How does the WordPress community coordinate itself, both locally and globally, to collaborate on the development and maintenance of the WordPress Open Source project? The answer is: through Slack.
A flexible and powerful work tool
Slack is an instant and asynchronous messaging system that supports teamwork, both remote and in-person. It has become widely used over the past decade, emerging as a leading solution and a reference point for many software companies. It can be used via app on smartphones and tablets, as well as on desktop. It offers numerous integrations and comes in both a free and a paid premium version.
How do you join the Slack spaces used by the WordPress community?
Each Slack team or group, called a workspace, has its own login credentials. You can have multiple accounts across different Slack workspaces. You can also create your own Slack space to use with friends, clients, or collaborators.
The Italian WordPress community has its own credentials, which are the same ones used to access the broader international WordPress community.
On the “Join the Community” page, you’ll find instructions on how to sign up and access it. To make things easier, Cristiano and Lorenzo, two of the organizers of WordCamp Italia 2022, created a short video tutorial that walks you step by step through the entire process, which is actually easier to do than to explain in words (thanks Cristiano and Lorenzo!).
Here it is, it lasts less than two minutes:
Slacknetiquette
Interacting within a community is not always easy, and it requires effort along with a shared understanding of expected behaviors. In particular, it’s important to remember that communication mostly happens in written form, and written communication follows different rules compared to in-person interaction. It’s harder to convey emotions, even if emojis help, and to express viewpoints without ambiguity. This is why attention and respect are essential.
In short:
We expect mutual respect and support from all members of both the Italian and international WordPress community.
Looking more closely, here are some expected behaviors, as well as some that are not considered respectful. If you want to go deeper, you can read the Manifesto of the Italian WordPress community:
Italia WP Community is for everyone
We strongly believe this community should be open to anyone who wants to be part of it, without discrimination based on gender, age, origin, ethnic or cultural background, preferred operating system, preferred programming language, level of skill or professionalism, socioeconomic status, or religion, or lack thereof. If you are here, you are entitled to feel equal to all other members.
Expected behaviors
- Care, respect, and collaboration are the foundational pillars of this community.
- Avoid humiliating, discriminatory, or harassing language and behavior.
- Notify administrators if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in difficulty, regardless of the consequences.
- Participate in an authentic and active way.
Unacceptable behaviors
The following behaviors are not considered acceptable:
- Using violent, discriminatory, sexist, racist, homophobic, or transphobic language, including jokes or remarks.
- Threatening other users.
- Posting explicitly sexual, violent, or inappropriate material.
- Posting, or threatening to post, personal information or dossiers containing personal data, doxxing.
- Displaying unwanted sexual attention, including comments, jokes, or remarks.
- Intimidating other users in any way.
- Stalking.
- Supporting or encouraging any of the behaviors listed above.
Which channels should you join?
Definitely the #wctrn channel, the official WordCamp Torino channel, available to all participants to get to know each other before the event, organize car sharing, or arrange to meet for breakfast or an aperitivo outside the WordCamp.
Then there are many other channels, those related to local meetups, contribution areas, as well as fun and sharing. When you join, you’ll find yourself in #general. If you have any doubts, just ask, someone will surely be there to help you.
So, see you on Slack?
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