Proposals for closing projects/Closure of meta-wiki

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This is an archived version of this page, as edited by Rd232 (talk | contribs) at 16:06, 19 February 2012 (Created page with "{{Closing project proposal |type = 2 |proposal = closure |content = Moved elsewhere |status = |notice = |chapters = — |comment = |category = }} Meta is the main coordin..."). It may differ significantly from the current version.
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This is a proposal for closing and/or deleting a wiki hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. It is subject to the current closing projects policy.

The proposal is currently open for discussion by the community.

  • Type: 2 (non-routine proposal)
  • Proposed outcome: closure
  • Proposed action regarding the content: Moved elsewhere
  • Notice on the project:
  • Informed Group(s): —

Meta is the main coordinating wiki for hundreds of Wikimedia projects. It can't possibly be closed, can it? You must be trolling? Well hear me out: the core of this closure request is

Close meta.wikimedia.org and transfer its content and functions to either
1. other, specialised coordinating projects (like Strategy) or
2. a Meta: namespace which is accessible across all Wikimedia projects (in the same way that Commons files are accessible everywhere in the File: namespace), enabling it to perform a genuinely coordinating function.

For practical reasons, the Meta: namespace should have a home on another coordinating wiki, with which it can then share templates. It also gives it a conceptual foundation - it's like InstantCommons, so we can call it InstantMeta - which will be familiar.

  • A. Most fundamentally, Meta is about multilingual coordination across WMF projects. Yet the coordination with other projects is weak at best. Many highly active Wikimedians are barely aware of Meta's existence and have never contributed there. There is no means by which Wikimedians who occasionally contribute in some small wikis can easily stay in touch with developments. A Meta: namespace makes this more feasible.
  • B. Most fundamentally, Meta is about multilingual coordination across WMF projects. Yet the multilingualism is generally quite poorly developed compared to Commons (where it isn't exactly stellar, but certainly better). A lot of the backend of templates and the like is just outdated or non-existent. Merging the multi-lingual infrastructures would improve this.
Background

Historically, various things that were at one time on Meta now exist elsewhere, including

I mention this because it shows fluid the form and function of Meta is, which makes this radical reshaping (more than a closure, but so radical it's effectively a closure) more plausible than it would otherwise be.

Some thoughts on things that might go elsewhere, rather than to Meta: namespace:

  1. Grants handedout by the WMF (see Grants:Index) - to :wmf wiki - https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Home, as that's part of their remit
  2. Research (see Research:Index) to strategy: wiki - https://strategy.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page, as research about Wikimedia and strategy of Wikimedia are obvious complements
Alternatives

Whilst this is a request for closure, I would not frame success merely as "was Meta closed? yes/no". Success would also include a lively debate with a range of ideas on how to improve Meta and its relationship with other projects - especially if some of those ideas went on to be implemented.

Thanks for listening with an open mind. Rd232 (talk) 16:06, 19 February 2012 (UTC)[reply]

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