[Foundation-l] Simple Wikipedia: different projects

[Erik Zachte]

Another alternative:

New 'simple/advanced' keywords which would hide specific sections of the 
content from the user if he or she asked for it.
I envision a Wikipedia (many years from now) which knows you want math 
articles in a simple version but detailed/advanced coverage of say 
history items, indicated by your user preferences.
Worst case this could lead to two entirely unrelated articles coded 
within the same page, which would defeat its purpose.
Best case it would mean less maintenance, and more synergy between 
simple and advanced version of articles, e.g. reuse of info-box and images.

Erik Zachte

On 6/21/2011 16:35, Lodewijk wrote:
> Lets try to approach this from another angle.
>
> Perhaps simple Wikipedia should not be considered as a different language,
> but rather as a different project - a simplified Wikipedia. Because the
> purpose of simple wikipedia's can be debated of course, but one potential is
> to give more people understandable access to the contents. Then the
> simplified version might not just be about simpler language, but also
> simpler explanations (no long mathematical equations, but only that
> introduction in a way that someone can understand the basics - in simple
> understandable English). I would find it wonderful if I could let my little
> nephew or sister read on a "simple" project without worrying they will panic
> over the complexities. Partially for learning the language, partially for
> getting the knowledge.
>
> When approached like that, this would not really be a matter for the
> language committee, and every language with enough potential community (!)
> could get their own simple project.
>
> Another option along the same lines could be a Simple namespace within
> Wikipedia, if there would be an interface allowing you easily to focus on
> just that namespace.
>
> That way, we don't have to come up with artificial routes and explanations
> to allow our communities the creation of such wonderful projects.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Lodewijk
>
> 2011/6/21 Milos Rancic<millosh at gmail.com>
>
>> On 06/21/2011 12:25 AM, MZMcBride wrote:
>>> Thanks for the detailed response. :-)
>>>
>>> Milos Rancic wrote:
>>>> As usual, discussion would be held on Meta. If there are serious
>>>> arguments against creation of Simple French Wikipedia, we would consider
>>>> them, of course. However, "arguments" like "I don't like simple
>>>> projects" won't be counted.
>>> Well, I'm sure some of them would say that in French; would that help?
>> ;-)
>>> I do wonder if arguments such as "Wikimedia should not be in the business
>> of
>>> making simplified language-versions of projects" would be counted.
>> There is one more thing in which I agree with Michael...
>>
>> As he is in the group which creates BCP 47 language subtags, I told to
>> him that we should get generic subtags for simple languages. His
>> response was that we should think about it when the time comes, not before.
>>
>> I think that we will wait for some time, maybe even long, before we get
>> a valid request for Simple French Wikipedia. When that time comes, we'll
>> think about details.
>>
>> I mean, there are other things to be done and we've already spent a lot
>> of time in it. The only reason why we've done so is to normalize the
>> situation. I started with the position "we should recommend to the Board
>> to close all simple projects" during the Berlin meeting. However,
>> normalization went into other direction and I am fine with it, too.
>>
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-- 

Erik Zachte

Data Analyst

Wikimedia Foundation

email: ezachte at wikimedia.org <mailto:ezachte at wikimedia.org>


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