Wikipedia Romania (Ronline) wrote:
As an outsider, I don't really have any interest as to what way is chosen with the Serbo-Croatian language/s, but I think it's very important we settle on *one* way.
Having Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian Wikipedias, and then having a Serbo-Croatian Wikipedia, is not only a doubling of efforts, but nonsensical. I think we should decide now, while it's still fairly early, whether we will either have a single Serbo-Croatian Wikipedia (or, as Node says, a single database which features automatic conversion), or whether we will continue having Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian Wikipedias. In the latter case, the Serbo-Croatian Wikipedia should be closed down.
I know it's hard to say to people who believe in the Serbo-Croatian language that they should contribute to either Serbian, Croatian or Bosnian, but it will have to be done. Even though the languages are nearly identical, they have been recognised as separate by the various nations, and politically they are recognised separately. That is why it is better to have separate Wikipedias, and abolish the sh.wiki.
If, however, the conversion project continues, then a unified sh.wiki must be proclaimed, either with bs, hr and sr being closed down, or them using the same database. This is a good idea, though I don't know how it will work in practice.
In any case, it's important to decide now, before it's too late.
I think that the worst thing that can be done is to rush the decision in either direction. I happen to believe that the single project would be more sensible and productive in the long term, but it cannot happen unless an atmosphere of mutual trust between the parties can be built. Political separation is a fact, but it should not be an excuse to prevent putting something together that is greater than the sum of the national territories.
If the conversion project succeeds then the sh:wiki.must be the best place for it. Having it live in sr:wiki alone (or either of the other two for that matter) will only give the impression of favoring that nation.
I understand perfectly that the present state of things implies a doubling of effort, and it wouldn't surprise me to know that the contributors to each of the four projects draw heavily on the other three -- particularly in topics that have nothing to do with Balkan politics. I don't think that the doubled effort is a big deal at this stage. Simply put, the current desire for these groups to work separately must be acknowledged, but the opportunity to work together must be available, and it must be promoted with a gentle hand. Heavy-handed tactics are already too deeply engrained in the history of this region.
Ec