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"cafebabe" writes:

A Code Of Conduct is a contentious issue but has become common within some of the more progressive software projects (Gnome, Ruby On Rails) and some computer conferences. While some people see it as an essential method to combat casual discrimination, others see it as a trap to oust developers of successful projects. Some of the more amusing sockpuppets on SoylentNews have lampooned Codes Of Conduct in a puerile manner [soylentnews.org] and some of our regulars would regard a Code Of Conduct as somewhere between frivolous and detrimental. Really, what's wrong with "Don't be a dick" (or, admittedly, something more polite and inclusive) as popularized [knowyourmeme.com] and explained [urbandictionary.com] by Wil Wheaton [youtube.com]?

Well, victims of child sexual abuse are boycotting a UK inquiry because participation requires agreement to a Code Of Conduct [telegraph.co.uk]. I can appreciate this is a very emotive issue even for people not directly affected by abuse and that making allegations publicly can be detrimental to the common law concept of innocent until proven guilty. However, the CoC is the latest incident in an ongoing shambles. The inquiry is currently on its fourth publicly named chairperson, more junior people have quit due to allegations of abuse between staff [bbc.co.uk] and £1.5 million has been spent on implementing a case management system. The inquiry has been running for more two years and is likely to cost more than £100 million [telegraph.co.uk]. The first hearings begin in Feb 2017 [bbc.co.uk].

Maybe they're being really careful with conflicts of interests and victim privacy? Well, the privacy is a joke. A quick browse around the website finds that it is aimed at the legal eagles and that victims are most relegated to one subdirectory [archive.org]. Did I mention privacy? The homepage currently has an embedded YouTube video, so anyone showing an interest in the matter, for whatever reason, may have their name, email address, postal address and telephone number(s) collated by a Premiere PRISM Partner.

Despite a boycott, the inquiry has 2000 participants and this could grow significantly. One UK celebrity is believed to have sexually abused more than 650 victims; ranging from eight year old boys to 80 year old women  plus rumours of necrophilia. A senior politician abused residents of the boys home that he'd founded [wikipedia.org] and dossiers covering broader allegations disappeared. One town with a population of 110,000 people [wikipedia.org] is believed to have 1400 girls who were sexually abused over 16 years [wikipedia.org]. Many of the abusers were first or second generation Muslim immigrants. However, abuse was ignored and evidence was destroyed for political expediency.

Disclosure: Previous comment about child privacy [soylentnews.org]. Previous comment about adult privacy [soylentnews.org]. "Think of the children!" [soylentnews.org] "Think of the imaginary children!" [soylentnews.org]

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