Talk:Appropriate technology/Split, merge

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Split/merge discussions

I have now merged Appropriate technology for developing countries into this page. Much more editing required - hopefully some WikiGnomes and WikiFaeries will help with this. --Singkong2005 05:06, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

I've put the split/merge discussions under here - but they probably should be archived. --Singkong2005 04:09, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

Separate page for Appropriate technology for developing countries

There is a need for an article (and a category) that deals specifically with Appropriate technology for developing countries, so I will create that page. The name isn't perfect, and it should be changed if there's something better, but it will do for a start. --Singkong2005 05:30, 23 November 2005 (UTC) I've changed my views, and am now arguing for a merge. See below. --Singkong2005 03:39, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

Merge proposal from Appropriate technology for developing countries

I originally split the Appropriate technology article into two, but I now want to revert that. I separated the concepts to avoid potential edit wars over what constitutes appropriate technology - however, a better solution would be to add something along these lines, to make clear exactly what the article is about:

It is sometimes argued that "appropriate technology" for a technologically advanced society may mean a more expensive, complex technology requiring expert maintenance. However, the term "Appropriate technology" is generally used to mean appropriate technology for developing countries, or for other settings where low cost and low maintenance requirements are of prime importance. This is the meaning intended in this article.

If no one objects, I'd like to do the merge and start working on the article (and related categories) in a week or so. Apologies for the stuffing around. --Singkong2005 03:27, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

Support: I think this would make for a much stronger article, and doubt that there will be any edit wars. Certainly I haven't seen any on similar pages such as simple living. Go for it! - Rorybowman 04:41, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

There is a need for an article (and a category) that deals specifically with Appropriate technology for developing countries, so I have created the page & category. The name isn't perfect, and it should be changed if there's something better, but it will do for a start.

I have started by using some of the text from Appropriate technology -- Singkong2005 05:30, 23 November 2005 (UTC)

Merge proposal from Appropriate technology

Strong For: Actually, Appropriate technology in standard usage is just shorthand for Appropriate technology for developing countries. "Appropriate technology" is the term used by organizations working in the field, focused on developing countries. I separated the concepts to avoid edit wars over what constitutes appropriate technology - however, a better solution would be to add something like this to the introduction, to make clear exactly what the article is about:

It is sometimes argued that "appropriate technology" for a technologically advanced society may mean a more expensive, complex technology requiring expert maintenance. However, the term "Appropriate technology" is generally used to mean appropriate technology for developing countries, or for other settings where low cost and low maintenance requirements are of prime importance. This is the meaning intended in this article.

A longer version of my argument is here. --Singkong2005 03:35, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

Against: I think the term appropriate technology is more common and if a merge were to occur it should be to the more common form, as detailed at Wikipedia:Disambiguation. Certainly the material from this article could be more easily (and affordably) folded into appropriate tech, and making that page a simple redirect to this one is just silly, IMO. - Rorybowman 05:05, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

You're right again. I'd forgotten which way I'd put the merge notice, and I've changed my view since I originally put it up. I'm arguing now that the articles should be merged to Appropriate technology, so I'll change the merge notice to reflect that. (I assume it's acceptable to do this, as the merge notice was up for ages and no one argued in favor of it, and the one who put it up, i.e. me, no longer holds that view.)

See new merger discussion at Talk:Appropriate technology. --Singkong2005 03:14, 24 January 2006 (UTC)