Wikipedia:Association of Members' Advocates/AMA Coordinator/Questions/Archive1

"Darwen" stub
Hi!

I am a native of the town of Darwen in Northern England and have assisted in contributing to my home town's stub but someone persists in deleting an entry of mine. The town of Darwen indeed lies on the edge of the West Pennine Moors. However, as I know being a native of Darwen, the actual territory if you will of the town of Darwen extends beyond into the West Pennine Moors. There is or used to be a sign for Darwen just outside a place called Entwistle reservoir which marks the territorial boundary of my home town. Please help me to resolve this deletion to my entry as I am incensed at whoever it is who is doing this to me. This is my home town and am really insulted at this persistant deletion. I am very proud of where I come from and need guidance as to how to resolve this problem. There are so many rules and regulations surrounding wikipedia and I just haven't the time to read it all. It is a minefield! Please help! Or put me in touch with someone who can. I just can't let my contribution be erased every time. I know that with a stub you allow in your rules for deletion but this is just getting on my nerves as though someone is trrying to challenge what I know to be a fact.
 * "Darwen is a small market town in Lancashire, which extends onto the West Pennine Moors" is how the text reads now. User:Pedant

My FAQ
AMA FAQs I edited the FAQ page to put a link to my personal FAQ page. I decided to archive questions I've gotten so I don't have to answer them more than twice. Hope this bold move meets with your approval. BTW thanks hugely for your efforts at bringing structure and ease to the advocacy process! User:Pedant 18:49, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

the word "client."
"...the word "client." :-) I know it's tricky to find a good word to refer to whom you're Advocating, but "client" is one that the AMA traditionally avoids (as it brings up images of judges and courtrooms and "I object!" and the like :-) ). I, personally, like to use the word "charge" or "ward," and I think that this might be an important topic that we should discuss in a meeting. But as I said, other than that, the FAQ was stellar! :-) אמר Steve Caruso ( desk / AMA / vote for me ) 02:24, 14 August 2006 (UTC)"


 * Thank you. I have some more questions I'll add in and then merge it in anywhere you suggest...


 * I don't object at all to the word "client". Artists, river guides, shopkeepers, security proffessionals, and countless other industries use the word "client" to describe the people who avail themselves of their services.


 * As I understand the problem, most AMA folk who have expressed an opinion feel that it connotes 'attorney/client' or something to that effect.


 * I like the word 'client' because it emphasises that we are in effect working for those for whom we advocate. If we can come up with some suitable term I'll be glad to use it.  I don't really feel that ward or charge works for me, as they seem to imply that I have some superior-and-authoritative relationship with my "advokee".  I actually like the term "advokee", although an archaism, it is pretty perfectly explicit.  It's just awkward.


 * This whole issue is one reason I don't get much involved besides helping folks, the idea of prescribed and proscribed terminology is abhorrent to me. But I'll go along with anything not too unreasonable.  I've been doing this, I think, longer than the AMA has existed, so I know how to get it done, but I like the idea of people  asking us for help rather than intruding on them by offering help... which is what I did before I heard of the AMA, or before it was started or whatever.  Like I said before though, I'll go along with any reasonable consensus. User:Pedant 02:46, 14 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I understand and agree with a lot of what you say. "Client" is a word that has been used by so many other professions and industries that it has found commonplace in our everday lives. Although the attorney/client relationship is something we're trying to avoid (more so that people who request adovcates don't get caught up in the courtroom mindset, as we have had problems with that in the past, people demanding for their "right to an Advocate" :-P ), "client" also has the connotation of a business transaction (which would be awesome if Advocates were paid, but kinda inappropriate ;-) ).


 * I also really like "advokee" (or was it spelled "advocee"? I'm horrible at spelling, personally, and I can't seem to find it anywhere), as it really does get at the crux of the relationship. :-) I have a few more thoughts I want to post, but I must get ready for packing today, so I will be online later. אמר Steve Caruso ( desk / AMA / vote for me ) 13:38, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

Members list
Hi, I've added myself to the members list and am contacting you now as requested at the bottom of that page. Thanks M  a  rtinp23  11:49, 24 August 2006 (UTC)