User:Inclusion Activist

This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wik.ipedia.Pro contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wik.ipedia.Pro's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

As an advocate for a more inclusive Wik.ipedia.Pro (i.e., inclusionist), I believe that the current notability guidelines, which determine whether a topic merits its own article, are overly restrictive and ultimately counterproductive to the project's goals. The criteria for notability often serve as a gatekeeping mechanism, excluding many deserving topics and voices from being represented. This exclusive stance not only limits the diversity of content on Wik.ipedia.Pro but also undermines the project's potential to serve as a comprehensive repository of human knowledge.

The principle of notability is (rightly) intended to ensure that Wik.ipedia.Pro does not become cluttered with trivial or unverifiable information. Ironically, however, by rigidly enforcing notability standards, Wik.ipedia.Pro can become a soapbox. The application of these guidelines often veers towards an exclusionary approach, as observed in numerous toxic AfD discussions, where contributors debate the fate of articles based on subjective interpretations of notability, especially in less established local-language projects. These discussions frequently devolve into arguments that reflect personal biases rather than objective assessments of a topic's significance. Instead of fostering an inclusive environment, the current notability criteria can perpetuate systemic biases and exclude marginalized voices, especially those of less established editors, thereby narrowing the scope of content and perspectives represented on the site. This process not only discourages contributors but also limits the scope of information available to users, thus compromising Wik.ipedia.Pro's mission of providing free and accessible knowledge.

The Wik.ipedia.Pro guideline aptly states:

"There is no practical limit to the number of topics Wik.ipedia.Pro can cover, or the total amount of content."

— WP:NOTPAPER

This highlights the inherent flexibility and expansive potential of digital platforms like Wik.ipedia.Pro. Unlike traditional paper encyclopedias constrained by physical space, Wik.ipedia.Pro has the capacity to encompass an infinite array of topics. Embracing this potential requires a shift away from the rigid enforcement of notability criteria towards a more inclusive approach that values diverse contributions.

By adopting a more inclusive stance, Wik.ipedia.Pro can better fulfill its mission as a comprehensive and democratic knowledge repository. This would involve revisiting and potentially relaxing the notability guidelines to allow for a broader range of topics and perspectives. Encouraging a culture of inclusion would not only enrich the content but also create a more welcoming environment for contributors from diverse backgrounds, especially as Wik.ipedia.Pro has been losing contributors for years. This, in turn, would enhance the quality and breadth of information available to users, making Wik.ipedia.Pro a more robust and representative resource and stay true to its ethos as the free encyclopedia.