User talk:Lokyz/Archive 2009 September

Informal Mediation

A user requested informal mediation for the current dispute at the Paneriai page. Please go here to take part. Please note that in the event you refuse, the end result of this dispute may be penalties for both sides for disruption. Please take part in informal mediation. -- Raziel teatime 19:41, 21 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Sveikas, Lokyz. Rather than fix this one problem, this might be a good time to discuss representation of historical names in the Baltic States. Even now, for example, English language writings on WWII in Latvia refer to Libau, Goldingen, and all. Anything in English on Vilnius before independence (that is, common usage at the time) refers to Wilno, less often to Vilna, and, again, such names have continued to be used in scholarly works.

Personally I am for sticking to current usage because every non-current place-name in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia usually signifies some conquering power and I have no desire to enshrine any one of those in WP. That said, it's not that simple. Polish->Lithuania, German->Latvia, German/Danish-> Estonia... most non-native place names have been common English usage at some time and have had a way of surviving to the present particularly in scholarship--and it may be better to opt for inclusion of some historical names than to leave out.

I've only come to this editorial modification to my own personal position because Libau et al. keep popping up in scholarship--and it's a disservice to our readers to not let them know, for example, that Liepāja = Libau. Let me know if you're interested in working on a standard approach.

To Raziel, mediation on this one article in particular is not the issue to be resolved. It's unlikely anyone is going to budge on that until there is a much wider and far-reaching agreement on handling non-current non-native place names in the Baltic States. VЄСRUМВА ♪ 03:07, 22 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I do not refuse to take a part into mediation, but now I'm on vacations and do have rather slow connection, so i do not try to tke participation in anything that loads up to ten minutes.--Lokyz (talk) 18:57, 22 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Also i do agree with User:Vecrumba - it's much bigger issue, than Polish names in the lead.--Lokyz (talk) 18:57, 22 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]