Requests for comment/Start allowing ancient languages/Appendix V: Discussion: putting an ''Ancient Language strategy'' together

This page does not form part of the proposal, but details particular issues identified in the process

Open discussion: putting an Ancient Language strategy together[edit]

Please use this page as a discussion of this point

@Amire80, Antony D. Green, Maor X, Jon Harald Søby, Evertype, Sotiale, Vito Genovese, Doc James, Janwo, GerardM, Steinbach, Andrew Dalby, Prosfilaes, VIGNERON, and Future Perfect at Sunrise:

Having given a lot of thought to the Ancient Language Wiki issue, and read through a lot of the feedback from people worried or opposed to the RFC to accomodate their concerns, I feel the problem is not just with the "Ancient Language ban" but more with the lack of consideration given to how and whether current Ancient Language Wikis can be successful members of the Wikimedia project.

Part of this stems from the Language proposal policy position. The logic that (excepting WS)all further AL wikis are disallowed must come from a judgement that ancient languages cannot deliver the mission, otherwise the policy is unsound, and must be revisited.

If ancient languages cannot deliver the mission, then it is pointless delivering the current projects support and attention and trying to help them improve.

A policy of neglect becomes the easiest policy. However neglect stores up a set of resentments: why are these projects here, what manner of trouble and embarrassment are they storing for us? Why are we forced to deal with these questions at all?

From the ancient language projects themselves, they are bound to feel somewhat under-appreciated, and are simply getting no tailored guidance as to how an Ancient Language project can fulfill the WM and WP missions.

However, there is an alternative, that fits better with LangCom's stated Charter, which includes ensuring there is support for all manner of Wikis, including Ancient Language Wikis; work that the Committee is not currently doing. In other words, to

That will mean that some ALWs find things more difficult as attention is applied to them. Some of those projects may not stay with Wikimedia if that happens.

But to go through that second process, the LangCom will also need to reform the current policy to define how an ancient language wiki can meet Wikimedia's and Wikipedia's objectives, and admit the possibility that one or two other ancient languages or Wikis might be permitted. If that is not done, such a project of improvement will look solidly like an attempt to cull projects that LangCom disapproves of - why try to improve something that policy says cannot be done?

Basically: we need to draw the line in a sensible place, and then get on with the work of helping these projects do their job. --JimKillock (talk) 09:27, 12 September 2021 (UTC)[reply]