of life when you are working with other people, but sometimes we see them escalate and get personal. This isn’t a Joomla-only problem; lots of open source projects face similar challenges. It’s why Codes of Conduct exist, but often, that’s not enough. Let’s talk about why these conflicts happen and what we can do about them. #### “OMG, why are you so toxic?” Oof. That’s a hard sentence to read, isn’t it? Let’s pretend it’s directed at me because I said something critical about Joomla. I’d be pretty hurt. To me, that one question is loaded with lots of implications: * The speaker is pretty fed up with me for some reason * Anything I said has been completely dismissed as invalid * Beyond that, I feel like I’m being accused of trying to hurt Joomla. Like I said… oof. There goes the chance of any constructive discussion. Let’s flip the script and pretend I said that to someone else. (I would never, but this is hypothetical, right?) From my new perspective, I’m: * frustrated that my work isn’t appreciated and all I get is negative feedback * putting in a lot of time and effort which is apparently wasted * hurt and angry That’s pretty “oof” too. Lots of feelings. It’s not okay that I take them out on someone else, but it’s not coming from nowhere. Why does this happen? And why does it happen so often in Joomla? #### Written communication is hard. Even for those who grew up speaking English, it’s too easy to misinterpret a message or comment and read feelings into it that weren’t there. Add in translation apps, different communication styles that come from our cultural backgrounds, and the way our individual brains are wired, and it can get *really* complicated. We’re people. It’s natural to want to attach more meaning to things than might be there. For example, I am a pretty sensitive person myself, and I have anxiety on top of that. If I get a message that says something as simple as “Hey, where were you?” after a missed meeting, my brain will escalate that all by itself! * *Are they mad?* * *They must think I’m incompetent.* * *They’re never going to want to work with me again.* * *Maybe I’ll get fired from the project.* * *I’m not fit for this career after all.* ***Whoa, slow down, brain.*** The reality is usually more straightforward: * *Where was Crystal? I hope she’s okay. I better check in on her.* If I respond to the message with the mindset of “they think I’m incompetent” instead of ***just answering the question as written***, my phrasing is going to be a whole lot different. My superpower? Creating conflict where there is none. Now, this is something I’ve been aware of for a long time, so I’ve worked really hard on adjusting how I read messages. Most people don’t read into things as much as I do—but many do this at least a little bit. I’m no psychologist, but I think this is a big part of why things can escalate so quickly. Take a look: | **Conversation when Crystal is extra anxious:** | **Conversation when Crystal is okay:** | | --- | --- | | Hey, where were you today? | | Like I mentioned in my email at 2:39pm yesterday, my daughter had a doctors appointment. I was under the impression that work life balance is important to X Corp so I hope this doesn’t present a problem for our working relationship going forward. Thanks for understanding! | My daughter had an appointment. How did the meeting go? | Wow. What a difference, right? My anxious response doesn’t really read as anxious or concerned—it could come off as pretty aggressive. Not sure how to read something? I like to use “The Judge” from [goblin.tools](https://goblin.tools/) — it uses machine learning to analyze the objective tone of the message. It’s good to use when you receive a comment that you’re unsure about, or if you’re writing something and want to make sure you will be understood. Here’s what it says about my message above: > *“Based on the text, it seems that the writer might be feeling worried or anxious about how their message will be received. They are expressing concern that their daughter's doctor's appointment might cause conflict with their work responsibilities. Additionally, they are seeking reassurance that their commitment to work-life balance will not negatively impact their relationship with X Corp. Despite this emotional undercurrent, the writer is attempting to present their message in a professional and respectful manner.”* > > Nailed it. If I were to see that before sending my reply, I would probably adjust because having an “emotional undercurrent” could be easy to misunderstand. There are two things I’d like you all to take away from this: 1. How we respond to things often has nothing to do with the original message, and everything to do with our mental state when we read it. 2. When we get a message that could be offensive, like my anxious reply, keep in mind that the other person might have something else going on affecting how they write at the moment. Again, chances are it doesn’t have anything to do with you. #### A community of trust That being said, we are a community. As a community, we have a responsibility to each other to be kind and respectful, understand the impact of our words, and to hold each other accountable when we witness unkind behavior or see someone get hurt. When I attended FOSS Backstage in Berlin earlier this year, I attended an excellent talk called [“The code of conduct has been broken. Now what?”](https://program.foss-backstage.de/fossback23/talk/GRUPZW/) A big point that stayed with me is that it is ***everyone’s*** responsibility to hold each other accountable to the code of conduct. This works well in communities where we trust each other to be honest and open. When we feel safe, we can hold each other accountable, and apologize when we mess up. It also means we trust leadership to fully address any issues in a fair and equitable way. But…. What if that trust has been broken? #### Leading by example If you no longer trust Joomla and OSM leadership to handle community conflicts, that’s valid. I know that for those of you who feel this way, that trust might not come back. I see you. I apologize, truly, for failing you and breaking that trust. We have not had a great track record for handling conflicts in the past. We have been inconsistent at best; at worst, possibly negligent. We have a [code of conduct](https://www.joomla.org/about-joomla/the-project/code-of-conduct.html), but if it’s not enforced fairly, it is just empty words. We have our [community values](https://www.joomla.org/about-joomla/the-project/mission-vision-and-values.html), but if we don’t stand by them, they’re meaningless. We have our go-getters and beacons of positivity in the community—but often, they stand alone, and burn out. This isn’t okay. Again, I’m sorry. The first step to change is admitting there is a problem. I can say with confidence that I know we have a problem with creating a safe, healthy, happy community and environment to support each other. All the **#jPositivity** in the world can’t fix issues we don’t admit to. So, this is me, admitting to them. We must do better for our community—for you. You deserve it. Here are a few things that I am personally working on, and hope to see happen: 1. **We will find an ombudsman.** An ombudsman can help us mediate situations that seem to have no solution, and provides a safe, external place for community members to seek support when faced with conflict. Unlike an internal corporate HR department, the ombudsman is impartial, and has the only goal of finding a fair and equitable resolution. 2. We are working on nominating a **new Advisory Board** who can help guide us on community safety and engagement, among other things. 3. Based on guidance from the above, I hope we can **update our code of conduct** to make it more clear and specific, with a more transparent conflict resolution process. 4. We are working on putting together a **working group focused on project sustainability**, which would help guide the creation (or revision) of our processes related to finances, community and developer engagement, and overall project strategy. 5. We will have **regular “meet the board” calls** that are open to anyone in the community to attend and ask questions, or just share a coffee with us. 6. I'd like to provide **resources for the community** to help make working together easier, and help with conflict resolution and accountability. This is what I’ve come up with so far, and I’m open to honest feedback and ideas. We can’t do this alone—in order for us to make Joomla a happier place, we ***all*** need to commit to a better future. What do you think? What else can we consider as we work on this all-important task? #### A minor request We’re at the end of this article now. Thank you for sticking with me through it. I’m writing this the evening before my birthday. It will be published afterwards, but I would still like to make a small birthday request from you, if I may: **Reach out to someone in the Joomla community who has impacted you, and tell them "thank you".** This could be the developer of a feature who has made your life easier, the creator of your favorite extension, your favorite magazine author, or just someone who always makes you smile when you see their name pop up. (If you're not sure how to reach them, feel free to acknowledge them in the comments of this article and I'll do my best to get it to that person.) So much of this article was focused on the negative impact words can have. I hope to remind you that words can hold power for good, too. Expressing gratitude can be a quick and easy way to make someone’s day a little bit better. As for me, I would like to thank you, the reader. Yes, you personally. Thank you for caring enough to read this article. If you plan on commenting below, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me, whether you like the article or not. I appreciate that you care about our community just as much as I do. We can do better, and we ***will*** do better. I believe in this community, and I believe in you. Upwards, and onwards—together, as a whole., Creating a healthier community, together, Crystal Dionysopoulos, 01h4c0f8jhbn6v8tvd9rc86w7p.