Nikos-Optim wrote: > I think wikipedia should look the same, have the same > policies and customs, and the same spirit, no matter > the language. In terms of very high level policies, I agree with you. But there are lots of little things that are dependent on culture. Let me give a couple of examples. 1. I am told that in some languages, what is known as an encyclopedia tends to include more 'mere definitions' that in English would properly belong in a dictionary. So, if the French wikipedia chooses to draw the line differently than we do about that sort of thing, I don't see a problem with that. 2. It has been reported to me that on the Japanese wikipedia, there is a stronger tendency to discuss things first on the talk page, reaching a consensus, and then to update the article page. That's consistent with Japanese culture. In en, of course, there's more of a custom of boldly updating pages and while simultaneously arguing about it on the talk pages. Either custom is valid, if it suits the people who are doing the work. --Jimbo
