Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/List of African scientists, inventors, and scholars

The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was no consensus - several good arguments by respected editors go every which way, and I don't see any consensus developing soon. Bearian (talk) 22:20, 25 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

List of African scientists, inventors, and scholars

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Indiscriminate list that would run to thousands or tens of thousands of entries. Rich Farmbrough, 09:51, 11 October 2010 (UTC).[reply]
09:51, 11 October 2010 (UTC)

I also add that this is orphan, unmaintained, has only 2 significant editors (both inactive I think), including the creator who nom'd it for CsD. Parts could perhaps be rescued to seed other, more selective lists, but most of that is already in cat-land. Rich Farmbrough, 09:53, 11 October 2010 (UTC).[reply]

Strong Keep A solid aggregation of otherwise standalone articles. I now know some African scientists. Excellent!. As regards the idea that it could run to housands or tens of thousands of entries is fallacious. I'm doubtful if it would run to several pages, but even if it did,it could be categorized and indexed, making it easily manageable, like any other large lists. Clearly notable list, worth keeping. scope_creep (talk) 20:06, 11 october 2010 (UTC)
Weak Keep I am not certain that this is a useful reference work, but it is largely harmless. Racepacket (talk) 23:44, 11 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Note: This debate has been included in the list of Africa-related deletion discussions. -- • Gene93k (talk) 17:10, 12 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Note: This debate has been included in the list of Lists of people-related deletion discussions. -- • Gene93k (talk) 17:11, 12 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Delete these scientists, inventors, and scholars don't really have anything in common other than being African; I don't see the point of listing them together in the same article—Chris!_c/t 23:12, 14 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Keep A list with material limited to that in articles on notable Wikipedia subjects is not indiscriminate, but discriminating, according to WP:N. It's exactly as discriminating as everything in Wikipedia. I think the list should be divided , when we have more articles, but it's a start. What it does need now is either alphabetization or careful chronological arrangement. DGG ( talk ) 23:50, 17 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so a clearer consensus may be reached.
Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, Ron Ritzman (talk) 00:03, 18 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Weak Keep The list is not indiscriminate, but I think it would make more sense to divide it in half, with one list for scientists and inventors and the other for scholars. Regent of the Seatopians (talk) 00:20, 18 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Delete - Done properly this is an unmanageably large list. Done like this, it is woefully incomplete. Really, does anyone think that a comprehensive listing of "scientists, inventors, and scholars" for any one country is possible — let alone an entire continent?!? Carrite (talk) 02:18, 18 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Comment - While not enthusiatic about lists that are created from the top level of aggregation, I can see a case of having a list restricted to the times preceding current African nation states. Many entries in the list already date back that much and in that case also 'scientists, inventors, and scholars' may make sense. Most modern science bios are categorized more rigorously by field and/or nationality leaving out the continent level altogether, so even if you want to have lists this would not be a good starting point.--Tikiwont (talk) 14:42, 18 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Delete indiscriminate. if you want to keep this you'll want to List of European scientists, inventors, and scholars. LibStar (talk) 23:17, 24 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.