ProZ.com Translation Forums

Why a Pseudonym? | Just a bit of fun

Robin Ward — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 19:43:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Robin Ward
Post title: Just a bit of fun

I just find it a bit of fun to call myself "Krokodil" (I have to use the German version of "crocodile", because I'm disgusted to see that someone's already stolen this pseudonym (if I ever find out who it is, there'll be trouble ...).

However, if anyone's interested I'll be pleased to reveal the real reason ....

- Croc

Why a Pseudonym? | You must be an animagus

Narasimhan Raghavan — Thu, 26 Aug 2004 02:14:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Narasimhan Raghavan
Post title: You must be an animagus

You must be an animagus a la Harry Potter. Nice picture, Mrs. MacGonagall. How are the transfiguration classes coming up at Poudlard?

Regards,
N.Raghavan

[quote]lien wrote:
all right, I put a photo of myself [/quote]

Why a Pseudonym? | Puisque vous insistez...

lien — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 20:43:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: lien
Post title: Puisque vous insistez...

[quote]Claudia Iglesias wrote:

About logos and pseudonyms, I'm getting used to them (it was a bit hard) but some don't seem professional at all, I wonder how they manage to be selected for jobs.

[/quote]

all right, I put a photo of myself :

[img] [url removed] [/img]

Why a Pseudonym? | It is true!!!

Andrea Ali — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 17:46:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Andrea Ali
Post title: It is true!!!

[quote]Lorenzo Lilli wrote:

[quote]Andrea Ali wrote:

Andrea (no secrets) ;)[/quote]

This could be a little bit ambiguous, as "Andrea" would be a man in Italy and a woman eg in Germany :) (just the same as Gabriele). Afaik, I sometimes received mail for Ms. Lilli Lorenzo, even though I'm actually Mr Lorenzo Lilli ;) Someone thinks even that Lilli is a nickname for Lorenzo - no kidding.[/quote]

Hope the picture speaks for itself... Or shall I wear a bikini?
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Very interesting thread indeed!

Mrs. Andrea Ali ;)

Why a Pseudonym? | Carly Fiorina, Fred Smith and Bill Gates.....

Williamson — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 07:55:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Williamson
Post title: Carly Fiorina, Fred Smith and Bill Gates.....

Should HP forget its logo and called itself Carly Fiorina (CEO), FedEx forget its logo and call itself Fred Smith(CEO) and Microsoft forget its brand/logo and call itself Bill Gates (CEO) etc...? Or is your face your logo? Of course, no individual translator is as wealthy as the above-mentioned individuals.
But then again, they have a well-oiled money-making machine to support them whether they work or not.

Why a Pseudonym? | public vs private persona

sarahl (X) — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 03:32:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: sarahl (X)
Post title: public vs private persona

another aspect a number of posters already mentioned is our multiple hats. We are professionals, self-employed (i.e companies), outsourcers on occasion, as well as private citizens. I think our companies fictitious names and/or our professional names -I use both- can help us keep all these people separate, and help us keep our sanity. Similarly, I use one room as an office in my house, the rest of the house is devoted to my personal life. I like to "feng shui" my roles the way I did my house. :D
Sarahl (my alias as a professional)

Why a Pseudonym? | Gender and other considerations

Henry Hinds — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 02:31:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Henry Hinds
Post title: Gender and other considerations

My question about pseudonyms was not intended to specifically involve gender although that is one issue in identifying one's self or remaining anonymous. Perhaps gender could turn into another interesting thread and if someone wishes to start one, then feel free.

I think the main issue is how much the Internet, the faceless societies in which we often must live, the predominance of large organizations and perhaps a fear of the unknown can influence the way we present ourselves, how we package it and what we do or do not let out.

If we all share one main characteristic it would seem that we tend to be very independent and individualistic but at the same time we have to deal with many forces we cannot control. That appears to be part of the very nature of our profession. We do not have much if any of the collective power that many other professionals have. Thus the only clout we can have is individual.

Does the use of a pseudonym (or not) have anything to do with all this?

Why a Pseudonym? | Just M or F will do

Narasimhan Raghavan — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 01:13:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Narasimhan Raghavan
Post title: Just M or F will do

For reasons of proper addressing and using the correct verb forms in case of reflexive verbs and to use correct pronounns (true for all my three languages) just the indication M or F will do. Is this information not mandatory in all other situations where one fills up personal information? I think, even in the case of taking a yahoo id one has to indicate the field meant for this purpose.

Once this is indicated, be as mysterious as you want. As far as I am concerned, I will always be known as Narasimhan Raghavan. That is my full name. Any Indian can tell that it is a man, the moment he hears that name. For the sake of others my photo too is given, which clinches the issue once for all.

Talking of genders, I am reminded of my friend Mr. Lal. He was referring to his wife as follows. "My wife is a graduate and he specialized in English literature". For a moment I was amazed. Then the penny dropped. Lal's mother tongue is Hindi and in that language the third person singular pronoun "woh" indicates a she as well as a he. The funny thing is, Lal was not aware of the faux pas committed by him and he (a he he) went talking about him (a she he). Again there is that famous short story in Hindi "Usne kaha tha". There were two translations of that story in Tamil. One transltor gave the title "He said it (Avan sonnan)" and the other gave the title "She said it (Aval sonnal)". When I raised this query in a translation seminar, where translators from various parts of India were gathered, the Hindi mother tongue people started discussing and the opinion was equally divided between eh and she, for the simple reason, both he and she had said something in that story.

Regards,
N.Raghavan

[Edited at 2004-08-25 08:52]

Why a Pseudonym? | A man and a woman

Luisa Ramos, CT — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Luisa Ramos, CT
Post title: A man and a woman

Hi, Henry.
I will add my two-cents' worth to this thread.
When I started in Proz, I had my dear flag as my icon and my name entered as Luisabel. I am very fond of this name. One day, after I switched the flag for my picture, someone told me they had thought I was a man all along. They said they read my name as a combination of "Luis" and "Abel", two masculine names. It turns out it is just a combination of mine and my sister's names: Luisa and Isabel, same syllable at the end of the first and at the beginning of the second, and it was a name my father teasingly used to call us both at once when we were kids.
Many times I wonder whether someone is an M or an F butI specially wonder where they are and what country they are originally from.

Why a Pseudonym? | I am also a private person....

swisstell — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 23:23:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: swisstell
Post title: I am also a private person....

...outside of being a translator, and I like to make a separation there.

Why a Pseudonym? | Gender? Name? Who cares?

espurna — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 21:53:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: espurna
Post title: Gender? Name? Who cares?

"espurna" ("spark" in Catalan) suggest a female in my native language, but it is (most probably) neutral in the rest of the world. Then you can go to my ProZ link and find something like "Joaquim Ma." as given name. Probably a man, but many times interpreted as a woman both in Catalonia and Spain. I have never worried about it, no matter they were wrong o wright about my gender.
On the other side, what about the reliability of a complete name (first and family)? During about a year, I was the head-editor of a magazine using a name... that was just false. No one did ever express a doubt about that bogus head-editor.

Male, female, named or pseudonymed, I am always the same one and also my work will be. You can call me sir, madam or just espurna, I think that's not so important.

[Edited at 2004-08-24 22:11]

Why a Pseudonym? | No secrets?

Lorenzo Lilli — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 18:51:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Lorenzo Lilli
Post title: No secrets?

[quote]Andrea Ali wrote:

Andrea (no secrets) ;)[/quote]

This could be a little bit ambiguous, as "Andrea" would be a man in Italy and a woman eg in Germany :) (just the same as Gabriele). Afaik, I sometimes received mail for Ms. Lilli Lorenzo, even though I'm actually Mr Lorenzo Lilli ;) Someone thinks even that Lilli is a nickname for Lorenzo - no kidding.

Why a Pseudonym? | Keep it up!

Henry Hinds — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 18:25:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Henry Hinds
Post title: Keep it up!

I thought this might turn into an interesting thread, and it has, keep the opinions coming!

And yes, Andrea, I can assure you that "Teju" is not a man. I did wonder where she got "Teju" and now I know; the last time I saw her I forgot to ask.

Of course Claudia knows my name and mug, the photo I use was taken at her home, I think by Claudia herself! And that IS Claudia, by the way.

As for my own opinion, I have always used my own name because it is my stock in trade, I began life with it and good or bad, it is who I am. To some I am also "fronterizo" because it tells a bit about the setting in which I live and work, but my name is always there.

I do think, as some others do, that a real name and face promote more confidence than a set of initials or a creative (or non-creative) pseudonym or fanciful image. Perhaps in other forums it is best for many reasons to create a "persona", but I do not think it would be the case here.

Others think differently... keep it coming!

Why a Pseudonym? | I wonder, Raghavan,

Claudia Iglesias — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 17:44:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Claudia Iglesias
Post title: I wonder, Raghavan,

whether people would fill it.

[quote]Narasimhan Raghavan wrote:
Hence I repeat the request the request to the Proz staff: Please provide a field for the form of salutation.[/quote]

And if I was voting for the proposal, I'd prefer just to indicate M or F (or M or B like written in the other thread)
:-).

Why a Pseudonym? | No reason at all

teju — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 17:17:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: teju
Post title: No reason at all

Hola Henry, you know who I am because we've met, we happen to live in the same town.
When I had to enter my proz name, I chose "teju" on a whim. As some of you may know, a teju is a lizard from South America. My husband is from Argentina, and he works in the leather industry. This is the explanation of what my pseudonym means and why I chose it.
It was never my intention to hide who I was, as a matter of fact, if you log into my member info, you'll see everything there is to know about me (all boring stuff).
As far as not projecting the right image for prospective employers, I never thought about that because I don't look for work in proz, I'm on contract with a government agency. I log into proz to ask questions every so often, and to answer questions more often than not.
I enjoy the camaraderie, and "meeting" colleagues from all over the world. Most of those who participate in proz often, already know who I am.
I do agree that gender should not have anything to do with one's ability to answer a question.
I've been un-masked! Zorro could find me now in El Paso,Texas, living under the name Ana Trachter.
Signed,
Teju
Ana
or The Masked Translator

Why a Pseudonym? | Weighing Words

Williamson — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 17:07:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Williamson
Post title: Weighing Words

I am not critisizing moderators. Yes, it better now.
Basically, we are all (trying) to sell a service the best we can. On Forums, you can exchange ideas about this service, but do you need to make others look ridiculous about the service they try to sell or how they try to sell it.

The heart of this topic is "why use an pseudonym":
When this site started up, this possibility was offered.
I opted for it and stuck to it. I have been using the symbol of the dolphin on invoices and stationary since 1993 in various shapes and I until now I have stuck to it too...

[Edited at 2004-08-24 17:07]

Why a Pseudonym? | I wouldn't worry too much about that

sarahl (X) — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 17:06:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: sarahl (X)
Post title: I wouldn't worry too much about that

[quote]Narasimhan Raghavan wrote:

Had I written "Tu es gentil, Lien" she would have felt bad.

[/quote]

When the person I had in mind told me s/he had been convinced for months that I was a man, I laughed my head off. So would Lien if someone believes she's a man.
Which doesn't really matter imo. I agree with other posters that the gender shouldn't make a difference. This is a professional forum, after all. If we want to get to know people on a more personal basis, then we can exchange emails or throw a pow wow. By the way Claudia, we held an unofficial pow wow in St. Louis a few weeks ago, all the Prozians in town (all two of us!) got together for lunch.
anonymously yours ;-)
Sarahl

Why a Pseudonym? | I am glad I am asked to explain my stand

Narasimhan Raghavan — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 16:29:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Narasimhan Raghavan
Post title: I am glad I am asked to explain my stand

The reason is very simple. When I am replying to a posting of say "lien", I will have to use the pronoun sometimes. Why lien? I will tell you. Once I wanted to thank her for translating into French my English posting in a French thread. (Traduction avant l'internet". "Tu es gentille, Lien", I wrote. For finding out the gender I went to her profile and saw the mention "Native French Lady, grew up in France". That was that. Had I written "Tu es gentil, Lien" she would have felt bad. And if I had to address her formally, I would have written "Dear Madam". As simple as that.

Hence I repeat the request the request to the Proz staff: Please provide a field for the form of salutation.

Regards,
N.Raghavan

[quote]CMJ_Trans wrote:

For the same reasons as sarahl, among others, I have no wish to "go public" but I should like to ask Narasimhan Raghavan why he needs to know whether fellow prozs are male or female? As "Chris", I have been deliberately cagey about whether that is short for Christian, Christine, Christopher, Christiane, etc. simply because I don't think my gender is relevant to the answers I give. Imagine I am female and I answer a very technical question. There is every likelihood that some macho males might discount my reply on the lines of "she's a woman - how could she know anything about that?". Equally, if I am male and I answer a question about cooking or knitting patterns, my answer (however correct) could be ignored.
What matters is quality and gender is therefore, in my book, irrelevant to the issue at stake!
Not wishing to be unfriendly, just trying to avoid clouding the waters
Chris[/quote]

Why a Pseudonym? | Strange

Claudia Iglesias — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 15:42:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Claudia Iglesias
Post title: Strange

There seems to be some paradox in what you say.
The general idea that I understand is that it's better now in spite of the adjective "heavily"?

I wonder what has made things change. I don't think that it's the presence of moderators but the creation of rules that include mutual respect. Of course, moderators' role is to enforce those rules, but when they are respected they don't have to intervene (in their moderator role).

As a moderator I've been thinking a lot about the rules that I have to enforce, and I might have changed my opinions about some topics. Recently I was wondering whether ProZ.com hadn't found the solution to avoid conflicts between countries and cultures.

Claudia

[quote]Williamson wrote:
Nowadays forums translator sites are heavily moderated.
When this site and other sites started, mods were scarce.
There used to be flame-wars,i.e. wars of words about issues such as who can translate, the mother-tongue issue, the frequent use of the substantive "unprofessional", "quack",... etc.
In the end, everybody is trying to earn a living and it is up to the end customer to be the final judge of the quality of the delivered job.[/quote]

Why a Pseudonym? | War of Words

Williamson — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 15:25:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Williamson
Post title: War of Words

@Nancy Lynn:
Nowadays forums translator sites are heavily moderated.
When this site and other sites started, mods were scarce.
There used to be flame-wars,i.e. wars of words about issues such as who can translate, the mother-tongue issue, the frequent use of the substantive "unprofessional", "quack",... etc.
In the end, everybody is trying to earn a living and it is up to the end customer to be the final judge of the quality of the delivered job.

[Edited at 2004-08-24 15:26]

Why a Pseudonym? | Dear Sir

NancyLynn — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 13:53:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: NancyLynn
Post title: Dear Sir

[quote]sarahl wrote:

you\'re going to laugh at this, but at least one person thought for months that I was a man. :-)
Sarahl[/quote]

I sometimes receive mail addressed to me: Dear Sir...

I expect that on the phone (think Grace Under Fire) but here?? ;-)

N.

PS The first time I posted this message it went into never-never land. It's because I forgot to fill in the subject line!!!
That might answer a few questions regarding unvetted, but also unavailable, posts.;-)

Why a Pseudonym? | Don't like my real name distorted when referred to by non-Polish colleagues

Agnieszka Hayward (X) — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 13:42:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Agnieszka Hayward (X)
Post title: Don't like my real name distorted when referred to by non-Polish colleagues

... plus I think it's easier in an international community like Proz.com to use a nickname for some of us. Like myself.

Of course, when bidding for a job or contacting anyone in Proz with an official purpose in mind, I sign my emails with my real name.

Is it a problem if one uses a pseudonym?

There are so many companies named after anything but their owner's name with a logo not even remotedly resembling his/ her face... :) And such companies still can do well.

Referring to what was mentioned about the gender of the translator - to me it never mattered within Proz.com. Sure thing it would matter irl :)

Regards,
Agnieszka Guzewicz,
the Easily Pronounceable

[Edited at 2004-08-24 13:44]

Why a Pseudonym? | What do you mean, Williamson?

NancyLynn — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 13:30:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: NancyLynn
Post title: What do you mean, Williamson?

[quote]Williamson wrote:

The second reason is to avoid flame-wars.

[Edited at 2004-08-24 13:29][/quote]

I don't understand.

Nancy

Why a Pseudonym? | I'm a bitch!

Christine Andersen — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 13:04:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Christine Andersen
Post title: I'm a bitch!

Sorry, I've just browsed in from this thread...

[url removed]

... and given the choice, that's the one that matches my humour this afternoon!

Why a Pseudonym? | I like to know the gender

Claudia Iglesias — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 12:56:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Claudia Iglesias
Post title: I like to know the gender

I'm of those who like to know the gender of the other person. In real life a glance or the sound of the voice is enough to know whether it's a man or a woman. We can also have more information (young, old, tired, full of energy, and many other signs that we can interpret).

I'm not aware of treating in a different manner men or women, or accepting more or or less an answer depending on whom gave it. But I do feel closer to the person when I know whether it's him or her. The person is less unknown to me. It's difficult to explain.

I've been thinking of that for some time now, because it bothers me not to know, and now, when somebody is introduced to me, I don't hesitate to ask directly (like children do), "Are you a woman or a man?" or less directly "Is it a female or male noun?"

About logos and pseudonyms, I'm getting used to them (it was a bit hard) but some don't seem professional at all, I wonder how they manage to be selected for jobs.

Claudia

[Edited at 2004-08-24 13:49]

Why a Pseudonym? | Gender?????

Jesús Marín Mateos — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 08:11:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Jesús Marín Mateos
Post title: Gender?????

I respect people wanting to keep their privacy and therefore if someone wants to use an alias it is fine although as Henry says they should make sure their real names are not somewhere else in their profile.
What I really don't understand is why someone would need to know the gender of a translator. I don't think it makes any difference at least for me since when I am in Kudoz, fora, etc I will find interesting (or not) the content of what they have to say and not the gender of the person. The only case in which this if important is in job postings but then again if I see a job offer for a voice-over and they need females definitely I will not be bidding for it.
I am one of those who think that the male/female opposition is something of the past.
Just a thought.

Why a Pseudonym? | Reasons (or lack thereof)

Paul Roige (X) — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 07:49:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Paul Roige (X)
Post title: Reasons (or lack thereof)

Ego-trippers do not necessarily need a name, not even an alias, but then there comes El Zorro, or was it Banderas? Whatever set of combined letters, symbols or pixels you use, that becomes your brand. Some use their real name to raise or increase customer confidence, that is: here's my rapidly disappearing hairdo, here's my weird family name et voil, c'est moi, yours truly. Others don't see the need and are successful anyway, fair enough and glad to hear.
Different attitudes but one common goal. So welcome everyone.
P :-)

Why a Pseudonym? | Gender

CMJ_Trans (X) — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 07:15:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: CMJ_Trans (X)
Post title: Gender

For the same reasons as sarahl, among others, I have no wish to "go public" but I should like to ask Narasimhan Raghavan why he needs to know whether fellow prozs are male or female? As "Chris", I have been deliberately cagey about whether that is short for Christian, Christine, Christopher, Christiane, etc. simply because I don't think my gender is relevant to the answers I give. Imagine I am female and I answer a very technical question. There is every likelihood that some macho males might discount my reply on the lines of "she's a woman - how could she know anything about that?". Equally, if I am male and I answer a question about cooking or knitting patterns, my answer (however correct) could be ignored.
What matters is quality and gender is therefore, in my book, irrelevant to the issue at stake!
Not wishing to be unfriendly, just trying to avoid clouding the waters
Chris

Why a Pseudonym? | Some reasons

Williamson — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 07:08:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Why a Pseudonym?
Poster: Williamson
Post title: Some reasons

I wanted to use a name and a symbol which sounds well in every language. If you surf to a site of a big company, say DHL, how many time times do you see the logo/symbol of DHL.
The use of a logo on your stationary, invoices etc.. can be useful when your invoice is lingering somewhere in a stack of invoices. If I mention the one with the dolphin on, people suddenly seem to remember that they received that invoice.
The second reason is to avoid flame-wars.
The third reason is that I work together with others. A name and a symbol comes handy to represent a group of people.

[Edited at 2004-08-24 13:29]