[WikiEN-l] Re: Announcing a policy proposal

Mon May 16 13:29:04 UTC 2005

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Stephen Bain wrote:
> Alphax wrote:
> 
>>>CE/BCE is already a standard in many disciplines. Make it so in WP.
>>>
>>
>>...except where use of BC and AD is appropriate. Would you have us
>>convert every instance of something being measured in feet, inches,
>>fathoms, chains, pounds, ounces, psi and the like to its metric equivalent?
>>
>>You can't impose a blanket policy where the usage is dependent on
>>context. Like naming conventions, there *are* exceptions to the rule.
>>
> 
> 
> It would be wonderful if Wikipedia converted completely to the metric
> system, or perhaps [[SI]] ("the most widely used system of units").
> Perhaps units should be referred to the Countering Systemic Bias
> Wikiproject.
> 
> As for the use of BC and AD, it is indeed perfectly appropriate in
> articles about Christianity-related topics, just as the use of the
> Hebrew, Hindu or Chinese calendars is appropriate in articles related
> to those topics.
> 
> Nevertheless, a standard for articles not based on those topics would
> be useful, and CE/BCE seems to be the least POV and easiest to
> implement out of the options available.
> 

So if BC and AD are appropriate for Christianity-related topics, why not
allow foot-pounds and the like for articles where using the Imperial
measurements is in context and factually accurate? Highways were
measured as being x *chains* wide, depths were recorded in *fathoms*,
altitudes measured in *feet*, etc. Where there is historic convention to
do so, use the historic units. Where there is not, use the modern units.
The concepts of BC and AD were around *before* CE and BCE, and are
*historical units*. Let them remain as such where it is relevant to do so.

Anyway, since this is the /English/ Wikipedia, shouldn't we follow the
conventions of English-speaking countries? I can't think of *any* that
use BCE and CE in official documents.

- --
Alphax
GnuPG key: 0xF874C613 - http://tinyurl.com/8mpg9
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Alphax
There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,'
and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.' - C. S.
Lewis
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