Hey K,
I agree with you - we need this to be organic otherwise it will be unsustainable. When Gerard first told me about the problem, I said that it was impossible for just Nhlanhla and I to 'save Sotho Wikipedia'. But then I thought: actually it might be interesting to at least tell Sotho speakers that it might be removed (actually, I don't think they ever completely remove - they move to the incubator or something) and see what happens.
There are a few people interested, it seems, on Facebook and they're thinking of setting up a page to discuss. It would be nice if we could go over there and help them and encourage them. But if it doesn't work, then I feel like it's not serious. Just keep the channels open, ya know :)
How does that sound to people?
On Aug 30, 2011, at 12:03 AM, Kerryn McKay wrote:
Hi H
I don't know the policy for pages, but I can't understand why it would be deleted and not left *dormant* until there is a organic, real activity? If it is because it *looks bad* that seems to be me to be a poor reason. (We can encourage people to contribute but until it's really embedded in the community it might be a superficial drive that won't sustain itself.)
That being said, WikimediaZA is starting to get active now that our process of incorporation is being finalised, so we hope that once our activities begin it will create general awareness which will kickstart interest for various languages.
K
* * * *
Kerryn McKay
The African Commons Project
082 334 6165
skype: kerrynmac
twitter: kerrynmckay
On Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 12:17 AM, Heather Ford
<hford@ushahidi.com> wrote:
Hello WikimediaZA,
Nhlanhla and I were at Wikimania and Gerard approached us saying that Sotho WP was on the verge of being deleted unless editors were found to help. I've tweeted and put out a call on Facebook with one reply for help from a friend (who will ask his friends). But perhaps everyone on this list might put out a similar call?
I was thinking of putting a little thread together just to urge each other on (I'm going to start editing prominent Africans in English this week) - or we could add people to this list?
best,
Heather.
Begin forwarded message:
Date: August 29, 2011 10:39:45 AM PDT
Subject: Re: Sotho
Hoi,
I promised that nothing would be done for a month from the end of Wikimania. So nothing has been done yet and we, the members of the WMF language committee hope that that is the end of the story. It is best when our projects thrive and get the attention they so desperately need.
Thanks,
Gerard
Heather Ford
Ethnographer: Ushahidi / SwiftRiver
@hfordsa on Twitter
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WikimediaZA mailing list
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Heather Ford
Ethnographer: Ushahidi / SwiftRiver
@hfordsa on Twitter