Re: Removal of other semantic elements

Hi, Shelley and Tab-

Tab, please refrain from using words with negative connotations like 
"pollute".  We know what you meant, but there is a more polite way to 
say that.... something like, "Please be mindful to stay on topic for the 
list you are emailing (in this case, www-style), or trim the CC list 
accordingly" would have been a nicer way to phrase it.  Also, as 
frustrated as you may be, describing someone's contributions as 
"ridiculousness" in public is impolite and incendiary (and ridiculous). 
  You know better than that.

Shelley, Tab is correct that your response to my CSS-specific reply on 
the topic of stylable controls (which I clearly labeled "CCing CSS 
list") was not pertinent to the CSS list, and should have been 
redirected; you took an opportunity to contribute in a positive manner 
and used it to simply complain.  Your reaction to Tab, and name-calling 
on Twitter, is not an appropriate response for participation in W3C, and 
doesn't help foster a positive work environment.  Tab may have been a 
bit impolite, but your reaction seems rather extreme to me.  In the 
future, please give people the benefit of the doubt and act accordingly. 
  It's very hard to ignore slights; it's also very important.

We want you both to participate, and we want everyone to feel like they 
are getting the respect they deserve.  But the tone of these emails 
makes this difficult.  We all get frustrated sometimes.  When I find 
myself particularly vexed, I will ask my girlfriend or someone else to 
read my emails to make sure the tone is reasonable, or I will write the 
email, then wait a few hours to review and revise it.  Perhaps this 
might help you, too.

If you have not already done so, please watch this video on "How Open 
Source Projects Survive Poisonous People" to understand the impact 
individuals' attitudes and actions have on collaborative projects:
   http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4216011961522818645

I don't think there are "poisonous people", I think there is poisonous 
behavior; I don't think either of you are at that point, but your tone 
is too negative for productive contribution.  I am confident that you 
are both genuine in your desire to help make the Web better, so I'm 
asking you to calm down.

Regards-
-Doug Schepers
W3C Team Contact, SVG and WebApps WGs


Shelley Powers wrote (on 4/5/10 3:41 PM):
> On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 12:41 PM, Tab Atkins Jr.<jackalmage@gmail.com>  wrote:
>>  Um, what?  It was a simple request.  I even put a smilie at the end to
>>  make sure the correct intention, that of a helpful correction, was
>>  sent over the wire.
>>
>>  Chill, Shelley.
>
> That it's seemingly OK for Doug to cc the list, but was not OK for me
> to reply to his email, and also include the list, was rude.
>
> That you termed my email "polluting" when it was focused on relevant
> topic material, but considered Doug's email was OK, was also rude.
>
> That you would instruct me to pay attention to the cc list, like I'm
> some kind of newbie in this forum was rude.
>
> And if I were to tell you where you can shove your smiley, why then my
> statement would also be rude. So I won't.
>
> Shelley
>
> PS Notice lack of smiley
>
>>
>>  ~TJ
>>
>>  On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 9:37 AM, Shelley Powers<shelley.just@gmail.com>  wrote:
>>>  This was the rudest email I have received related to W3C efforts.
>>>
>>>  You have personal problems with me. Frankly, that's your problem. If
>>>  you can't maintain a professional attitude with me, then don't
>>>  communicate with me, period.
>>>
>>>  Shelley
>>>
>>>
>>>  On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 11:19 AM, Tab Atkins Jr.<jackalmage@gmail.com>  wrote:
>>>>  Please don't pollute the www-style list with something entirely
>>>>  unrelated to it.  I know that Doug was the one that originally CCed
>>>>  us, and that was valid.  Just pay attention to who's in the CC box.
>>>>  ^_^
>>>>
>>>>  ~TJ
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

Received on Tuesday, 6 April 2010 01:10:25 UTC