| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: How do you handle jobs on subjects which go against your personal beliefs/ethics? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| Self-indulgence... | Mar 29, 2007 |
lexical wrote:
simple distaste could be argued to be self-indulgence.
I'm sure it could.
Just as anyone choosing a career or specialisation could be considered self-indulgent...
I do not believe that exercising personal choice makes anyone less professional, or that they should be condemned for doing so. We live in a world where there are plenty of people who will do (and enjoy) what others find too distasteful, or gross, or disturbing, just as there are plenty of people who will do what others find too boring, too difficult or too poorly paid. It's all relative.
I personally have no problem translating adult material, for example, whereas some people on this thread have said that they will not take on this type of work.
[Edited at 2007-03-29 20:00]
[Edited at 2007-03-29 20:03]
| | | | 638556 (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:30
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Case by case basis | Mar 29, 2007 |
I tend to consider every case individually, because although it may not be what I personally believe, it is always interesting to find out another point of view.
I do not like to form an opinion of something without first gathering sufficient information on it, so for me it is another way of doing that. I think that if you are going to disagree with an issue you should know both sides of the argument. For example, if you are going to proclaim that you do not believe in God, it m... See more I tend to consider every case individually, because although it may not be what I personally believe, it is always interesting to find out another point of view.
I do not like to form an opinion of something without first gathering sufficient information on it, so for me it is another way of doing that. I think that if you are going to disagree with an issue you should know both sides of the argument. For example, if you are going to proclaim that you do not believe in God, it makes sense that you first read the Bible, at least to become informed and back up your "non-belief". You may guess that I am stickler for research! I'm a horrible person to debate with! ) Anyway, that's just my two cent's worth!
Jo ▲ Collapse
| | | | | refuse and explain | Mar 29, 2007 |
Jobs rejected recently:
- tender offer for purchase of several hundred thousand rounds of small-arms ammunition by a certain country's military.
- large ongoing engagement for a consulting company providing IT services to a certain government.
Speaking from a position I like to think of as principled anarchism, government work is generally right out for me. The only exception is enough non-harmful government work each year which serves to recoup 100% of my... See more Jobs rejected recently:
- tender offer for purchase of several hundred thousand rounds of small-arms ammunition by a certain country's military.
- large ongoing engagement for a consulting company providing IT services to a certain government.
Speaking from a position I like to think of as principled anarchism, government work is generally right out for me. The only exception is enough non-harmful government work each year which serves to recoup 100% of my expected tax "contribution" to the state.
As for the level of explanation, it's generally not necessary to say anything beyond "I'd not like to accept this project, for ethical reasons."
In (mirthful) reference to some other comments made here, should anyone come across a job requiring translation of Slovak pornography to English, please look me up.
Peace,
Mike ▲ Collapse
| | | | Clara Duarte 
Portugal
Local time: 18:30
English to Portuguese
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Since I was never in such a position, I answered 'Other'.
I also advocate animal rights and am against animal cruelty, so I'd reject any text which would state an opinion favouring animal experimentation, sex with animals (yuck!), the use of real fur, or anything on that matter. Even though I have been a vegetarian for some time now, I understand most people eat meat, so if I were offered to translate something which refered to meat consumption I'd feel inclined to accept the job, b... See more Since I was never in such a position, I answered 'Other'.
I also advocate animal rights and am against animal cruelty, so I'd reject any text which would state an opinion favouring animal experimentation, sex with animals (yuck!), the use of real fur, or anything on that matter. Even though I have been a vegetarian for some time now, I understand most people eat meat, so if I were offered to translate something which refered to meat consumption I'd feel inclined to accept the job, because meat replacement is not cheap!
Truth is, meat comsuption would still be against my principles of not killing any form of life, but like any other professional, a translator has to be reasonable, so he/she must weigh the prons and cons. If he/she is likely to feel bad about it and feels the payment is not enough compensation for doing something that will cause him/her psychological discomfort, I advise anyone to just say no. ▲ Collapse
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Buck wrote:
I'm a legal translator, so there isn't much chance of me getting a job that does conflict. I would, however, refuse to translate pornography or anything of an explicity sexual nature.
As a sworn translator, I was once asked by a court to translate a series of police interrogations of a notorious paedophile/murderer. The job was revolting, but I felt I was serving the court ... so even in legal translations there is a possibility of conflict. And the hardest about the job was to keep detached and objective, without tinting the actual text with my own emotions.
With legal/business/technical specialisations, I voted N/A before I remembered that particular case ...
[Edited at 2007-03-30 07:26]
| | | | Jeremy Smith
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:30
Member (2003)
French to English
+ ...
| Context is everything | Mar 30, 2007 |
A job may have extremely distateful content or relate to illegal activities, but if it is clearly going to be used as a study into the subject at hand or to combat the relevant activity (arms, sex crimes, etc.) as opposed to aiding and abetting illegal and/or abhorrent activities, then I would certainly accept the job.
As far as politics goes, I have translated texts that do not square with my own personal way of thinking, but I am a professional and am therefore detached and object... See more A job may have extremely distateful content or relate to illegal activities, but if it is clearly going to be used as a study into the subject at hand or to combat the relevant activity (arms, sex crimes, etc.) as opposed to aiding and abetting illegal and/or abhorrent activities, then I would certainly accept the job.
As far as politics goes, I have translated texts that do not square with my own personal way of thinking, but I am a professional and am therefore detached and objective, so I have no qualms over translating such documents. I'm really quite left-wing, but I wouldn't object to translating for a broadly centre-right organisation simply because I disagree with them. An extreme right-wing organisation, however, would receive a none too polite refusal.
I'm an atheist, but I would be perfectly happy to translate texts of a religious nature, as long as I didn't find the text morally objectionable (indoctrinating children, inciting hatred of other religions etc). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | It depends on what sort of beliefs we are talking about | Mar 30, 2007 |
Hilary Davies wrote: Interesting poll! One of my specialist subjects is cosmetics, so I sometimes get asked to do texts for companies which engage in animal testing. I am COMPLETELY against this, so if I know that the company in question does it, I don't accept the job. Luckily there aren't so many that I am continually turning down work, but it does happen. I also occasionally get medical texts which touch on similar subjects. After a nasty experience early on in my freelancing career, I always "scan" these texts now to make sure that there is nothing horrific lurking on page 9, for example, before accepting the job! I'm always happy to translate texts on medical innovations which require fewer animals to be used in medical developments and testing. I've also translated eyewitness testimonies from the Holocaust. While this was harrowing work, and did reduce me to tears at a couple of points, I felt it was very important to do it as well as it could be done, in order to ensure that these terrible stories were told as accurately as possible. The flip side of this is that I can use my translation skills to promote causes I DO believe in, and I do do occasional pro bono jobs for charities and campaigns I feel strongly about. [Edited at 2007-03-29 16:57]
Very good point, Hillary: that you must make sure there isn't something horrible lurking, and that you can support things you believe in.
I would never translate pornography or a text inciting to terrorism or something like that. That goes against my ethics, and I won't do it. In fact, I have turned down sexually explicit texts in the past.
When it comes to personal religious beliefs it's more tricky, because I specialize in religion, and at times I get a text discussing a specific religious belief which I don't share. I see it as part of my professionalism, to translate is as faithfully as I can, even though I don't agree.
If the text, on the other hand, would argue something that is totally against my beliefs or I consider is blatantly wrong and pernicious, I would turn it down. I haven't had that happen yet, though.
| | | | 1279 (X)
Local time: 13:30
| personal beliefs/experiences may also affect translation quality | Mar 30, 2007 |
It is possible that a translator's personal beliefs may reduce the quality of his/her translation. Ideally, we would all be able to maintain "total objectivity" (whatever that is!), but the tone of the translation could be affected if we are repulsed/angry/disgusted with the contents of the document.
In legal interpreter training for the courts in my area (Indiana, United States), we were instructed to ask to be dismissed from interpreting cases that are too closely related to unres... See more It is possible that a translator's personal beliefs may reduce the quality of his/her translation. Ideally, we would all be able to maintain "total objectivity" (whatever that is!), but the tone of the translation could be affected if we are repulsed/angry/disgusted with the contents of the document.
In legal interpreter training for the courts in my area (Indiana, United States), we were instructed to ask to be dismissed from interpreting cases that are too closely related to unresolved personal issues. It is recognized that even an excellent interpreter will have trouble with material that is too emotional.
So after deciding that I can ethically take on an upsetting project, I also assess whether or not my emotional response will prevent me from delivering a final product that meets my professional standards. If I cannot stomach the idea of researching synonyms and rethinking my structure choices for each line of the material, then I owe it to the client to decline the work. ▲ Collapse
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| Who are we to judge | Mar 30, 2007 |
Rafa Lombardino wrote:
I understand that the magazine has a target audience that believes in those statements, so who am I to judge.
I entirely agree with this statement. By translating a document we dislike or don't agree with, we are just being professional and do our job.
I can see a reason to reject a job if we profundly dislike (for whatever the reasons) the person who is ordering it and we don't want any business with him/her. But judging whether some text is inmoral, illegal, misleading, etc. is not our duty. That's something for a tribunal or the readers to judge.
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It depends on the actual job, but I'd never voice my opinion on the contents of the document (simply state that I'm unavailable at the given moment if I feel uncomfortable about the subject) - why should the client care about my personal beliefs or emotional responses to a certain issue? When I feel like crusading for causes of my choice, I take that feeling to the proper institutions - after all, no client ever approached me about a prospective job with a moral sermon... it's a matter of common... See more It depends on the actual job, but I'd never voice my opinion on the contents of the document (simply state that I'm unavailable at the given moment if I feel uncomfortable about the subject) - why should the client care about my personal beliefs or emotional responses to a certain issue? When I feel like crusading for causes of my choice, I take that feeling to the proper institutions - after all, no client ever approached me about a prospective job with a moral sermon... it's a matter of common courtesy in business, methinks.
Having said that, I find working on "adult-themed" translations quite fun. Not to mention that it's the only time my husband actually offers to help me with my work...
So Mike, would you consider translating English pornography into Slovak as well? ▲ Collapse
| | | | | veering giddily off-topic... | Mar 30, 2007 |
Marija Stojanovich wrote: So Mike, would you consider translating English pornography into Slovak as well?
Only on a need-to-know basis, and provided that adequate safeguards are implemented and enforced to prevent its disclosure to unauthorized third parties.
Oh, wait, that was the information security strategy...
Seriously, I couldn't handle it. I lack the literary qualifications
| | | | | Reject & explain why | Mar 30, 2007 |
As a vegetarian I wouldn't translate anything for the meat industry for example, and I'd be quite happy to explain my rejection - you never know, it might be an eye opener to somebody and get them going in a new direction.
Jeremy Smith wrote: "As far as politics goes, I have translated texts that do not square with my own personal way of thinking, but I am a professional and am therefore detached and objective, so I have no qualms over translating such documents. I'm really quite l... See more As a vegetarian I wouldn't translate anything for the meat industry for example, and I'd be quite happy to explain my rejection - you never know, it might be an eye opener to somebody and get them going in a new direction.
Jeremy Smith wrote: "As far as politics goes, I have translated texts that do not square with my own personal way of thinking, but I am a professional and am therefore detached and objective, so I have no qualms over translating such documents. I'm really quite left-wing, but I wouldn't object to translating for a broadly centre-right organisation simply because I disagree with them. An extreme right-wing organisation, however, would receive a none too polite refusal."[/quote]
I agree. But having said that I would not be happy to translate any Christian or Muslim texts, because I'm an atheist and in this case I wouldn't be able to be 'detached and objective' enough. I also think it would be in the interest of both parties if I said no to texts like that. (By the way, being an atheist, does not necessarily mean that I don't know the bible.) ▲ Collapse
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| I don't own a luxury car | Mar 30, 2007 |
Michaela Sommer wrote:
I agree. But having said that I would not be happy to translate any Christian or Muslim texts, because I'm an atheist and in this case I wouldn't be able to be 'detached and objective' enough. I also think it would be in the interest of both parties if I said no to texts like that. (By the way, being an atheist, does not necessarily mean that I don't know the bible.)
I don't own a luxury car and to a certain extent I am against the idea of luxury cars, but translate about luxury cars. I don't see why I should not translate about luxury cars... only if I make my goal to convince everyone that luxury cars should be banned...
| | | | | Subliminal Messages... | Mar 30, 2007 |
Tomás Cano Binder wrote: I don't own a luxury car and to a certain extent I am against the idea of luxury cars, but translate about luxury cars. I don't see why I should not translate about luxury cars... only if I make my goal to convince everyone that luxury cars should be banned...
Hmm yes... I'm sure it could be done - subliminal messages in the translation...perhaps you could use particular words which would spell out "luxury cars are evil" in a diagonal pattern, or something)
| | | | Colin Ryan (X)
Local time: 19:30
Italian to English
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| Ever been offered any? | Mar 30, 2007 |
Yaotl Altan wrote:
I have never translated and will never translate any single word related to paedophilia, for instance. I don't care if they pay the same day using a 10 €/word rate.
Have you ever actually been offered work of this type? If I was, not only would I refuse it, I'd report it to the police immediately.
I hate to point this out, but a paedophile would hardly be so stupid as to commission a translation from a professional translator!
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