| Stranica u temi: < [1 2 3 4] > | Askers restricting questions to platinum answerers - why? Postavljač teme: IanW (X)
|
|---|
Klaus Herrmann 
Njemačka
Local time: 21:34
Član (2002)
engleski na njemački
+ ...
| I have to pay to answer? | Sep 12, 2005 |
Maybe I'm missing something, but giving the asker an option to choose only paying members is more politically correct than a man, woman and/or hermaphrodite can bear. I'm offering my knowledge, my experience, and my time, and now I shouldn't answer because I don't pay for it? I don't get it.
| | | | Steffen Walter
Njemačka
Local time: 21:34
Član (2002)
engleski na njemački
+ ...
| Not quite, Klaus (but I bet you knew that) | Sep 12, 2005 |
Klaus Herrmann wrote:
I have to pay to answer?
Thing is that these asker options had been implemented in the new design at the very early stages but their actual effect on answerers was subsequently withdrawn in response to a majority voting against. See the seemingly endless topic http://www.proz.com/topic/35829 (same outcome as for native speaker restriction).
The result is very much a halfway house - as explained earlier in this thread, asker may indicatively direct question to a certain member subset, including platinums, but still anyone so inclined may answer.
The question remains if this is a useful solution at all.
Steffen
[Edited at 2005-09-12 21:03]
| | | | | Question still not answered ... | Sep 12, 2005 |
Interesting discussion. I understand that it's vital for Henry to serve the needs of his customers. And I don't think that directing KudoZ questions to a certain subset of members is necessarily a bad thing. But those paying members wanting this function must have given some kind of reason for this feature to be implemented. And Henry, to answer Ian's question, can you just name some of those reasons given?
| | | | | Excuse me??? | Sep 13, 2005 |
Kirill Semenov wrote:
Platinum members are more serious (maybe just a bit, but it matters!) about their freelancer' career. They invested their money to support the site or to gain some benefits in their career. So, they are likely to be a bit more resposinble when answering kudoZ or otherwise
"showing off" at proZ. Sometimes they are too over-consciuous when showing themselves off, but this is another story. 
Sormane Fitzgerald Gomes wrote:
Sormane Gomes
So by that rationale instead of spending all that money on my education, my webpage, ATA, and publicity... I should have just invested on proz a little sooner, then (according to what I quoted above) I'd be a "serious" freelance translator.
| | |
|
|
|
Luis Zepeda
Sjedinjene Američke Države
Local time: 12:34
španjolski na engleski
+ ...
| Askers restricting questions to platinum answerers - why?? | Sep 13, 2005 |
Sormane Fitzgerald Gomes wrote:
Customers PAY for SERVICES rendered.
Am I missing something here?
Because as a regular answerer I haven't received any payment yet.
Sormane Gomes
[Edited at 2005-09-12 15:59]
Ah! But we all have received payment for our answers. Its the currency of the realm, called BrowniZ...
| | | | | A few comments at random | Sep 13, 2005 |
When I answer questions, I do not see the asker as a customer nor do I see myself as a service provider. I think of myself as a volunteer and of the asker as the beneficiary. And just like a volunteer, I get personal satisfaction from my pro bono work... And a beneficiary should not look a given horse in the mouth.
All this talk about the seriousness of non-platinum members or the quality of their answers is really starting to bother me.
I am non-platinum by choice. In... See more When I answer questions, I do not see the asker as a customer nor do I see myself as a service provider. I think of myself as a volunteer and of the asker as the beneficiary. And just like a volunteer, I get personal satisfaction from my pro bono work... And a beneficiary should not look a given horse in the mouth.
All this talk about the seriousness of non-platinum members or the quality of their answers is really starting to bother me.
I am non-platinum by choice. In the two years I have been a member, I have bidded only twice on jobs at the very beginning, but never successfully because my rates were probably too high (although I charge the going rates in Canada for someone with my specialties and experience). I have been approached directly through Proz a few times, but either my rates were too high or I told the outsourcer that I did not feel qualified (e.g. translation of a legal document from France). So I never use the whole "Jobs" section of Proz, which is where it is the most worthwhile to be a platinum member.
I read the forums and participate occasionnally. I contribute to glosspost when I come across a good glossary that I think could be useful to other translators AND I answer Kudoz questions (1,086 in a little over two years) but ask very few (73 questions in all).
All this to say that I feel I do bring a contribution to Proz even if I am not a platinum member. I do find questions directed to platinum members and negative comments concerning non-platinum members a little insulting, as if non-platinum members were second-class citizens of this community.
Well enough said, I have Kudoz questions to answer (and 13 000 words to translate)...
Natalie ▲ Collapse
| | | | Nicolette Ri (X)
Local time: 21:34
francuski na nizozemski
+ ...
NatalieD wrote:
When I answer questions, I do not see the asker as a customer nor do I see myself as a service provider. I think of myself as a volunteer and of the asker as the beneficiary. And just like a volunteer, I get personal satisfaction from my pro bono work... And a beneficiary should not look a given horse in the mouth.
All this talk about the seriousness of non-platinum members or the quality of their answers is really starting to bother me.
I am non-platinum by choice. In the two years I have been a member, I have bidded only twice on jobs at the very beginning, but never successfully because my rates were probably too high (although I charge the going rates in Canada for someone with my specialties and experience). I have been approached directly through Proz a few times, but either my rates were too high or I told the outsourcer that I did not feel qualified (e.g. translation of a legal document from France). So I never use the whole "Jobs" section of Proz, which is where it is the most worthwhile to be a platinum member.
I read the forums and participate occasionnally. I contribute to glosspost when I come across a good glossary that I think could be useful to other translators AND I answer Kudoz questions (1,086 in a little over two years) but ask very few (73 questions in all).
All this to say that I feel I do bring a contribution to Proz even if I am not a platinum member. I do find questions directed to platinum members and negative comments concerning non-platinum members a little insulting, as if non-platinum members were second-class citizens of this community.
Natalie
And limiting questions to "native only" is also a bit insulting and does not correspond to a professional attitude of translating. After all, translating is "good understanding of the source text and rendering it in the target text". If an answer or proposal meets both criteria, it's a good translation or proposal, and the asker of the question should be supposed to be old enough to make his decision. If questions are limited to Platinum-only and native-language-only, this means that some categories don't receive questions any more, and in some language pairs they are the only ones to answer. The contrary of enrichment and openness.
Nicolette (non-Platinum (but serious), not living in the target country, translating sometimes in the non-native language)
[Edited at 2005-09-13 14:21]
| | | | | And where did you get THAT idea? | Sep 13, 2005 |
I certainly find that insulting. There are quite a few people out there with excellent reputations as translators - but they are not platinum members, so I think your statement is a little out of line.
Some of us were platinums at a certain point and have decided not to renew - for reasons of our own - but that does not make us any less qualified. Though I am no longer platinum, I continue to contribute by answering questions, offering opinions in the way of peer grading, and posting forum... See more I certainly find that insulting. There are quite a few people out there with excellent reputations as translators - but they are not platinum members, so I think your statement is a little out of line.
Some of us were platinums at a certain point and have decided not to renew - for reasons of our own - but that does not make us any less qualified. Though I am no longer platinum, I continue to contribute by answering questions, offering opinions in the way of peer grading, and posting forum topics. By the same token, there are platinum members who are just starting out and have very little experience. For them, membership may be a way to get them going with their careers.
But you certainly shouldn't assume that those of us without little blue ribbons by our names are not "serious" about our work.
I do think an apology is in order.
Catherine
Kirill Semenov wrote:
Platinum members are more serious (maybe just a bit, but it matters!) about their freelancer' career. They invested their money to support the site or to gain some benefits in their career.
[Edited at 2005-09-13 13:48] ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
Kirill Semenov
Ukrajina
Local time: 22:34
Član (2004)
engleski na ruski
+ ...
| please don't get me wrong | Sep 13, 2005 |
Dear Catherine,
I meant developing freelancer career, not the level of professionalism, or experience, or their attitude toward their work. Obviously, platinumship is not connected to all these. But I'm sure that many platinum members seek to develop their career as freelancers, and paying for their membership at proZ is a great investment. If you need my apologies, please accept them, but do not put into my mouth what I had not said.
cbolton wrote:
But you certainly shouldn't assume that those of us without little blue ribbons by our names are not "serious" about our work.
I do think an apology is in order.
Catherine
Kirill Semenov wrote:
Platinum members are more serious (maybe just a bit, but it matters!) about their freelancer' career. They invested their money to support the site or to gain some benefits in their career.
[Edited at 2005-09-13 14:02]
| | | | Luis Zepeda
Sjedinjene Američke Države
Local time: 12:34
španjolski na engleski
+ ...
| askers restricting questions to platinum answerers | Sep 13, 2005 |
NatalieD wrote:
I do find questions directed to platinum members and negative comments concerning non-platinum members a little insulting, as if non-platinum members were second-class citizens of this community.
Well enough said, I have Kudoz questions to answer (and 13 000 words to translate)...
Natalie
In agreement with you that some posters (and aswerers) are so direct and agressive in their postings or answers, that it appears offensive. I prefer to steer away from them and do not offer any answers once they have answered. Saying this, I rest my peace on this thread.
| | | | | Apologies accepted | Sep 13, 2005 |
To set the record straight, I did not put words in anyone's mouth. You did it yourself.
Kirill Semenov wrote:
So, they are likely to be a bit more resposinble when answering kudoZ or otherwise "showing off" at proZ.
However, that is simply not the case. We non-plats are as responsible as the next guy/gal with his/her blue ribbon. We have simply chosen to contribute in a different way. Call it a form of mentoring, if you like, because some of the questions can be found in any GOOD dictionary yet we chose to answer anyway. Why? Because people need guidance in the beginning. Including beginners who have purchased platinum membership.
Closing the door on non-platinums for Kudoz answers simply means closing the door on many, many good minds. Let's not forget that there are people out there who cannot afford platinum membership, but that doesn't make them less professional or responsible as translators.
Catherine
[Edited at 2005-09-13 18:32]
| | | | | clarification | Sep 14, 2005 |
Folks,
Please read Henry's post on this subject. Asker preferences to receive only answers from platinum members does not bar non-platinums from answering. They still can answer. There is no debate about the relative merits of platinums or non-platinum contributions here. This is a preference and not a restriction. People should not take this preference personally.
M
| | |
|
|
|
sarahl (X)
Local time: 12:34
engleski na francuski
+ ...
While I'm not sure I support these new options/restrictions, I can understand the asker's restricting a question to a certain group of people based on their areas of expertise, native language, or anything that has a bearing on the quality of their answers.
However, Platinum membership is a whole another story. Of course, paying members should have more privileges, I don't dispute that. I just think we're mixing two things here.
Still unconvinced in St Louis ... See more While I'm not sure I support these new options/restrictions, I can understand the asker's restricting a question to a certain group of people based on their areas of expertise, native language, or anything that has a bearing on the quality of their answers.
However, Platinum membership is a whole another story. Of course, paying members should have more privileges, I don't dispute that. I just think we're mixing two things here.
Still unconvinced in St Louis
[Edited at 2005-09-15 22:26] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Gina W
Sjedinjene Američke Države
Local time: 15:34
Član (2003)
francuski na engleski
| I don't see the problem with it | Sep 16, 2005 |
I have not used it but if someone else wants to use it, then I don't see the harm in continuing to offer it as an option. In fact, I think it would be wrong to take this option away. I don't particularly understand how it can possibly bother anyone. Yes, I realize you are not getting paid to answer and why do you have to PAY to answer, blah blah blah, but I see it as just a way of limiting the audience to whom you send your questions. THAT I wholeheartedly support - but I don't think that I ... See more I have not used it but if someone else wants to use it, then I don't see the harm in continuing to offer it as an option. In fact, I think it would be wrong to take this option away. I don't particularly understand how it can possibly bother anyone. Yes, I realize you are not getting paid to answer and why do you have to PAY to answer, blah blah blah, but I see it as just a way of limiting the audience to whom you send your questions. THAT I wholeheartedly support - but I don't think that I have to APPROVE of the criteria someone else might choose in this respect. If someone wants to send their questions to Platinum members only, why would I have a problem with that (whether I am a Community Platinum member or not)?
I find it a little surprizing that there is enough of a reaction to start a thread to complain about this. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Klaus Herrmann
Njemačka
Local time: 21:34
Član (2002)
engleski na njemački
+ ...
| More choices | Sep 16, 2005 |
gad wrote:
Yes, I realize you are not getting paid to answer and why do you have to PAY to answer, blah blah blah, but I see it as just a way of limiting the audience to whom you send your questions. THAT I wholeheartedly support - but I don't think that I have to APPROVE of the criteria someone else might choose in this respect.
I'd like to restrict technical questions to a male audience only, please.
I find it a little surprizing that there is enough of a reaction to start a thread to complain about this.
In a good working community, my request above should trigger a couple of complaints, no?
| | | | | Stranica u temi: < [1 2 3 4] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Askers restricting questions to platinum answerers - why? | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
| | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
