I've been doing some work as a contributor to documentation for the --- open-source CMS during the past few months. Now, I am getting ready to write something that describes how the network of individuals that contribute to --- docs interact through the various electronic mediums.

What I would like to do is to quote examples from their forums, and from the issue queue. Both of these are publicly accessible to anonymous visitors to the site, you only need to log in if you wish to post. I would also like to provide a general description of the interactions on IRC, but I don't think I need to make direct quotes. I'm hesitant about using too much from IRC because even though some of the channels are publicly logged, it would seem a bit shady, since some of the users might not realize there is a record of their discussions.

It is important to note that a lot of the people involved aren't acting anonymously, their --- user profiles often link to their blogs, or note their employer. In most cases I can refer to people by a position, or level of experience or activity within the organization that would obscure their identity somewhat. This would not be possible though in a few situations where people hold unique positions. The study does have an interest in the power that individuals have in influencing the discussion, so a reference to the documentation lead cannot be mistaken as anybody other than

In a few places I will have to make references to points of conflict. In most cases, these are constructive debates on how best to go about something, but some of the examples are actual full-on arguments with people loosing their tempers and saying unpleasant things. I'll be especially careful with these, but again I can leave their screen names off of the study, but it would not be difficult for a curious person to go back over the forums and find the messages I'm referring to.

So my questions are about both how best to deal with the community, and also how to fit this into the IRB form???