# Conference Conduct

DevFeed: [Conference Conduct](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/conference-conduct-21789.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<http://blog.cleancoder.com/uncle-bob/2020/09/23/ConferenceConduct.html>)

Published: 2020-09-23T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Robert C. Martin](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/robert-c-martin.md>), [The Clean Code Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/the-clean-code-blog.md>)

Topics: [Software](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software.md>)

Tags: [blog](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/blog.md>), [code-of-conduct](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code-of-conduct.md>), [conference](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/conference.md>), [conferences](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/conferences.md>), [identity](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/identity.md>), [speakers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/speakers.md>)

## AI overview

The article argues that software conference codes of conduct should not be weaponized to exclude people. It calls for transparent adjudication processes that give accused attendees and speakers notice, an opportunity to defend themselves, and knowledge of their accusers' identities.

## Source excerpt

It was just a few years ago, at the height of the Me Too revelations, that codes of conduct began to prominently appear in Software Conferences. At the time I felt this was appropriate given the horror stories that had been circulating about sexual harassment and misbehavior at some of those conferences. I wrote a blog about it at the time. Since then I have seen the other side of the coin. Codes of conduct have been used as weapons to exclude people on the basis of their political opinions, or on the basis of their associations, or just because someone didn't like them. I have written blogs about this as well. (1), (2) As much as I think that codes of conduct are a good idea, we must not allow them to be weaponized. If we are going to set up rules with consequences, then we also need to set up the the due processes by which those rules and consequences are adjudicated. Otherwise the people who police the codes of conduct will be free of the due checks and balances that protect conference attendees and speakers from unfair and malicious actions. As we have seen, such malicious and unfair actions have become all too common. It seems to me that if a conference is going to publish a code of conduct, like the one below, they must also publish the process by which alleged violations will be adjudicated. That process must include provisions for the accused to be able to defend themselves against the allegation, and must also allow the accused to know the identity of the accuser(s). Otherwise all conference attendees and speakers will be exposed to malicious and falsified complaints with no recourse to defend themselves. The conference I was disinvited from is over. I was ejected because code of conduct complaints were registered against me by three relatively minor speakers in quick succession. I do not know if those speakers acted in concert. Nor am I certain of the identities of those speakers (though I have a good idea). What I do know is that three or four weeks befor