Code of Conduct

[updated January 8, 2021]

While interacting with other members, we ask that you keep the following principles in mind to help us to maintain a safe and inclusive environment:

  • Welcome and support people of all backgrounds and identities. Any environment (Slack, events, forums, etc.) supported by Data Visualization Society are safe environments where people are free to express their identities.

  • Be a respectful community participant that values other's skills, and contributions.

  • Ensure that the relationships and conversations among members of the Data Visualization Society remain respectful, participatory, and productive.

  • We hope for the Data Visualization Society to be a community where members – regardless of their technical abilities or stage in their career – can contribute and discuss issues in the field.

  • Make differences into strengths. We can find strength in diversity. Different people have different perspectives on issues, and that can be valuable for solving problems or generating new ideas.

  • Maintain an environment where people are free from discrimination or harassment. (If you are harassed or witness harassment refer to the harassment policy below.)

Anti-Harassment Policy

Data Visualization Society is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, nationality, age, or religion.

We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination of organizers or participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any Data Visualization Society event or Slack or any other DVS platform. Anyone in violation of these policies may be expelled from the Data Visualization Society or from a DVS event or platform, at the discretion of the organizers.

Harassment includes but is not limited to:

  • Offensive or patronizing verbal or written comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion; 

  • Unwelcome or patronizing comments regarding a person’s lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, parenting, drugs, and employment.

  • Deliberate “outing” of any aspect of a person’s identity without their consent.

  • Deliberate misgendering or use of ‘dead’ or rejected names

  • Gratuitous or off-topic sexual images or behaviour in spaces where they’re not appropriate 

  • Deliberate intimidation; 

  • Stalking or following; 

  • Harassing photography or recording, including logging online activity for harassment purposes

  • Sustained disruption of talks, discussions, or other events; 

  • Physical contact and simulated physical contact (eg, textual descriptions like “*hug*” or “*backrub*”) without consent or after a request to stop

  • Pattern of inappropriate social contact, such as requesting/assuming inappropriate levels of intimacy with others

  • Continued one-on-one communication after requests to cease

  • Unwelcome sexual attention; 

  • Unwarranted exclusion; 

  • Publication of private communications

  • Threats of violence

  • Incitement of violence towards any individual, including encouraging a person to commit suicide or to engage in self-harm

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the Data Visualization Society or from a DVS event or platform.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact us and tell us what you experienced or witnessed.