All this talk about changing from
www.wikipedia.org to
en.wikipedia.org is a matter of
putting the cart before the horse. We've come up with a bright idea and are contending
over whether or not it's a good solution.
First, we must define exactly what the problem is. Maveric and Tarquin have tried to do
this, among others. Allow me to recap, in part.
Some non-English wikipedias often feel ignored & sidelined. Spanish Wikipedia forked.
Susning.nu may be seen as a fork.
Further unilateral discussion, such as the last 200 or so e-mails this week, to determine
the fate of the relationship could prejudice the outcome of negotiations, leading the vary
ones we wish do woo back think: "Why do THEY get to decide everything? I'm outa
here!" and then say to us: "Adios, amigos!"
Lars brought up the concepts of ambassadors and embassies. I don't think we should
impose on other langugae communities the restriction of speaking only through an
ambassador. Yet it would substantially help us English speakers to appoint an ambassador
-- someone like Maveric, who is passionately devoted to the project, willing to work hard,
and is eager to understand the viewpoints of others despite his own linguistic
limitations.
We need to take a fresh look at why our brothers created their fork(s). Obviously, it
seemed good to them. I'd like to know why it did so.
Ed Poor