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Docmoates, do you think the category Russian invention fits it the same way it does to other articles in that category?

I also disagree that a website operated by a Swiss company (see Terms of Service) and aimed at an international audience (it became widely popular in the USA rather than Russia) should be categorized as a Russian website. That category (check it) is clearly intended for websites that focus on people living in Russia (or diaspora), cover Russia-specific topics, or provide content in Russian language. Not a perfectionist (talk) 15:39, 18 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Not a perfectionist, I disagree on both points.

1) “Russian inventions” - Chatroulette was created in Moscow by Andrey Ternovskiy, and that origin is a defining characteristic of the subject’s notability and early coverage. Categorization is meant to reflect defining characteristics that readers use to navigate topics, and “created in Russia by a Russian creator” fits that test here Wikipedia:Categorization dos and don'ts,

2) “Russian websites” - A later Swiss operator or Swiss ToS does not automatically make the site “not Russian” for categorization purposes. Lots of internet services incorporate or base legal entities in one jurisdiction while remaining primarily identified in reliable coverage by where they originated and who created them. For Chatroulette, the article itself states it was created in Moscow, Russia, and that is the most consistently defining geographic association in mainstream coverage and in the article’s historical narrative.

Also, the claim that Category:Russian language websites is “clearly intended” only for Russia-focused, Russia-only, or Russian-language sites is not supported by how the category is actually populated. The category includes sites with international readership and content not limited to Russian language, so “international audience” is not a disqualifier.

If you think the categorization is unclear to readers, the fix is not to strip categories based on the company’s ToS jurisdiction. The fix is to ensure the lead and “Overview” clearly and reliably source the site’s origin and development, then categorize based on that defining attribute. See: Wikipedia:Verifiability. Docmoates (talk) 15:49, 18 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Even though invention can be broadly defined as any unique or novel device, method, composition, idea, or process, common sense suggests that this term is reserved for things of significant importance in culture, science, or engineering. Even though Chatroulette was created in Russia by a Russian author, it doesn't necessarily have to be named an invention.

A statement that the Russians invented acoustic microscopy, AK-47, and Chatroulette already sounds like Philomena Cunk's punchline. On the other hand, we don't call microblogging an American invention even though the concept was coined in the U.S. by American creators.

Speaking of the websites category, I would be glad if you could point out a considerable number of websites in the "Russian websites" category that don't meet one of these criteria (language, geography, or topics).

Projects and ideas usually lack a national identity, and people often change their residency. Calling Chatroulette a "Russian website" isn't exactly misleading, but confusing. A website doesn't really need to be "Russian" or "Swiss" if it doesn't explicitly define itself as such (or isn't clearly defined by reliable sources). Not a perfectionist (talk) 17:42, 18 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]