| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15] > | Let's improve ProZ.com! (Three things I would do to improve ProZ.com if I were in charge.) Thread poster: Henry Dotterer
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Saifa (X)
Local time: 00:42
German to French
+ ...
Hi Henry,
Shortly (I am in a hurry):
1) KudoZ system without points (more than the possibility of asking some questions without points):
there would be less unqualified answers which give the site an unprofessional touch, no fraud ( (I am speaking of professional translators who are becoming kudozholic...).
Why should mutual help be related with points? I help A today because I know I will help someone of B tomorrow. This make of us a community.
... See more Hi Henry,
Shortly (I am in a hurry):
1) KudoZ system without points (more than the possibility of asking some questions without points):
there would be less unqualified answers which give the site an unprofessional touch, no fraud ( (I am speaking of professional translators who are becoming kudozholic...).
Why should mutual help be related with points? I help A today because I know I will help someone of B tomorrow. This make of us a community.
I know at least 4 sites and lists where such kind of help function without any kind of "reward".
2) Less rules, restrictions, more freedom of speech
(key words WWA, Spanish forum)
3) No discriminating terminology
"Member" and "Platinum member" was nicer than "user" and "member". One example.
I am (still) a member, I am not sure I will renew my membership, but I would like to help improving things until the end.
Regards
Chademu
[Edited at 2006-09-18 11:14] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | my wish list | Sep 18, 2006 |
1. A bookmark tab (such as Claudia defined):
1. A bookmark tab. A separate page where we can add our bookmarks from all over the site. Sometimes I find a particular thread very useful and I want to keep track of it without actually having to keep track of the emails. It would be very helpful if we could just bookmark not only threads or posts, but articles, KudoZ questions, members, jobs, etc. in the same space.
2. Specializations per language pair. If the site encourages us to specialize, it should provide the option to indicate different specializations according to language pair. I would really welcome this option since my specialization fields are closely related to the language.
3. I think it would be useful if former members were allowed to give their opinion, either on this one or another thread, not too far in the future.
[Edited at 2006-09-18 11:14]
| | | | | OK, just my three suggestions | Sep 18, 2006 |
The three suggestions I would like to contribute would be:
1. Allowing paying members more flexibility to make decisions on what/how our information is seen by the public (such as the ability to choose between old and new profile format as default, organize placement of information so that we can put the details that we care most about in more prominent places within our page, and give precedence to years of experience as a professional vs. years as a ProZ.com paying or non-paying m... See more The three suggestions I would like to contribute would be:
1. Allowing paying members more flexibility to make decisions on what/how our information is seen by the public (such as the ability to choose between old and new profile format as default, organize placement of information so that we can put the details that we care most about in more prominent places within our page, and give precedence to years of experience as a professional vs. years as a ProZ.com paying or non-paying member, etc. where this could also be reflected in how the various categories of the directory of translators can be sorted).
2. More open forums with less moderator intervention. Moderating verbal debates should not be approached in the same way as trying to mediate a fist fight (i.e., trying to "break it up", suppressing valid points about the way someone chooses to word their posts, etc.) In other words, less policing, obviously under the assumption that the members of the community are going to know how to express themselves in a professional, courteous manner.
3. A permanent moderator (or moderators) on the ProZ.com suggestions board (with exclusive dedication to that board, since I imagine this would be a pretty big task), so that the suggestions that we make there could be more promptly analyzed and, if pertinent, more expeditiously implemented.
I'd just like to add that ProZ.com has been invaluable to me as a professional linguist.
Word count: 240 words (not counting this word count statement ).
(EDIT: I changed the title and deleted the quote so that Henry will want to read this and not skip over it.)
[Edited at 2006-09-18 13:56] ▲ Collapse
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Parrot 
Spain
Local time: 00:42
Spanish to English
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because it's time-intensive, but with all due respect:
I'd backtrack site events approximately 10 days, review the points at which misunderstandings between reasonable persons could arise, and take it from there. (The result may be more than three things, though).
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| Thanks, Ruben et al, but I am going to stick with members-only! | Sep 18, 2006 |
Ruben Berrozpe wrote:
My take on this is that listening to the comments from some valuable non-members - or ex-members - with a proven record of civil and enlightening exchanges in the site would make me more happy than keeping them away from this discussion.
Thanks for driving that point home, Ruben, I respect your opinion, but I am going to stick with the members-only policy at least for a while.
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Hello Mr. Henry
If I were you:
1. I would check moderators behaviour with "clients"
I think that moderators should be “steady but kind, avoiding to offend us "clients".
The majority of them is in fact very kind even if steady, but 2-3 among the moderators I have known are too rude with us even in public. I think they should respect us .
I have never seen a company offending clients in public if they want to keep them.... See more Hello Mr. Henry
If I were you:
1. I would check moderators behaviour with "clients"
I think that moderators should be “steady but kind, avoiding to offend us "clients".
The majority of them is in fact very kind even if steady, but 2-3 among the moderators I have known are too rude with us even in public. I think they should respect us .
I have never seen a company offending clients in public if they want to keep them.
2. As a company, I would only accept verified paying members, (may be a free membership for 3 months like a sort of trial) if someone wants to keep his/her privacy ok, but the site should know their identity.
May be a Code of Conduct as marketplace for members, moderators and outsourcers can be useful.
3. I would improve KudoZ by checking glossary entries which sometimes and especially in certain pairs are clearly wrong.
I really wouldn't arguing the 1st point but I am invited to suggestions for checking if I am satisfied so I cannot avoid this one, sorry.
However, I love this site and I think I will continue to support it, even if I feel the 1st point (lack of respect by moderators) as a big problem
Best regards
Angioletta
P.s I apologize if my English is not good enough, I am not English mother tongue, sorry
P.P.s What happened in the Spanish forum? I understand Spanish (even if "no puedo escribirlo" )what thread was it?
[Edited at 2006-09-19 11:48] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | VID, Code of Conduct, Customer Education | Sep 18, 2006 |
1. I second Gianfranco's motion for expanded VID (if possible include enhanced verification for translation agencies using the site for RFQs). Also agree that use of the marketplace functions of the site should be severely restricted for non-verified users. Verification should also include proof that providers are operating their businesses legally in their respective countries (this could help curb price dumping by "professional" translators offering services under the table).
2. C... See more 1. I second Gianfranco's motion for expanded VID (if possible include enhanced verification for translation agencies using the site for RFQs). Also agree that use of the marketplace functions of the site should be severely restricted for non-verified users. Verification should also include proof that providers are operating their businesses legally in their respective countries (this could help curb price dumping by "professional" translators offering services under the table).
2. Code of Conduct - the cornerstone of any e-marketplace or networking community. In order to be verified to use the site's e-marketplace functions, all users should have to sign one.
I currently do not plan to renew my paid membership. However, if the verification process were enhanced (which might filter out a lot of the riffraff) I might be willing to pay more for access to marketplace functions (RFQs, etc.). Right now Proz as an e-marketplace has zero value for me. If the overall level were raised, that might change.
3. Customer education from the site as an authoritative source rather than limiting this to knowledgebase articles by service providers. The ITI's booklet "Getting it Right" is a good starting point.
4. I have a few words left, so I'll add increased distinction between e-marketplace and community functions. The community should be open to all but the marketplace should be strictly controlled to enhance quality. Edit: tightening up the marketplace side while loosening up the community side might also reduce the level of frustration of a lot of users (regarding the forums, role of moderators, etc.) and let the site staff focus on improving the commercial functions of Proz.
Best regards,
Sara Freitas-Maltaverne
SFM Traduction
[Edited at 2006-09-18 12:11]
[Edited at 2006-09-18 12:16] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Think big! (And thanks, Sara.) | Sep 18, 2006 |
Great stuff, Sara, you are clearly thinking of actions of some significance.
I would encourage others to similarly look at this challenge with a bird's eye view. Please tell us the three things that, if done, would make ProZ.com that much closer to everything you want it to be!
Remember, in this thread, you are putting your top three priorities on record... (so feel free to edit!)
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I don't think the site can be improved the way it's been structured.
What I would like to see:
- Good and serious outsourcers, posting good and serious jobs at a decent rate. This obviously is not possible. Anybody can post a job at any rate.
- Freedom of speech in the fora, without being continously censored by inflexible moderators. This is not possible, according to the site's rules.
- KudoZ not for points, but this will never be introduced... See more I don't think the site can be improved the way it's been structured.
What I would like to see:
- Good and serious outsourcers, posting good and serious jobs at a decent rate. This obviously is not possible. Anybody can post a job at any rate.
- Freedom of speech in the fora, without being continously censored by inflexible moderators. This is not possible, according to the site's rules.
- KudoZ not for points, but this will never be introduced because it would limit the site traffic.
- Blue Board completely open to all members (paying and not paying). Possible? I hope so.
- More consultation prior to the implementation of new features (see WWA fiasco). I hope the lesson has been learnt...
I know, 5 points...
Giovanni (the gadfly)
[Edited at 2006-09-18 12:33] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Henry, 292 words now, although it won't totally reflect my point of view as before | Sep 18, 2006 |
1) Each new topic should remain on first page until others are posted above and make others to go down. Topics shouldn’t be removed from the first page because they might be polemic. I am referring mainly to my topic http://www.proz.com/topic/52842.
2) Only cut people’s postings from the forums if they were actually rude, impolite or totally abusive. People are angry sometimes is the fac... See more 1) Each new topic should remain on first page until others are posted above and make others to go down. Topics shouldn’t be removed from the first page because they might be polemic. I am referring mainly to my topic http://www.proz.com/topic/52842.
2) Only cut people’s postings from the forums if they were actually rude, impolite or totally abusive. People are angry sometimes is the fact that the staff prevent people from expressing their opinions freely on certain subjects: jobs, frauds, etc.
We have different cultures/beliefs, etc., but the world could be a better place if we were able to live with each other’s differences, if we respect each other’s cultures/beliefs, etc. We at ProZ.com as a community could make that difference, after all we have a common bound: translation.
I’ve been feeling that we are not always free to tell what we feel, within the common standards of respect, etc, of course. This is becoming a repressive system to me, a kind of dictatorship, and lately I feel like I am contributing to this system I don’t agree with.
Preventing non-paying members from expressing their opinion on this topic also seems to me a form of repression, again, of each one’s freedom of speech. Those who have the money can talk, others don’t, but they are important to build the community/system as well (because they are)… Strange…
3 – Provide better communication and transparency from staff towards members of this community.
First, I think some moderators are sometimes abusive in their role. And I also think that simple issues are immediately and easily treated, while others that could raise some polemics are put aside and not answered at all. I still want an answer to my support ticket dated from 7th August.
(292 words – The best I can do – I felt I had to explain the reasons of my points) ▲ Collapse
| | | | Alicia Casal
Argentina
Local time: 19:42
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Here they go | Sep 18, 2006 |
- Job bids should be moderated, outsourcers identity carefully verified.
- Bids shoud be expressed in due respect to a professional community.
- We need your clear answer to past events posted in the Spanish community. I mean a clear explanation.
A.
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