Code of Conduct
AIDA International is a volunteer based organization all about freediving and promoting its development with a focus on safety and education. AIDA is the single largest organizer of international freediving competitions, rules and regulations. Rules and regulations are discussed and improved continuously and every day around the world new students are trained and earn their freediving certificates. AIDA is supportive of science and research to better understand freediving physiology and safety for all divers. Environmental protection, research and sustainable development are key concerns to members of AIDA International.
Today AIDA is the bond that unites freedivers across the planet. "By freedivers for freedivers" really sums up well what AIDA is.
The AIDA International community is made up of a mixture of professionals and volunteers from all over the world, working on every aspect of the mission - The Development of Apnea - including development of safe freediving, teaching, competing and connecting people.
Diversity is one of our biggest strengths, but it can also lead to communication issues and unhappiness. To that end, we have a few ground rules to which we ask people adhere. This code applies equally to all AIDA freedivers and to those seeking help and guidance in freediving.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of things that you can’t do. Rather, take it in the spirit in which it’s intended - a guide to make it easier to enrich all of us and the freediving communities in which we participate.
This code of conduct applies to all communications managed by AIDA International. This includes AIDA mailing lists, Facebook walls, personal emails sent to the AIDA International personnel and officers, and any other forums created by AIDA International which the community uses for communication. In addition, violations of this code outside these spaces may affect a person's ability to participate within them.
If you believe someone is violating the code of conduct, we ask that you report it by emailing board@aidainternational.org
Be friendly and patient.
Be welcoming.
We strive to be a community that welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds and identities. This includes, but is not limited to members of any race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, color, immigration status, social and economic class, educational level, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, size, family status, political belief, religion, and mental and physical ability.
Be considerate.
Your work may be used by other people, and you in turn will depend on the work of others. Any decision you take may affect other AIDA freedivers, and you should take those consequences into account when making decisions. Remember that we're a world-wide community, so you might not be communicating in someone else's primary language.
Be respectful
Not all of us will agree all the time, but disagreement is no excuse for poor behavior and poor manners. We might all experience some frustration now and then, but we cannot allow that frustration to turn into a personal attack. It’s important to remember that a community where people feel uncomfortable or threatened, is not a productive one. Members of the AIDA International community should be respectful when dealing with other members as well as with people outside the AIDA International community.
Be careful in the words that you choose.
We are a community of professionals, and we conduct ourselves professionally. Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down other participants. Harassment and other exclusionary behavior aren't acceptable. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Violent threats or language directed against another person.
- Discriminatory jokes and language.
- Posting sexually explicit or violent material.
- Posting (or threatening to post) other people's personally identifying information ("doxing").
- Personal insults and name-calling; especially those using racist or sexist terms.
- Unwelcome sexual attention.
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.
- Repeated harassment of others. In general, if someone asks you to stop, then stop.
- When we disagree, try to understand why.
Disagreements happen everywhere and all the time and AIDA International is no exception. It is important that we resolve disagreements and differing views constructively. Remember that we are a diverse group. The strength of AIDA International comes from its varied community, people from a wide range of backgrounds. Different people have different perspectives on issues. Being unable to understand why someone holds a viewpoint doesn’t mean that they’re wrong. Don’t forget that it is human to err and blaming each other doesn’t get us anywhere. Instead, focus on helping to resolve issues and learning from mistakes.
This code of conduct has been modified from Django Code of Conduct and it is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
