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