# Code of Conduct

## Purpose

Our community is dedicated to fostering an open, inclusive, and respectful environment. This Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for all participants and the steps for addressing any unacceptable behavior. By adhering to these guidelines, we can create a space where collaboration and learning thrive.

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## Our Standards

Examples of behavior that contributes to a positive environment for our
community include:

* Demonstrating empathy and kindness toward other people
* Being respectful of differing opinions, viewpoints, and experiences
* Ensure that your contributions are relevant to the discussion and meeting agendas.
* Giving and gracefully accepting constructive feedback
* Accepting responsibility and apologizing to those affected by our mistakes,
  and learning from the experience
* Focusing on what is best not just for us as individuals, but for the overall
  community

Examples of unacceptable behavior include:

* The use of sexualized language or imagery, and sexual attention or advances of
  any kind
* Trolling, insulting or derogatory comments, and personal or political attacks
* Repeatedly deviating from the agenda during meetings, interrupting discussions, or monopolizing speaking time with irrelevant or incoherent contributions.
* Public or private harassment
* Publishing others' private information, such as a physical or email address,
  without their explicit permission
* Other conduct which could reasonably be considered inappropriate in a
  professional setting
  
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## Enforcement Guidelines

Community leaders will follow these Community Impact Guidelines when determining consequences for violations of this Code of Conduct.

### 1. Correction

**Community Impact:** Use of inappropriate language or other behavior deemed unprofessional or unwelcome in the community.

**Consequence:** A private, written warning from community leaders, providing clarity around the nature of the violation and an explanation of why the behavior was inappropriate. A public apology may be requested.

### 2. Warning

**Community Impact:** A violation through a single incident or series of actions.

**Consequence:** A warning with consequences for continued behavior. No interaction with the people involved, including unsolicited interaction with those enforcing the Code of Conduct, for a specified period of time. This includes avoiding interactions in community spaces as well as external channels like social media. Violating these terms may lead to a temporary or permanent ban.

### 3. Temporary Ban

**Community Impact:** A serious violation of community standards, including sustained inappropriate behavior.

**Consequence:** A temporary ban from any sort of interaction or public communication with the community for a specified period of time. No public or private interaction with the people involved, including unsolicited interaction with those enforcing the Code of Conduct, is allowed during this period. Violating these terms may lead to a permanent ban.

### 4. Permanent Ban

**Community Impact:** Demonstrating a pattern of violation of community standards, including sustained inappropriate behavior, harassment of an individual, or aggression toward or disparagement of classes of individuals.

**Consequence:** A permanent ban from any sort of public interaction within the community.

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## Conflict Resolution Process

To address and resolve conflicts effectively, the community will follow these steps:

### Step 1: Direct Communication

If a conflict arises, the involved parties are encouraged to address the issue directly and respectfully with one another to seek resolution. This conversation should focus on the behavior or issue at hand, avoiding personal attacks or assumptions.

### Step 2: Mediation

If direct communication does not resolve the issue, either party may request mediation from a neutral community leader. The mediator will facilitate a structured conversation to help clarify misunderstandings and find common ground.

### Step 3: Formal Review

If the conflict remains unresolved, the issue will be escalated to the community leadership team for review. The leadership team will gather relevant information, including accounts from all parties involved, and make a decision based on the Code of Conduct and the community’s best interests.

### Step 4: Resolution and Follow-Up

The leadership team will communicate their decision and any actions to be taken to the involved parties. Follow-up will be conducted to ensure that the resolution is effective and that no further issues arise.

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## Scope

This Code of Conduct applies to all community spaces, including but not limited to:

- Online forums, repositories, and communication channels.
- In-person or virtual meetings and events.
- External channels where the community is represented (e.g., social media).

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## Reporting

If you experience or witness behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, please report it to the community leaders via [info@utopia-lab.org](mailto:info@utopia-lab.org). All reports will be handled with discretion and confidentiality.

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## Attribution

This Code of Conduct is adapted from the [Contributor Covenant](https://www.contributor-covenant.org), version 2.1.

