Talk:David de Pury

Nationality
Hi Sapphorain, I thank you for your contributions to this article and to Jean-Pierre Pury. I have reverted your edits because they do not appear constructive. While the Principality of Neuchâtel was, of course, not part of the modern understanding of Switzerland, those people joined what would later be known as the Swiss Federation. They are not German or French people, but did exist under both Prussian (German) and French rule at separate times. Just as many Swiss are not Austrian, but did exist under Austrian rule. I have seen this has been discussed with you before on your talk page ( and ). It is not helpful to remove "Swiss" from categories that are meant to make the subject easier to find. Putting him, and his father, in categories like "Merchants" without a nationality is too broad. Furthermore, the sources used in the articles refer to him as Swiss (such as and ). Please engage in a conversation here, where a consensus can be reached, as to avoid edit-warring. -- Willthacheerleader18 (talk) 03:17, 20 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Approximation and anachronism is never a good solution for filing purposes, and no amount of them, however small, should be tolerated. Because it leads to absurdities. With your line of reasoning François Bonivard should be referred to as a « Swiss patriot », even though he was imprisoned with the help of the Swiss (precisely because he was a Genevan — and not Swiss — patriot). And I assume John Calvin would become a « Swiss theologian » ?! An ambassador of the Principality of of Neuchâtel or of the Republic of Geneva to Switzerland would become a Swiss ambassador to Switzerland? This appears quite ridiculous. I think you are the one who should reach a consensus if you wish to distort and simplify political history in such a way. In the meantime I will suppress the various incorrect qualifications of « Swiss » in these two pages. Sapphorain (talk) 09:01, 20 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Sapphorain, I understand and agree with your argument that the subject is not "technically" Swiss, as the city he is from did not become part of the Federation until later. What I am objected to is your clearing of categories that help Wikipedia users and guests navigate the website in a simple and concise way. The categories "Merchant", "Explorer", etc. are too broad and are not helpful, nor do they help make information accessible. Instead of grouping de Pury with other Swiss people, which you have made clear you oppose, perhaps you could create new categories that do not yet exist (i.e. "Category:Prussian explorers", "Category:Prussian merchants", etc.) that would be more suitable for grouping him in. I am sure there are other people incorrectly categorized as Swiss in this way. This would be more helpful and solve the issue you have with the article, and others like it, in it's current form. -- Willthacheerleader18 (talk) 03:06, 21 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Ok then. I have created « Category: Explorers from the Principality of Neuchâtel », etc, rather than what you suggested (as it can be used for people from the principality when it was under French rule as well). If convenient, it can be included in other more general categories than those in which I put them. For a similar situation see the various categories in « Category: People from the Republic of Geneva » here. Sapphorain (talk) 07:43, 21 July 2020 (UTC)