صفحات الموضوع:   < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10] >
New golden stars to acknowledge long term membership ('Canceled')
ناشر الموضوع: Enrique Cavalitto
Parrot
Parrot  Identity Verified
أسبانيا
Local time: 13:29
إسباني إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
Resolving redundancy Mar 12, 2009

Why not the option to keep "Member 20XX" and dispense with the star OR use the star to say "Member since XXXX"?

Some may like the star. Others might prefer the blue (the yellow's kind of muddy). I'm in any case all for toggle.


 
Niraja Nanjundan (X)
Niraja Nanjundan (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 16:59
ألماني إلى أنجليزي
Agree Mar 12, 2009

Viktoria Gimbe wrote:
It's OK to be distinguished from colleagues in places like the directory, but I think that in other parts of the site, like KudoZ and the forum, it would actually help if we all appeared equal.


I agree with Viktoria on this point, in fact I feel quite "embarrassed" with all this regalia being displayed in a public place like the forum. I think it's OK on profiles and in the directory, but as others have suggested there should be a toggle option.


 
Cilian O'Tuama
Cilian O'Tuama  Identity Verified
ألمانيا
Local time: 13:29
ألماني إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
Even more fairy lights! Mar 12, 2009

C'mon. ProZ is a meeting place for anyone(!) to visit and participate in. By all means, reward frequent visitors. Give them little flags to wave. A voucher for a free burger. Colourful balloons? Smashing! Feature them as "loafer of the month". Let them take part in fantastic competitions, and award even more ribbons and balloons. Brilliant! Great craic.

But what has this got to do with our profession?

"ProZ - the world's leading enabling and sourcing platform for langu
... See more
C'mon. ProZ is a meeting place for anyone(!) to visit and participate in. By all means, reward frequent visitors. Give them little flags to wave. A voucher for a free burger. Colourful balloons? Smashing! Feature them as "loafer of the month". Let them take part in fantastic competitions, and award even more ribbons and balloons. Brilliant! Great craic.

But what has this got to do with our profession?

"ProZ - the world's leading enabling and sourcing platform for language professionals."

Yeah, right! Easy to say.

Why not just remain a "meeting place"? Any "credentials" proffered by the site are ENTIRELY without value IMO. Please don't pretend otherwise.

Don't get me wrong. The site has its merits. It's a great fishing ground, for freelancers and outsourcers alike. It can be a very good resource once you know how to navigate. But any "seal of approval" from the place ain't worth the ribbon it's written on. Please don't even try to aspire to being a linguistic authority.

You're not.

IMO it boils down to whether ProZ wants to serve the industry or boast membership numbers.

I no longer fear it's the latter.

Cilian

[Edited at 2009-03-12 21:43 GMT]
Collapse


 
Krzysztof Łesyk
Krzysztof Łesyk  Identity Verified
اليابان
Local time: 20:29
ياباني إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
What's the reason? Mar 12, 2009

One thing I'm curious about is WHY knowing whether a person I'm talking to (well, writing to) on the forums is a long time member even matters. Maybe I'm weird, but I don't really care - that information is about as relevant to me as my interlocutor's (err, intergrapher? this is getting silly...) shoe size, favorite color or BMI.

What matters (to me) is what they have to say (and sometimes how they say it) - I don't even care whether they're paid members or certified pros - the pur
... See more
One thing I'm curious about is WHY knowing whether a person I'm talking to (well, writing to) on the forums is a long time member even matters. Maybe I'm weird, but I don't really care - that information is about as relevant to me as my interlocutor's (err, intergrapher? this is getting silly...) shoe size, favorite color or BMI.

What matters (to me) is what they have to say (and sometimes how they say it) - I don't even care whether they're paid members or certified pros - the purpose of the forums is discussion (do correct me if I'm wrong), so I concentrate on the contents of the message, not on the symbols on the side of it.

Hell, now that I think about it, I would gladly switch forum display to the simplified mode similar to what I'm seeing below the text box I'm currently filling up with my musings (too bad it doesn't seem to be possible) - just an avatar/picture, name/nickname and the message is enough for me.


Oh, and if I wanted to encourage long term membership or reward existing supporters, I would probably give out discounts (I don't know, 1% membership fee discount for each consecutive year perhaps?) and not gold stars, but that's just me.
Collapse


 
Trudy Peters
Trudy Peters  Identity Verified
الولايات المتحدة
Local time: 07:29
ألماني إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
Totally agree with Krzysztof et al. Mar 12, 2009

No yellow star for me, please!

 
JaneTranslates
JaneTranslates  Identity Verified
بورتوريكو
Local time: 07:29
إسباني إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
Me too, Amy. Mar 12, 2009

Amy Duncan wrote:

What can I say? I took a look, and I think it looks nice, but then again I tend to be a "visual" kind of person.


It isn't something I need or asked for, but I think it's fun and kind of cool. Can the color change after 5 years, or 10, like eBay points?

When the rest of you opt out, I'll still be admiring my blue ribbon and gold star. Like the gal in the cosmetic ads, I'm worth it!


Jane


 
Heinrich Pesch
Heinrich Pesch  Identity Verified
فنلندا
Local time: 14:29
عضو (2003)
فنلندي إلى ألماني
+ ...
Thank you! Mar 12, 2009

Its the first medal I ever received. As a technical translator I do not have the chance to get public acknowledgement, that is reserved for the literary translators. But now I can sit and stare at my star. Great feeling!
Or could I get a smiley instead?
Regards
Heinrich


 
Paola Dentifrigi
Paola Dentifrigi  Identity Verified
إيطاليا
Local time: 13:29
عضو (2003)
أنجليزي إلى إيطالي
+ ...
No star, please! Mar 12, 2009

I woke up 6 a.m. this morning to read my translation ans seeing all those stars is making me dizzy.
Paola


 
María Eugenia Wachtendorff
María Eugenia Wachtendorff  Identity Verified
شيلي
Local time: 07:29
أنجليزي إلى إسباني
+ ...
THANKS BUT NO, THANKS Mar 12, 2009

Cilian O'Tuama wrote:

More fairy lights!

Why not just remain a "meeting place"? Any "credentials" proffered by the site are ENTIRELY without value IMO. Please don't pretend otherwise.

Cilian



AMEN!

Here's to the good old times when we were TRUE professional translators helping and asking for help from our peers!


[Edited at 2009-03-12 07:14 GMT]


 
Aniello Scognamiglio (X)
Aniello Scognamiglio (X)  Identity Verified
ألمانيا
Local time: 13:29
أنجليزي إلى ألماني
+ ...
Amazing Mar 12, 2009

It is amazing that this thread has led to more replies than the Google Ads and ProZ image? thread. Just wondering...

 
Marie-Hélène Hayles
Marie-Hélène Hayles  Identity Verified
Local time: 13:29
إيطالي إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
Not really Mar 12, 2009

Aniello Scognamiglio wrote:

It is amazing that this thread has led to more replies than the Google Ads and ProZ image? thread. Just wondering...


We all see the gold stars thing, whereas I (and I assume many others) have never seen any Google ads here (perhaps because I never log out from the site?). So I didn't comment on it.


 
Anne Brackenborough (X)
Anne Brackenborough (X)  Identity Verified
ألمانيا
Local time: 13:29
ألماني إلى أنجليزي
Ethics? Comment from busybody non-member Mar 12, 2009

May I apologise in advance for the busybodying tone coming from a non-member, but is this star really in the interests of our customers? I know that those customers are not ProZ.com's customers, but it's a question of ethics.

Someone searching on this site for a translator will surely be more likely to trust those with ribbons, stars, ticks, badges (or whatever that P is), and all that paraphernalia. But do those symbols (especially this one) mean that they can trust that translator
... See more
May I apologise in advance for the busybodying tone coming from a non-member, but is this star really in the interests of our customers? I know that those customers are not ProZ.com's customers, but it's a question of ethics.

Someone searching on this site for a translator will surely be more likely to trust those with ribbons, stars, ticks, badges (or whatever that P is), and all that paraphernalia. But do those symbols (especially this one) mean that they can trust that translator any more? Isn't it, in fact, a little deceptive?

Let's say I join ProZ next week: I don't have a star. But perhaps I've been translating far longer than someone else on ProZ who does have one. Their star may give the false impression that they are more trustworthy/reliable than me, based on what?

OK, I'll admit that I'm a bit cynical and uncomfortable about all the other symbols, too, especially after that case with "Doctor" V, who, as I recall, had the ribbon and blue Member sign to match his doctor's lab coat. Customers are worried about being conned, and these symbols may wrongly allay those fears. I'm quite uncomfortable about that.

[Edited at 2009-03-12 07:59 GMT]
Collapse


 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
الدانمرك
Local time: 13:29
عضو (2003)
دانماركي إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
C'mon, folks, only three years? Mar 12, 2009

I'd give it for people who have been here for ten, but practically only Henry has got that far yet. Still, time flies - those stars would be popping out soon.

But three years - that's not even time to learn to use all the site features

Five as a compromise, if you must, but I think I'm going to opt out if I get the chance. I do try to live up to the Pro programme. I don't mind people knowing I think the
... See more
I'd give it for people who have been here for ten, but practically only Henry has got that far yet. Still, time flies - those stars would be popping out soon.

But three years - that's not even time to learn to use all the site features

Five as a compromise, if you must, but I think I'm going to opt out if I get the chance. I do try to live up to the Pro programme. I don't mind people knowing I think the site is worth paying for. (Or that I'm lucky enough to be able to afford it; not everyone is that lucky.)

But I don't see the need for this.

Collapse


 
writeaway
writeaway  Identity Verified
فرنسي إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
The proverbial thread? (accidental pun) Mar 12, 2009

Aniello Scognamiglio wrote:
Amazing

It is amazing that this thread has led to more replies than the Google Ads and ProZ image? thread. Just wondering...


I think this silly star may be the proverbial thread that broke the camel's back. After so many suddenly appearing new features, ruleZ, policy changes, etc. etc., this latest unannounced, undiscussed, imposed 'feature' is simply one step too far. Imo, that explains the many replies.

As someone who has always selected the option to 'hide' my membership information, I am particularly incensed about the site overriding my personal preferences and simply plastering it next to my site name. Last night I re-selected the 'hide' button -but the star is still there.

So now we have blue ribbons, gold stars and red badges -all of which are totally meaningless in the real word but do 'highlight' those with paid membership. Naturally you have to keep up your paid membership or all these site symbols will vanish and you'll just be there as a mere translator.

Klaus Hermann wrote:
Opt me out, Scotty.

This is for professionals, right?


hmmmmmm



[Edited at 2009-03-12 08:32 GMT]


 
John Farebrother
John Farebrother  Identity Verified
المملكة المتحدة
فرنسي إلى أنجليزي
+ ...
Long-term Mar 12, 2009

Is three years really long term?
Maybe a star for every year, possible ranging in colour through the spectrum as time progresses, with a crock of gold at the end of the rainbow. And maybe a leprechaun as well.

[Edited at 2009-03-12 09:12 GMT]


 
صفحات الموضوع:   < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10] >


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:


You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

New golden stars to acknowledge long term membership ('Canceled')






Trados Studio 2022 Freelance
The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.

Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

More info »
TM-Town
Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business

Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.

More info »