SIGNAL

Signal is a free, end-to-end (E2E) encrypted text messaging and phone/video calling app that can be used to safely plan direct actions and other events.

Signal should be used for sensitive communications, especially communications related to direct actions, and any other sensitive information.

Suffolk DSA Signal Use

Signal is an E2E encryption messaging app.

It should be used for immediate and/or sensitive communications between comrades (within our own DSA chapter, our neighboring chapters in Nassau or NYC, or with any comrades in other orgs).

Most DSA discussions between meetings, that are not sensitive or immediate in nature, should be in the appropriate Suffolk DSA Slack channel.

For better Op-Sec Admins of Signal groups should set disappearing messages in their Signals; to this end, please do not put evergreen links or hold important non-sensitive discussions in Signal chats, or if you do have a fruitful discussion that you feel the wider chapter could benefit from or engage with, please feel free to start a thread in the appropriate Slack channel to continue the discussion (esp. with folks who may not be in that specific SCDSA Signal group).

SCDSA Signals correspond to active SCDSA Committees (Cm) and Working Groups (WG), and you can always see the current SCDSA Org Chart to see what Cm and WG are active and who is in SCDSA Leadership (that is current SCDSA Steering Cm as well as co-chairs of SCDSA Cm and WG).

SCDSA Signals are for the general organizing of the stated Cm or WG purpose, and while we are inclusive of the general left on LI (and DSA itself is a big tent), these SCDSA Signal groups should adhere to the SCDSA Code of Conduct; which asks us to "engage in good faith" and to "assume good faith of your comrades."

We want folks to feel free to speak up so issues can be addressed, but please give all of us grace in these spaces that are at their core places for organizing and are not an appropriate avenue to engage in interpersonal conflicts, especially outside of SCDSA purview.

Anyone that does have a personal conflict transpiring in spaces we all agreed to make safe (everyone in SCDSA Signals must have signed the IOC Agreement, as a reminder), SCDSA Leadership will try to do our best to help if we can, but please show us some of that grace mentioned earlier – we are also all individuals trying to survive late stage capitalism.

Contact the appropriate member of SCDSA Leadership with any questions on specific SCDSA Signal use.

Below we have highlighted some relevant DSA Respectful Discussion Guidelines which should be followed in both our physical and virtual meeting spaces as well as our digital organizing spaces:

1. Assume good faith in your fellow comrades

   • Encourage yourself and others to maintain a positive attitude, honor the work of others, avoid defensiveness, be open to legitimate critique and challenge oppressive behaviors in ways that help people grow. We want to “call each other in” rather than calling each other out — in other words, if you are challenging someone’s ideas or behavior, do it respectfully, and if you are being challenged, receive it respectfully. Remember, mistakes will be made, nobody is perfect.

2. Know whether you need to “step up” or “step back”

   • Frequent posting by the same users (even in agreement with each other) – especially when aggressive – can alienate other members from joining the discussion, robbing the organizing space of voices that should be heard. Members should do their best to start discussions off on the “right foot” – including a lead-off article, asking questions in good faith, requesting a discussion that may invite specific examples but does not necessarily attack those specific examples.

3. Please W.A.I.T.; in other words ask yourself “Why Am I Talking?”

   • Does your post add to the discussion by bringing in new opinions or points? Consider using emoji reactions to agree with your comrades instead of repeating another comrade’s post. Does your post escalate an already aggressive discussion? Consider how your post may come off to others in the discussion or viewing the discussion. Is your post dismissive of another poster’s opinion based on their background? Consider explaining your point of view clearly, even if only for the benefit of other members viewing the discussion.

   • Also consider if your text to a whole SCDSA Signal group is needed or if you can DM someone in the larger group individually for clarification or a more in-depth discussion between comrades.

4. Please recognize and respect others feelings, background, and cultural differences

   • While we all don't have to agree on everything, we should respect our diversity of opinions. Recognize that everyone has a piece of the truth, everybody can learn, and everybody has the ability to teach and share something. The work DSA is doing is deeply personal for many of our members and it is important to keep that in mind when discussing our work, but it is also important to keep in mind that those criticizing work are not making personal attacks.

All that said you control your own experience. You can mute/leave SCDSA Signals at any time if you need, for however long you may need.

If you leave a Signal you can get in touch with anyone in SCDSA Leadership if you want to be added back to an SCDSA Signal.