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Stephen Bain wrote:
Alphax wrote:
CE/BCE is already a standard in many disciplines. Make it so in WP.
...except where use of BC and AD is appropriate. Would you have us convert every instance of something being measured in feet, inches, fathoms, chains, pounds, ounces, psi and the like to its metric equivalent?
You can't impose a blanket policy where the usage is dependent on context. Like naming conventions, there *are* exceptions to the rule.
It would be wonderful if Wikipedia converted completely to the metric system, or perhaps [[SI]] ("the most widely used system of units"). Perhaps units should be referred to the Countering Systemic Bias Wikiproject.
As for the use of BC and AD, it is indeed perfectly appropriate in articles about Christianity-related topics, just as the use of the Hebrew, Hindu or Chinese calendars is appropriate in articles related to those topics.
Nevertheless, a standard for articles not based on those topics would be useful, and CE/BCE seems to be the least POV and easiest to implement out of the options available.
So if BC and AD are appropriate for Christianity-related topics, why not allow foot-pounds and the like for articles where using the Imperial measurements is in context and factually accurate? Highways were measured as being x *chains* wide, depths were recorded in *fathoms*, altitudes measured in *feet*, etc. Where there is historic convention to do so, use the historic units. Where there is not, use the modern units. The concepts of BC and AD were around *before* CE and BCE, and are *historical units*. Let them remain as such where it is relevant to do so.
Anyway, since this is the /English/ Wikipedia, shouldn't we follow the conventions of English-speaking countries? I can't think of *any* that use BCE and CE in official documents.
- -- Alphax GnuPG key: 0xF874C613 - http://tinyurl.com/8mpg9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Alphax There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.' - C. S. Lewis