| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6] | Cap on the number of questions a member can ask? Thread poster: Robert Donahue (X)
|
|---|
| no caps soon | May 10, 2005 |
Don't want to rain on this parade but if folks are expecting results from this discussion, they will have to wait a long time. The recent Kudoz reform that was just introduced included no rule on Kudoz limits since this issue would've taken more resources than are available.
We mods have also discussed this issue since time immemorial, digesting and mulling over it ad nauseum (since Kudoz began 4-5 years ago). There was some consensus reached but no conclusive formula exists... See more Don't want to rain on this parade but if folks are expecting results from this discussion, they will have to wait a long time. The recent Kudoz reform that was just introduced included no rule on Kudoz limits since this issue would've taken more resources than are available.
We mods have also discussed this issue since time immemorial, digesting and mulling over it ad nauseum (since Kudoz began 4-5 years ago). There was some consensus reached but no conclusive formula exists. There are arguments from across the entire spectrum (no limit - some limits - strict limits) that have equal validity.
Word filtering from above indicates that we will have to wait for the next Kudoz reform cycle to happen before we can see any manifestation of members' wishes.
So all I'm saying is dicussions of this sort - as evinced by many similar discussions in the past - might lead nowhere since the desired result will not be forthcoming.
Word to the wise: to tap into the administration's current line of thinking, follow the recent developments and "new releases". If you want your ideas solidified into action, comment on the current new features.
Marcus ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Kudoz limits soon? | May 10, 2005 |
Following my post above, I alerted Henry to this long and popular thread. He has finally said that a Kudoz question cap will be implemented sometime during the next Kudoz reform cycle in August. Please watch out for his formal announcement.
This will surely put to rest all the grumblings about Kudoz abuse engendered by too many questions, questions from anonymous askers, etc.
M
| | | | Robert Donahue (X) 
Russian to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Can't ask for much more than that | May 10, 2005 |
Marcus Malabad wrote:
Following my post above, I alerted Henry to this long and popular thread. He has finally said that a Kudoz question cap will be implemented sometime during the next Kudoz reform cycle in August. Please watch out for his formal announcement.
This will surely put to rest all the grumblings about Kudoz abuse engendered by too many questions, questions from anonymous askers, etc.
M
Thank you!
| | | | sarahl (X)
Local time: 08:35
English to French
+ ...
| do you really want to make this public? | May 10, 2005 |
while I agree with Dusty that we need some practical way to stop the abuse, I'm not sure public humiliation is the best way to go about this. As you're probably aware, there's a lot going on behind the scenes, and people do exchange private emails.
Actually, Dusty, an abuse button of sorts already exist, we have the option to contact a mod to report anomalies.
Robert, when are you running for office? I have to hurry and apply for citizenship so I can vote for you.![]() ... See more while I agree with Dusty that we need some practical way to stop the abuse, I'm not sure public humiliation is the best way to go about this. As you're probably aware, there's a lot going on behind the scenes, and people do exchange private emails.
Actually, Dusty, an abuse button of sorts already exist, we have the option to contact a mod to report anomalies.
Robert, when are you running for office? I have to hurry and apply for citizenship so I can vote for you. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
| A good case to show someone who is not an abuser | May 11, 2005 |
[quote]Dusty wrote:
In my own case, I like to think that overall I am a nett contributor to KudoZ. But there are certain occasions when I have posted 10 or 20 questions in the same day. This is because my style is to do a quick 'first-pass' of my document, pulling out all the terms I have trouble with; I then spend some time doing research, and if that proves fruitless, as a last resort I turn to KudoZ. It may be that my 10 or 20 questions come from a 35,000 word document (as has indeed been the case), so I don't feel this represents an excessively high proportion such as to indicate that I ought not to have taken the job on through lack of expertise.
Yet according to most of the suggestions mooted in this forum, I would probably find myself capped, outlawed or otherwise stigmatized.
/quote]
Dusty, I checked and you have asked the grand total of 144 questions as a Proz member. If you suddenly have 10 or 20 or even 30 questions that crop up in a text, who could possible say 'abuser'? Why would you or any other member like you be "capped, outlawed or otherwise stigmatized" ?
The complaint here is about site abusers, those who ask questions day in, day out, basic questions that can be found in a few minutes. They don't offer much help in return and many have been asking regularly since the day they joined.
There is no need for anyone other than these people to feel targeted here.
And Dusty, your suggestion about the automatic vote for abuser button is fantastic. It could really clear up the problem in a hurry. Like the Scarlet Letter only this time A is for Abuser 
| | | | Balasubramaniam L.
India
Local time: 21:05
Member (2006)
English to Hindi
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | Equip the Abuser Button with options | May 11, 2005 |
Heike Behl, Ph.D. wrote:
...it's important that everything is above board. An anonymous button is too open for abuse and personal vendettas. If the comment is made together with the person's user id, everything is out in the open and possible disputes can be solved easier.
That is a valid poin. IMHO, one solution for this could be to equip the button with two options: Is An Abuser and Is Not An Abuser. So if some one is found to be pressing the button out of personal vendetta, then others can correct this by using the other option. The system can be programmed in such a way that it ensures that democracy wins.
| | | | | It's not necessarily the number but the nature of the questions. | May 11, 2005 |
I don't mind someone asking a lot of questions if they are at least to some extent familiar with the material they're trying to translate. Everyone is confronted with difficult texts from time to time.
What gets my goat is when someone who doesn't know the difference between e.g. a wheel and a tyre claims to be an automotive specialist. Maybe I'm alone on this, but to me that's cheating and should not be encouraged! Plain fraud!
Not to mention those who translate into ... See more I don't mind someone asking a lot of questions if they are at least to some extent familiar with the material they're trying to translate. Everyone is confronted with difficult texts from time to time.
What gets my goat is when someone who doesn't know the difference between e.g. a wheel and a tyre claims to be an automotive specialist. Maybe I'm alone on this, but to me that's cheating and should not be encouraged! Plain fraud!
Not to mention those who translate into languages they quite clearly do not master (evidenced e.g. by the fact that they can't even ask a question properly).
IMO it is against these people that restrictions need to be imposed, not against the numerous real professionals out there who "know their stuff".
Pros helping pros – what this site is (should be) about. "Quality, not quantity!" Please correct me if I'm wrong. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | What if 'questions asked in Pro fields' were also easily visible via our Profile page? | May 12, 2005 |
Instead of more rules and restrictions, why not let things speak for themselves? How about a possibility on our individual Profile pages to see the questions we have asked in our working fields? After all, the questions asked reveal as much about a translator as the questions answered. Laziness, lack of language skills and knowledge of the field, etc. are all revealed when one sees the questions. Abusers would shine since their questions are generally quite basic and do reveal their incompetence... See more Instead of more rules and restrictions, why not let things speak for themselves? How about a possibility on our individual Profile pages to see the questions we have asked in our working fields? After all, the questions asked reveal as much about a translator as the questions answered. Laziness, lack of language skills and knowledge of the field, etc. are all revealed when one sees the questions. Abusers would shine since their questions are generally quite basic and do reveal their incompetence. As Cilian says, it's not just the number of questions, it's the quality. No one is going to find 20 really difficult questions as abusive-the site is here to help out with difficulties, after all. Those over-using and abusing the translation help offered do not ask difficult questions as a rule. That's the whole point.
[Edited at 2005-05-13 00:53] ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
juvera
Local time: 16:35
English to Hungarian
+ ...
| Keeping proportion! | May 14, 2005 |
I had a quick run through the languages, and the people who have grievance on this subject are working mainly in the following languages: German, French, Spanish, Russian, and there were some comments from Polish and Romanian.
How many languages are active on KudoZ?
What was the worst scenario?
Robert gave us some statistics, and the conclusion from that is, that the person who clearly abuses the system - and I am not disputing that, - has posed just... See more I had a quick run through the languages, and the people who have grievance on this subject are working mainly in the following languages: German, French, Spanish, Russian, and there were some comments from Polish and Romanian.
How many languages are active on KudoZ?
What was the worst scenario?
Robert gave us some statistics, and the conclusion from that is, that the person who clearly abuses the system - and I am not disputing that, - has posed just over 3 questions a day.
Compare this with the sanctions some people suggested, if the limit would be 5 questions a day, he would get a licence to ask two more per day.
I know, this is not the only suggestion, but as some people pointed out, they may not ask questions for weeks, and then they have 10 on a single day. We cannot punish them.
I only know of people, who ask more than usual number of questions, who are asking questions on homework, predictably around the weekend, and not more than 4-6. Also, I suspect, there are some, who may not have the easy option of having the internet at constant disposal, and never been able to travel to the country of the source language, but because there is a demand, and there are limited number of translators available, they do the job, and ask us for help.
If we pose a monthly limit, it would have to be reasonably generous, and it would have to be administered.
I am sure, that the problem is limited to certain number of language combinations, and within that to certain number of people. Who these are must be fairly obvious to those who come accross them.
To me, it seems, the tail is wagging the dog.
Instead of several lenghty discussions on the forum, more rules, sanctions, administration, which would affect everyone, why isn't a simple rule to say, if some of us notifies the moderators in a particular language pair, and/or the moderators find, that some people are consistent spongers, they will be warned, and in extreme, prolonged cases could be banned. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mónica Machado
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:35
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| What about those askers who aren't even members of PROZ | May 21, 2005 |
Hello,
This would be an excellent idea. But then what about those askers who aren't even members of PROZ? Would they ask for free?
Please note that many people who ask questions (and a lot) are outsiders that aren't even registered. Also, this would go against the democratic policy of PROZ, wouldn't it? Since PROZ is seeking to have as much visitors as possible, restricting usage seems strange.
I do agree with Balasubramaniam but just think PROZ is not he... See more Hello,
This would be an excellent idea. But then what about those askers who aren't even members of PROZ? Would they ask for free?
Please note that many people who ask questions (and a lot) are outsiders that aren't even registered. Also, this would go against the democratic policy of PROZ, wouldn't it? Since PROZ is seeking to have as much visitors as possible, restricting usage seems strange.
I do agree with Balasubramaniam but just think PROZ is not heading that way any longer.
Regards,
Mónica
Balasubramaniam wrote:
Maybe we could fix a limit for free questions that one can ask in a day, say five, and for every additional question that a person asks, he/she may be made to part with 10 browni points. This way a small cost could be affixed to asking too many questions, which would deter indiscriminate use of the kudoz forum. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Splitting hairs | May 21, 2005 |
Mónica Machado wrote:
this would go against the democratic policy of PROZ
I think we need to draw a line between having a democratic policy and total anarchy. The democratic spirit of ProZ.com should apply to all *members* who demonstrate commitment to the professional orientation of ProZ.com by registering, filling out a profile page, presenting themselved with an identifiable name, and respecting ProZ.com as a site for professionals to network and share (as opposed to a place where they can have others do their terminology research and translation work for them), and supporting the site financially and otherwise. But I see no obligation to include in that circle those who have no connection to the professional sphere of translation, who do not conduct themselves professionally, or who do not support the site in any way.
Mónica Machado wrote:
Since PROZ is seeking to have as much visitors as possible, restricting usage seems strange.
ProZ.com should seek as many visitors as possible. Visitors and users are two different things. Visitors should be allowed to explore and help themselves to much of the riches that can be found in its many pages, but for them to participate in asking, answering, grading, commenting, job posting, job bidding, blue board querying, forum discussions, pow-wowing, software group-buy, and God knows what else, they need to be committed members.
[Edited at 2005-05-21 21:51]
| | | | NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 11:35
Member (2002)
French to English
+ ...
MODERATOR
Fuad Yahya wrote:
ProZ.com should seek as many visitors as possible. Visitors and users are two different things. Visitors should be allowed to explore and help themselves to much of the riches that can be found in its many pages, but for them to participate in asking, answering, grading, commenting, job posting, job bidding, blue board querying, forum discussions, pow-wowing, software group-buy, and God knows what else, they need to be committed members.
This makes sense to me!
Nancy
| | |
|
|
|
Robert Donahue (X)
Russian to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Preaching to the choir... | May 31, 2005 |
NancyLynn wrote: Fuad Yahya wrote:
ProZ.com should seek as many visitors as possible. Visitors and users are two different things. Visitors should be allowed to explore and help themselves to much of the riches that can be found in its many pages, but for them to participate in asking, answering, grading, commenting, job posting, job bidding, blue board querying, forum discussions, pow-wowing, software group-buy, and God knows what else, they need to be committed members.
This makes sense to me! Nancy
I wholeheartedly concur!
| | | | | Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6] | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Cap on the number of questions a member can ask? | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
| | 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! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
