I'm very happy to see a thread like this, especially one calling for restraint and self-reflection.

I've been a little surprised at (and concerned by) the...intensity I've seen over the past couple of weeks, as well as earlier posts.

Here are some behaviors that we should avoid moving forward:

• Name calling and personal attacks in posts
• Revenge-consideration
• Troll-baiting
• Accusations of trolling from initiates
• Highlighting past mistakes
• Arrogance toward ignorance
• and so on...

If this behavior doesn't stop, membership will continue to decline, reputation will be even harder to earn, and (most importantly) the quality, depth, and availability of Perl knowledge will continue to erode.

And I get that there's a history. That feelings are hurt and that tempers are hot. Someone started it. Someone might "get away with" something they probably shouldn't. So what? Unless you're a member of a certain group, your tools are: votes, /msg, and nodes. Focus on the code and let the rest go.

(I'm not calling anyone out here; I'm highlighting non-inclusive behaviors. If you need to self-reflect, then for parsing's sake, do so. We can do better. We should do better. And we must do better if the Monastery is to survive.)

So what to do instead? How about:

• Treat each node as the first node.
• Vote the node, not the person.
• Assume that, more often than not, a low quality post indicates a lack of knowledge rather than trollish intentions.
• Recall Hanlon's Razor. (Look it up if you need to.)
• Recall Sturgeon's Law. (Ibid)
• Do not feed the trolls. Do not become a troll, even as an example.
• Lead by becoming the behavior you wish to see in others.

It may, indeed, be possible to restore the original of the edited nodes. Even if it is possible, repairs are going to take time. Nearly 3000 nodes were affected and each one will need to be touched by hand in order to be cleaned up.

This isn't the first time things have gone awry and it likely won't be the last. However, we can all contribute to lowering the heat and keeping things as tranquil as possible. Please, for the love of Camel, let's collaborate more than we compete. Regardless of our individual circumstances, backgrounds, or personalities, we all share a fondness and interest in Perl. Let's try to encourage the best from each other, rather than bring out the worst.

In a world where trolling has become mainstream, our best defense is to actively demonstrate the spirit of TIMTOWDI.

Be liberal in what you accept and strict in what you emit.

This is your community. Help make it a better, more helpful place.

--f

P.S. I moved the thread to PMD, which is where it belongs. Force of habit; sorry. (I forgot I no longer have keys to the broom closet.)