Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Principality of Freedonia

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 of the debate was keep. Johnleemk | Talk 14:06, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Principality of Freedonia

I don't see the notability. Unlike Sealand, it has no territory. Unlike Dominion of Melchizedek there seems to be no controversy or fraud allegations. 1030 Google hits. Seems to me to be a big boy's version of something made up in school. Delete as non notable. kingboyk 21:42, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

• Move to List of minor micronations. Agreed, its not notable enough for its own article, but keep it anyway. --Billpg 22:39, 3 February 2006 (UTC)
  • Clarification. Only if concensus is behind this discussion. OtherwiseDelete. --Billpg 22:50, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

• Please, no! That really is actively inviting cruft! - Just zis  Guy, you know? ^[T]/_[C] 23:18, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

• Cruft --kingboyk 23:24, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

• Delete "micronations" are functionally indistinguishable from individual vanity trips. Just zis  Guy, you know?, Supreme Lord and Ruler Of All Territories Between the Kitchen Door and the Dining Table, Provided Nobody is Playnig the Piano At The Time.^[T]/_[C] 22:55, 3 February 2006 (UTC)
• Delete. The western US is riddled with mini-militias, tax "protestors", Republic of Texas irredentists, and other self-styled sovereigns who'd be documentable as micronations if the press viewed them, to, as charming eccentrics rather than unstable homicidal guys. Anybody can claim the regalia of state, but almost all of these "nations" are just costume parties written large. Monicasdude 23:05, 3 February 2006 (UTC)
• Once I was the King of Spain! Delete. RasputinAXP _{talk contribs} 23:14, 3 February 2006 (UTC)
• Keep - Has been very actively seeking to purchase territory to legitimize its status; one purchase attempt led to some rather tragic real-world consequences in a political backlash (several dead, see [1] and paper news sources). It's rather notable as a result. Georgewilliamherbert 01:36, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

• It would be a good idea to add that to the article then, since that is a case for real world notability. However, the link you have provided is a little ambiguous (and is from the micronation's own web site). It says "Awdal Roads Company is a completely separate entity from the Principality of Freedonia." and "A recent trip to Awdal by Jim Davidson and Michael VanNotten, of Awdal Roads Co., ended up involving Freedonia in a negative way. Some violence resulted, and many things in Awdal have been called into question." --kingboyk 01:47, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

It's also mentioned in Paul Theroux's book Dark Star Safari in his discussion of his travels down Africa's east coast, and numerous other paper references. I was well aware of it prior to being seriously interested in either WP or micronations. I agree that it should be mentioned in the article (and it's on my mental list...). Georgewilliamherbert 02:03, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

I've read some of Mr Thereoux's work but alas not that one. Wikipedia articles should tell me these things, I don't know it all. In fact all I know is that I know nothing, a position every responsible person should take if you ask me! :) --kingboyk 02:06, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

P.S. Since 'Freedonia' themselves say the issue was not directly related to them, it might better belong in an article about Awdal or Somaliland? --kingboyk 02:09, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

My understanding is that consensus of independent observers is that it wasn't Freedonia's fault, but that they were the triggering event. I think it's probably notable for all those pages at some level. Have to check references. Georgewilliamherbert 02:35, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

• keep. I love micronations. What's the accurate population? -- Marvin147

• I love my mother but I wouldn't vote to keep an article on her! --kingboyk 03:05, 4 February 2006 (UTC)
• Heh! I have a Tom Lehrer song, Oedipus Rex, the chorus is "but he loved his mother :-) - Just zis  Guy, you know? ^[T]/_[C] 09:48, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

• Delete per JzG. Micronations are almost never notable. Stifle 01:46, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
• Keep. Obviously. People died because of this bunch of libertarian nutters. --Gene_poole 12:11, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
• Keep, it exists it is therefore notable enough in my books. Piecraft 18:41, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
• keep Notable. Brokenfrog 01:22, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
• Keep per Gene Poole. Kappa 03:02, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
• kEEP per Georgewilliamherbert. Wiwaxia 07:25, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

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.