[WikiEN-l] need to work out clear policies onMANDATORYandOPTIONAL rules on WP

[Sam Korn]

On 11/17/05, Poor, Edmund W <Edmund.W.Poor at abc.com> wrote:
> My point is not that "Ivory Coast" is the proper name of the country.
> Nor is it that I insist on making "Ivory Coast" the title of the
> article.
>
> 1. What I *AM* saying is that the English-name POLICY has already passed
> consensus: country articles are given the title of the most commonly
> used English-langugae name of the country. (Like "Germany" or "Italy")
>
> This is a procedural question: shall we set aside the policy and make an
> exception here? And by voting on it, or what?
>
> Policy should be the default, and an exception should be made only if
> there is consensus for an exception.
>
> What some people are trying to do is call the status quo the default
> (lots of people ganging up to thwart policy by using the French name)
> and requiring a supermajority vote to PERMIT ENFORCEMENT of the policy.
>
> 2. I am *ALSO* saying that letting a government tell Wikipedia what to
> do is a dangerous erosion of our editorial independence. We can simply
> say in the article that Ivory Coast's government "forbids" anyone -
> inside or outside their jurisdiction - to translate the country's name
> (if this is really so). But since our servers are in Florida, I think we
> can safely assume we are outside their jurisdiction.
>
> If "Ivory Coast" ever lose currency - as it no doubt will in years to
> come - then of course we'll reflect this.
>
> 3. People seem to think that the TITLE of the article makes a statement
> about the "true name" of the country. This is ridiculous. The article
> itself even says so - or would, if partisans didn't keep removing this
> statement.
>
> The article keeps saying that the offical name of the country is Cote
> d'Ivoire, and that the government has gotten other governments to use
> the French name. That should be enough.
>
> Ed Poor

Well said, Ed.  I've been trying to make this point for a couple of
days.  I disagree with your conclusion, but thank you for stating this
so clearly.  I am sure you have the sense to recognise the validity of
other people's opinions.

Sam