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https://github.com/anoduck/statement-of-user-rights

A practical statement of sovereign user rights.
https://github.com/anoduck/statement-of-user-rights

bill-of-rights code-of-rights conduct-code rights rights-user social-contract statement statement-of-rights user user-rights

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A practical statement of sovereign user rights.

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README 

          
> [!NOTE]

> __Work In Progress:__ I work on this from time to time, cleaning up grammar, rewording sentences, and adding content. This something I contemplate on from time to time, it is a proof of concept, mere jibber jabber.



Statement of User Rights

========================



The Statement of User Rights is primarily a social contract between the user and developer establishing a set of rights or "liberties" acknowledged to exist within each another. It's purpose is to coalesce pre-existing boundaries into a written statement granting intellectual freedom and acknowledging independence of thought.



Preface

-------



This document is _still under development_, it should in now way, shape or, form be distributed in it's current state.



Intro

-----



The Statement of User Rights is a critical response to certain "Code of Conduct" (i.e. COC) agreements that have 

strayed far from the purpose for which they were originally used for. Originally these agreements were intended to

provide some very basic and loosely defined groundrules for "play time with friends". Their purpose was geared toward

inclusiveness and wide acceptance of others in order form a homogenous, congenial, and productive group of individuals.



It is uncertain exactly when these agreements began to vere away from their original purpose, but currently they have

taken a completely different direction, and are written with the intent to exclude others, constrain open

participation, and limit independent critical reasoning.



The key traits of these Code of Conducts are:

* Extension of the COC to include common end users, rather than solely binding contributors

* Inclusion of biased political idealology.

* Agreements intended to stifle freedom of expression and/or limit free thinking.

* Wording or phrasing considered to be politically exclusionary.

* Threats of public shaming, doxing, ostrasizing, and/or other forms of harassment.

* Attempts to mischaracterize inquiry and challenges to one's position as an act of violence.

* Obligations/Mandates that result in surrending or compromising an inalienable human right.

* Attempts to supress freedom of expression, thought, speech and discourse.



Examples of Exclusivistic CofC Agreements:

------------------------------------------



### NodeSource



Their CofC was the preliminary inspiration for the Code of User Rights.



- https://github.com/nodesource/nsolid/blob/node-v22.x-nsolid-v5.x/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md



### Dev.to



Comparatively to NodeSource, dev.to's CofC is written from a biased perspective, and goes much much further.



```text

We pledge to prioritize marginalized people's safety over privileged people's comfort. We will not act on complaints regarding:

- 'Reverse' -isms, including 'reverse racism,' 'reverse sexism,' and 'cisphobia'

- Reasonable communication of boundaries, such as 'leave me alone,' 'go away,' or 'I'm not discussing this with you.'

- Someone's refusal to explain or debate social justice concepts

- Criticisms of racist, sexist, cissexist, or otherwise oppressive behavior or assumptions

```



As with all manner of language that entails an obligation, the devil is in the details. The effort invested into creating this CoC was not oblivious to the fact some keenly aware individuals might be uncomfortable agreeing. In fact, it was intentionally written to be exclusionary of such individuals. This destroys the entire purpose for which Code of Conducts were created, and in many ways is a form of exploitation. It takes for granted both independent critical reasoning, and independent liberties of thought.



Examples of Reasonable CofC Agreements

---------------------------------------



### Pine64



Although somewhat long winded, Pine64's Code of Conduct is quite reasonable, and likely acceptable to many. [Pine64 CofC](https://pine64.org/community/Rules/)



Preliminary History

--------------------



The Code of Conduct has strayed far from its original intended purpose and humble

origin. Historically the code of conduct applied only to development team members, or contributors. It

was primarily interested in maintaining cohesiveness of behavior within the development community, and 

establish patterns of acceptable intercommunication between team members. This stands at contrast to the 

modern interpretation, which applies to anyone who uses the code, developers and regular end users alike. It

attempts to establish a social contract with users binding them to a set of ethical values that the user must 

obey or risk public shuning/shaming if not perscribed to. This set of ethical values are not universally held,

but rather are political precepts, thus by establishing a social contract enforces a set of ideals

that the user may or may not ascribe to. Naturally, leading to a reduction in diversity of thought, and

suppression of differing viewpoints. By limiting the availability of options in one's mind, thought itself

becomes constrained to the detriment innovation, and barriers to the accessibility of technology are soundly

established.



The Open Source technological movement was founded upon the reduction or demolision of barriers preventing

accessibility of computational technology for the embetterment of computer science. It was the intent for the

Code of Conduct to encourage and foster this free exchange of ideas and diversify thought, not stiffle it.

Thus in order maintain our own liberties as diverse individuals, we must establish a code of user rights, to

reinforce our own individuality and excercise freedom of faculties.



Proposal

--------



Here lays a groundwork for formulation of the code of user rights. It shall be recognized as a work

of progress:



1. The freedom needed for an uninhibited and unrestrained exchange of ideas and concepts within the mind of the user.

2. Enables the exchange of these ideas and concepts via the freedom of speech.

3. Respects the diversity of individuals while discouraging deviance, disrespect, violence, hate,

   and ill treatment.

4. Guarantees the right of the individual to possess and express an opinion without fear of backlash

   or social shunning.

5. In the interest of fostering an open and welcoming environment, we as contributors and maintainers pledge to making participation in our project and our community a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of age, body size, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, level of experience, nationality, personal appearance, race, religion, or sexual identity and orientation.