:) Yeah, pretty bad.
The main reason I would consider WMF wiki SHOULD NOT be an entirely
staff-controlled and operated site is the fact we originally wanted it to
be at least in part multilingual.
Current staff does not seem to be very interested in that original wish.
Some requests for translation are sometimes made but lot's of outdated
content is still over there. Sometimes, it does not matter too much. Other
times, it is quite unfortunate. Check out for example
http://wikimediafoundation.**org/wiki/Privacy_policy<http://wikimediafou…
Important ? yes
Should be translated ? I would say "yes, as much as possible"
Should old versions stick there ? I would say vehemently "no, should not"
Still, many languages still display the old version.
The staff will hide itself behind the fact that "only the English version
matters". Which is why Dutch is still the old version:
http://wikimediafoundation.**org/wiki/Privacybeleid<http://wikimediafoun…
Is that good ? No, I would say it is "not serious".
Who can help clean that up ?
Well... if not the volunteers, then it would have to be the staff job.
Except I doubt the staff would consider that to be part of its job. If only
because staff does not speak 300 languages.
What's the best way to motivate volunteers to help with translation and
update of non-English content ? I am not sure, but probably not in removing
their admin bit as if they were dangerous people. Right now, I would go as
far as saying that WMF on the contrary should look out for more people to
help clean up ;)
How does that happen right now ? Well, volunteers do ask on meta to get an
account for WMF wiki. Where ? Here:
http://meta.wikimedia.org/**
wiki/Request_for_an_account_**on_the_Foundation_wiki<http://meta.wikimed…
And guess who is taking care of giving them access ?
A volunteer who has the technical means to create them accounts.
Oh wait... not any more. Ah, hum. Well, I take it a staff member will do
that in the future :)
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Alternatively, the staff, with the official support of their management
and the board can decide that the Foundation wiki should not try any more
to be translated in other languages and should stick to what it actually
is: a US-based non profit company.
Translations may be non-official... and on meta.
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The multilingualism we hoped so dearly has always been an issue. It is
poorly dealt with on the Wikimedia Foundation blog. Poorly dealt with on
the Foundation Wiki. Poorly dealt with on OTRS.
:(
For what it's worth, I did try to get some re-translation organised in
early February:
and
asked communications staff at the WMF for their input. To be fair to them
they did say that they'd look into it and get back to me but I think they
might have been swamped with other things so it was forgotten.
--
Thehelpfulone