code of conduct

CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md

+# GarganText "Code of Conduct"
+
+The GarganText Project, the contributors of the GarganText system, have
+adopted a code of conduct for participants to its mailing-lists, IRC
+channels and other modes of communication within the project.
+
+## Be respectful
+
+    In a project the size of GarganText, inevitably there will be people
+with whom you may disagree, or find it difficult to cooperate. Accept
+that, but even so, remain respectful. Disagreement is no excuse for poor
+behaviour or personal attacks, and a community in which people feel
+threatened is not a healthy community.
+
+## Assume good faith
+
+    GarganText Contributors have many ways of reaching our common goal
+of a free operating system which may differ from your ways. Assume that
+other people are working towards this goal.
+
+    Note that many of our Contributors are not native English speakers
+or may have different cultural backgrounds.
+
+## Be collaborative
+
+    GarganText is a large and complex project; there is always more to
+learn within GarganText. It's good to ask for help when you need it.
+Similarly, offers for help should be seen in the context of our shared
+goal of improving GarganText.
+
+    When you make something for the benefit of the project, be willing
+to explain to others how it works, so that they can build on your work
+to make it even better.
+
+## Try to be concise
+
+    Keep in mind that what you write once will be read by hundreds
+of persons. Writing a short email means people can understand the
+conversation as efficiently as possible. When a long explanation is
+necessary, consider adding a summary.
+
+    Try to bring new arguments to a conversation so that each comment
+adds something unique to the thread, keeping in mind that the rest of
+the thread still contains the other messages with arguments that have
+already been made.
+
+    Try to stay on topic, especially in discussions that are already
+fairly large.
+
+## Be open
+
+    Most ways of communication used within GarganText allow for public
+and private communication. As per paragraph three of the social
+contract, you should preferably use public methods of communication for
+GarganText-related messages, unless posting something sensitive.
+
+    This applies to messages for help or GarganText-related support,
+too; not only is a public support request much more likely to
+result in an answer to your question, it also makes sure that any
+inadvertent mistakes made by people answering your question will be
+more easily detected and corrected. In case of problems
+
+    While this code of conduct should be adhered to by participants,
+we recognize that sometimes people may have a bad day, or be unaware
+of some of the guidelines in this code of conduct. When that happens,
+you may reply to them and point out this code of conduct. Such messages
+may be in public or in private, whatever is most appropriate. However,
+regardless of whether the message is public or not, it should still
+adhere to the relevant parts of this code of conduct; in particular, it
+should not be abusive or disrespectful. Assume good faith; it is more
+likely that participants are unaware of their bad behaviour than that
+they intentionally try to degrade the quality of the discussion.
+
+    Serious or persistent offenders will be temporarily or permanently
+banned from communicating through GarganText's systems. Complaints
+should be made (in private) to the administrators of the GarganText
+communication forum in question. To find contact information for these
+administrators, please see the page on GarganText's organizational
+structure.