here we are again: real name 'discussion'

[Jo-Philipp Wich]

Hi,

[resent to list]

>> a) It's a policy change and not a code change. Policy changes require a
>> vote
> 
> Then take a(nother) vote.
> 
> https://lists.openwrt.org/pipermail/openwrt-devel/2024-January/042063.html
> 
> 
>> b) Just because the kernel changed their interpretation of DCO
>> requirements doesn't mean this automatically applies to OpenWrt
>> contribution policy.
> 
> https://openwrt.org/submitting-patches

Good point, as far as I remember, the page was meant to refer to the version
of the linked document at the time of writing, not whatever version happens to
be the latest over at kernel.org. This should probably get corrected to link
to a version before that change.

> Do not conflate vague with abstract. The thing we care about here is an
> email address. Can anyone know it? Yes. Can everyone know it? Yes. Can two
> people have an identical email address? No. ( This is distinct from two
> people *using* one email address ).

This interpretation does not reflect my view at least. I personally consider
the email address to be a temporary artifact. Longevity or a given mail
address is not always given (throw-away accounts, mails at selfhosted domains
eventually disappearing, mails bearing no relation to the name of a person).

Apart from that, I want proper looking, capitalized names (which also may be
aliases resembling the syntax of legal birth names) in the git metadata. No
nicknames, no repetition of mail addresses as name, no urls or handles tied to
specific platforms.

> Lavabit shut down over the FBIs pursuit of a single email address (namely 
> Snowden). If an email address is good enough for the FBI, it's good enough
> for DCO.
> 
> " A real name does not require a legal name, nor a birth name, nor any name
> that appears on an official ID (e.g. a passport). "

Exactly, but in my view there is a difference between calling oneself "John R.
Doe" or "mangawarriorz99". I prefer the former and would vote against the
latter. I see no place for "childish" or unprofessionally looking handles in
the project.

>> If somebody contributes with his GitHub handle, does that already count
>> as known?
> 
> When they're backed by en email address, yes.

Not in my view.



Regards,
Jo