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After months of hand wringing, today Web Directions cut the Gordian knot and published a code of conduct for our events. You can check it out here.

Seems like a good idea, you say, why all the hand wringing?

Well, it’s a terrible cliche but John and I have long subscribed to the view that actions speak way louder than words. Indeed, words are often just ways for bureaucrats and “jobs worths” to show that “they care a lot”. So instead of focussing on churning out policy docs over the years, we’ve focussed on producing great events where people learn heaps, get inspired about the web, connect with their peers, have a good time, and don’t harass or upset other attendees in the process. A project I’m proud to say, with only a couple of small exceptions, we have succeeded in for nigh on 10 years.

If you just use a bit of empathy and common sense, trust me, much as I’d like to blow our trumpet here, it’s not rocket science.

But as the old adage goes, the thing about common sense is that it isn’t that common. Many events do fall way short of the mark in terms of ensuring that all their participants feel welcomed and included, and free from harassment and alienation. We feel that when it is undertaken in good faith, going through the process of developing a code of conduct can lead to some genuine introspection on the part of the organisers, which in turn might help switch on a bit of that empathy and common sense. So we’ve published the code of conduct hopefully as an example that others will choose to follow.

On a practical note, we based ours on The Conference Code of Conduct: you’re not on your own with this!

So if you’re thinking of running an event, I really would advise you to get the team together and have a free and open debate about how you all feel about codes of conduct. Just having that conversation will go along way towards ensuring you run cool and safe events for everyone.