PSA: Linking to a Code of Conduct Template is Not the Same as Having a Code of Conduct

Our website lists upcoming front-end web design and development conferences. Whether you're attending or organizing a conference, check it out! Submissions for new conferences are welcome.

Managing this site has led to a surge in pull requests for conferences worldwide. I was surprised to discover that many (most?) conferences use the template from confcodeofconduct.com, often simply linking to it without further action.

Therefore, I'm pleased to see a strong new warning on the site:

Important notice: This code of conduct page is a template and is not legally binding. If an event links to this page, please contact them and request they publish their own code of conduct, detailing reporting procedures and support resources.

While this site offers valuable starting points for crafting a code of conduct, I've witnessed numerous conferences using it as a superficial measure, creating the illusion of compliance without the necessary effort.

The critical flaw in simply linking to or directly copying another's code of conduct is the lack of actionable steps for handling incidents. Without clear procedures, a code of conduct becomes meaningless; mere window dressing.

Here's an example (not to single anyone out, but representative of many):

[Example omitted, but the point remains]

This concern has been raised by several individuals, and I agree it's a significant issue. My policy is clear: I won't merge pull requests for conferences lacking a genuine code of conduct; simply linking to confcodeofconduct.com (or using a verbatim copy) is unacceptable without adding actionable details.

The repository welcomes help translating the new warning into other languages. If you're able to assist, please submit a pull request to the relevant index HTML file.

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