| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8] | Should questions be posted on KudoZ by non-native speakers? Thread poster: XXXphxxx (X)
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XXXphxxx (X) 
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:18
Portuguese to English
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TOPIC STARTER | Why take part in KudoZ? | Mar 6, 2012 |
Giles Watson wrote:
why do you take part in Kudoz? I do it either to accumulate points in sectors that provide me with a living or because I can learn something from the process of answering the question and discussing other people's answers.
It’s not about the points for me because in truth I’ve never even bothered to find out how the points system works and what they’re for (!). I see KudoZ as a useful tool for the community and I believe that you reap what you sow. I’ve participated very little simply because I’m too busy, but I like to think that if I ever needed help, there would be some competent translators out there who would be willing to do so. Agreed, I also learn from it and I aim to put in more than I get out (not the case with quite a few of the translators out there). However, I have started to get mildly peeved with the number of non-native translators in one particular language pair of mine who post a huge number of questions, whether of a specialist or more general nature, and I now feel that answering these questions is just supporting an industry in low quality translation that we would all like to see wiped out. I have to say the numbers appear to have diminished over the past few days; they may have read this thread or it might just be a coincidence. I, for one, have switched off several notifications and I think it’s a shame that what could be a very handy tool is being abused.
| | | | | Ah, so it's the same old story after all... | Mar 6, 2012 |
Must say, been following this with interest. No least because, of course, true bilinguals aside and monolingual questions excepted, everyone who posts a question is a "non-native speaker" of some kind one way or the other. In all the excitement, it was only on the last page that the vital "...of the target language" was explicitly stated.
Anyway, turns out the problem is the same old same old:
Lisa Simpson, MCIL wrote:
I have started to get mildly peeved with the number of non-native translators in one particular language pair of mine who post a huge number of questions, whether of a specialist or more general nature, and I now feel that answering these questions is just supporting an industry in low quality translation that we would all like to see wiped out.
Interesting approach you've adopted here, to base the attack on the non-native target (I could never buy into that blanket ban, because one never knows when it could be justified, as discussed). Given we now know what the problem actually is (and probably got a fair idea who you mean as well), looks like it's the old "kudoz abuse" thing again. Lisa, old stick, if this is in fact the case, save your breath to cool your porridge. Ain't nothin' never gonna change no way no how, because the prevailing opinion (and importantly the site management opinion) is that it isn't a problem, or if it is a problem, fix it with the filters or by ignoring it.
Which tells you everything you need to know. Everything.
I'm only sorry you spent so much time and effort getting to this point. If only you'd explained the problem as bolded in the OP, we could have pointed you to dozens of other threads on the same topic, all coming up against an unfeeling, unthinking brick wall, and you could have made productive use of your time.
| | | | XXXphxxx (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:18
Portuguese to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Charlie Bavington wrote:
Ain't nothin' never gonna change no way no how
And there was I thinking I was changing the world
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:18
Hebrew to English
| Futility perhaps, but too much passivity? | Mar 6, 2012 |
"In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current."
Thomas Jefferson
*And I'd definitely say this was a matter of principle*
Depressingly, I'd agree with Charlie in that I think it's highly unlikely anything will change. However, I'd wouldn't agree with having to accept the status quo either.
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| On futility, or perhaps serenity | Mar 6, 2012 |
Ty Kendall wrote:
"In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current."
Thomas Jefferson
*And I'd definitely say this was a matter of principle*
Depressingly, I'd agree with Charlie in that I think it's highly unlikely anything will change. However, I'd wouldn't agree with having to accept the status quo either.
Whatever. I've been moaning about kudoz abuse since at least 2005 (not a lone voice, I hasten to add) and there comes a point when even a pig-headed chump like me knows it's time to give up.
If you wanna do quotes, it's about having the "serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference".
Does this thread title look at all similar to this one?
http://www.proz.com/forum/kudoz/30873-restrict_kudoz_askers_working_into_non_native_languages.html
And there I am, moaning about falling standards. Seven years ago. I've done my bit. I would venture to suggest battling against the status quo on here is the very definition of the triumph of hope over experience
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:18
Hebrew to English
| Eternal optimist | Mar 6, 2012 |
Yes, it is quite depressing when you find old threads with the same complaints years ago and it does go to show that (at least on here) nothing really changes.
Maybe there will come a point when I too stop moaning and just accept the way things are (although if my Dad is anything to go by it's hardwired in my DNA to moan till kingdom come)
| | | | Giles Watson
Italy
Local time: 05:18
Italian to English
In memoriam | Embrace choice | Mar 6, 2012 |
Ty Kendall wrote:
Yes, it is quite depressing when you find old threads with the same complaints years ago and it does go to show that (at least on here) nothing really changes.
I hope it doesn't change.
If you're looking for a closed forum where only carefully vetted contributors convene, join your local professional association. Most seem to run quite interesting discussion groups.
What those groups don't have, however, is the sheer volume and breadth of traffic that Proz generates. OK, many of the contributions on Proz are missed opportunities to shut up but you can pick up lots of useful info here, too.
There's a place for both types of forum.
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:18
Hebrew to English
| That's not what I want.... | Mar 6, 2012 |
I'm all for openness and opportunity for all, and in the past I've defended ProZ against naysayers but I've come to see that there are a few areas to clamp down on, which I believe would be in everyone's best interests, including ProZ themselves.
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