> a CODE_OF_CONDUCT, because we assume preemptively that you are a racist homophobic asshole, and we have to cover our bases.
This one is a new personal pet peeve. I'm not a racist homophobe--I'm a good person. And though it doesn't give me any authority to speak on the matter, I'm bi and I've dated all sorts of people.
I don't like to be presumed to be an asshole (or presume that others may be), and I'm offended that we have to treat adults like this as part of a new social contract. Can't we just be good to one another? And when there are assholes, can't we handle everything on a case-by-case basis, as it arises?
By putting this into every single project, it feels like we're building an ivory tower that ignores the social progress we've made in the last century. It's disrespectful and patronizing to mature adults to presume how they might behave. I don't like to think of people as great ape descendants, but this kind of thing reminds me we're just animals, fighting and name calling. I don't like that. I don't like how it makes me feel. Software is an achievement of human intellect, and I don't like to be reminded of our flaws. Not in the root of every software project I want to grok or contribute to.
I'm not so close-minded to rule out changing my mind on this matter, but I'm perplexed and, as I admitted before, slightly annoyed. I really want to hear others' opinions on this.
I'm not trying to trivialize anyone's experiences. I missed whatever original conversations there were on this matter and I want to express both how I feel and that I want to know more.
edit: I'm going to be downvoted for even admitting this? That's why I debated even posting. I don't like operating like this.