[Foundation-l] Future fate of Siberian Wikipedia

[Johannes Rohr]

"Milos Rancic" <millosh at gmail.com>
writes:

> According to the experience from past cases, the only decisions in
> relation to such cases had been made by Jimmy/Board or Language
> SubCom. According to that, there are some options to solve the
> problem:
>
> - Jimmy shouldn't make any personal decision in such cases. However,
> Board may do that.
> - Language SubCom shouldn't have power to close some project, 

...and langcom members are not interested in getting involved, see
GerardM's earlier comment on this subject.[1]

>so possible solution here is: Language SubCom suggests something,
>then Board makes decision according to this suggestion as well as
>according to all other circumstances.

except that the board does not wish to get involved either, see Erik
Möller's statement on this.[2]

> - Maybe the best solution is to introduce Wikimedia-wide voting in
> such cases: Like as voting for the Board, people from all communities
> will be called to vote about this issue. Personally, I think that
> introduction of such polls will push forward our community.

I don't believe that voting is the right way to go. A solid decision
on this topic requires at least some insight into the matter. Votes,
at least when accompanied by discussion, tend to evolve into endless
flamefests, where decisions are taken on the ground of feelings rather
than facts. See the Siberian discussion to convince yourselves.[3] I
strongly believe that the decision on ru-sib should not be taken in
such a sharkpool. 

The best idea I've read so far is that of a Meta Arbitration Committee
which was suggested by GerardM.[4] However,  practical
steps in this direction have yet to been taken. 

> The good thing is that, thanks to creation of Language SubCom, we
> will never have any Siberian Wikipedia more.

[...]

While I have my doubts wether the new policy isn't actually too
strict, the fact that there will be no new Wikis in private conlangs
is indeed a major achievement. But still, the one Siberian Wikipedia
is still around and I fear that it will take quite a long time, until
a solution (like moving the whole thing to Wikia) will finally
materialise, if ever.

Thanks,

Johannes


Footnotes: 
[1]  http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2007-May/029940.html

[2]  http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2007-May/029937.html

[3]  http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Proposals_for_closing_projects/Closure_of_Siberian_Wikipedia

[4]  http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Closure_of_WMF_projects

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