Editing Talk:Milton Keynes (section)

== Twinning / partner cities ==

Expanded the section, but the sources although reliable could be a lot better, if anyone knows where to find this information then please do not hesitate to add it. [[User:Abcmaxx|Abcmaxx]] ([[User talk:Abcmaxx|talk]]) 16:12, 20 November 2020 (UTC)

:I wonder if these belong at the Borough article? Otherwise we need to include the twins of the constituent towns, like [[Ploegsteert]] with Wolverton (if I remember correctly). --[[User:John Maynard Friedman|John Maynard Friedman]] ([[User talk:John Maynard Friedman|talk]]) 18:20, 20 November 2020 (UTC)

:: @[[User:John Maynard Friedman|John Maynard Friedman]] As far as I found, these belong to the twinning of Milton Keynes itself. I think the German borough-equivalent of [[Bernkastel-Wittlich]] is twinned with the [[Borough of Milton Keynes]], which is where [[Bernkastel-Kues]] is which is twinned with Milton Keynes. However, at this point though I'm happy to be corrected where necessary. Although as Milton Keynes expands, the distinction between borough and the city will be ever more blurred, I would argue that the cases of Newport Pagnell, Bletchley, Wolverton, already has blurred the divisions. [[User:Abcmaxx|Abcmaxx]] ([[User talk:Abcmaxx|talk]]) 18:32, 20 November 2020 (UTC)

::: Ok, accepted. --[[User:John Maynard Friedman|John Maynard Friedman]] ([[User talk:John Maynard Friedman|talk]]) 19:05, 20 November 2020 (UTC)

::::I don't have time to check the citations but how current are they? I remember researching the twin town issue a few years back and couldn't find any evidence of a ''current'' formal twinning arrangement with ''any'' other city. Almere was mentioned specifically as a 'partner' city with common interests but no more. The arrangement with Bernkastel had completely lapsed. If we are giving this list as current information then the citations need to be no more than a couple of years old, IMO. --[[User:John Maynard Friedman|John Maynard Friedman]] ([[User talk:John Maynard Friedman|talk]]) 19:05, 20 November 2020 (UTC)

So I tried looking for sources which would even discuss twinning but could not find any, also tried to see whether any of them lapsed, also could not find any mention anywhere. It all seems very unstructured to be honest. [[User:Abcmaxx|Abcmaxx]] ([[User talk:Abcmaxx|talk]]) 22:53, 20 November 2020 (UTC)

: Twinning was "a thing" last century. Very BI (Before Internet). So at best, this section is very minor history, but IMO it is just clutter. Given the work you've put in, I'm sorry but I have to vote for '''delete'''. --[[User:John Maynard Friedman|John Maynard Friedman]] ([[User talk:John Maynard Friedman|talk]]) 10:30, 21 November 2020 (UTC)

@[[User:John Maynard Friedman|John Maynard Friedman]]: I disagree, maybe so in the UK but in other parts of the world twinning is still a big part of cultural exchange and inter-city development. Rather than deleting outright, how about changing it to prose, better reflecting the reality? [[User:Abcmaxx|Abcmaxx]] ([[User talk:Abcmaxx|talk]]) 17:59, 22 November 2020 (UTC)

:Yes, that would work better: narrative would give it context whereas a list leaves too much to the imagination. My concern is really about any suggestion that these relationships are active or at least recognised by both sides (something on miltonkeynes.gov.uk, for example). The Bernkastel one has definitely lapsed and the Almere one never became formal. I know there is a lot of Chinese interest in MK, they are creating a lot of new cities (they don't get out of bed for less than a million). --[[User:John Maynard Friedman|John Maynard Friedman]] ([[User talk:John Maynard Friedman|talk]]) 20:00, 22 November 2020 (UTC)

@[[User:John Maynard Friedman|John Maynard Friedman]] done as discussed, I tried to keep it coherent and true to the sources at the same time. [[User:Abcmaxx|Abcmaxx]] ([[User talk:Abcmaxx|talk]]) 20:30, 29 November 2020 (UTC)
:{{Rto|Abcmaxx}} yes that is a big improvement. I edited it slightly because the word city just invites the trolls in. --[[User:John Maynard Friedman|John Maynard Friedman]] ([[User talk:John Maynard Friedman|talk]]) 23:38, 29 November 2020 (UTC)