On 11/10/06, Major A <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > 2. The name *Citizendium* does not appear appropriate (with
> > apologies to whosoever invented it). We are here not as *Citizens*
> > but as *Experts* (whatever be our field of specialization and level
> > of expertise). The name "Citizendium" appears to connote a
> > *compendium* by citizens (who no doubt have at times questionable
> > knowledge- hence the origin of this fork)
> >
> > 3. Also, and very importantly, the word "Citizen" invariably brings
> > into question its relationship with "State" (for example, a petition
> > to the State for redressing citizens' grievances, and citizens'
> > rights and duties, which are irrelevant to our project). Moreover,
> > *citizen* is specific to a country while our project is, hopefully,
> > global and all-embracing, as an encyclopedia should be.
>
> I agree entirely. Even if you think of the target audience as part of
> the name, "citizen" is too specific and cannot be used to cover anyone
> in the world (there just is no simple way of expressing "the public"
> in a single word that's entirely correct and universal).
>
While initially awkward (as most names are), the name Citizendium has
grown on me. I see the name as a reflection of the fact that authors
and editors are a group of real people using real names and doing real
work. Citizendium isn't an MMORPG
(http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_is_an_MMORPG). Contributers
aren't characters, they're citizens.
The biggest problem with this is that I'm really reading a lot into
the name that isn't there. When I think of the term "citizen" I take
it to mean "citizen of the world", a usage which probably isn't the
first one most people think of.
Cosmopolitanendium, anyone? Too long...
Anthony
Dear CZ-L!
I also support the current name and read "citizen" as "world citizen"..
Cf. a radical inclusionist proposal I posted on the forum:
Best regards,
B. Mekel
_______________________________________________ Citizendium-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.purdue.edu/mailman/listinfo/citizendium-l
