About KudoZ users : threads opened but never closed…
Thread poster: Laurent Di Raimondo
Laurent Di Raimondo
Laurent Di Raimondo  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 12:27
English to French
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
Mar 5, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

I don’t know whether or not I’m the only one to witness this odd behavior on KudoZ, which I find it quite impolite.

I’ve noticed indeed that some users easily open more and more threads on KudoZ to ask help from us for their current translation project. Apart from the fact some of them don’t provide a lot of information about the context, some also are used to never closing their threads nor giving any score nor comments, even greetings nor than
... See more
Dear Colleagues,

I don’t know whether or not I’m the only one to witness this odd behavior on KudoZ, which I find it quite impolite.

I’ve noticed indeed that some users easily open more and more threads on KudoZ to ask help from us for their current translation project. Apart from the fact some of them don’t provide a lot of information about the context, some also are used to never closing their threads nor giving any score nor comments, even greetings nor thanks, to colleagues who have devoted a bit time (sometimes a lot of time) to make researches and to find accurate and proper references or materials to help.

Those KudoZ users always take but never give...

I find this behavior particularly disrespectful towards respondents, as we ARE here a community of translators sharing all together the same every day’s life concerns and sometimes the same need of help.

Of course, I’m well aware that a KudoZ user is never compelled to close their thread nor to give any score. That’s a point. But as for me, and from this days forth, I no longer will give my help to such impolite and disrespectful users. Just visit their KudoZ profile to know more.

Maybe I’m very naive about human nature, but I deeply believe in cooperation, mutual respect and politeness above all as fundamental values, without them we all are simply only translating machines…

I’m not a translating machine, neither you are!

But maybe I’m wrong… That’s why I would be glad to share your points of view about that.

With my kindest regards to all of you.


[Modifié le 2021-03-06 07:17 GMT]
Collapse


writeaway
Baran Keki
expressisverbis
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Sabrina Bruna
Jennifer White
Michele Fauble
 
Pedro Zimmer
Pedro Zimmer  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 08:27
German to Spanish
You are neither the first nor the only one. Mar 6, 2021

Many KudoZ users totally share your point of view. In fact, I have made several of these disrespectful people aware of it through Kudoz replies.

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
expressisverbis
Laurent Di Raimondo
 
Kang Seok Lee
Kang Seok Lee
South Korea
Local time: 20:27
Member (2018)
English to Korean
+ ...
Beauty and fragrance of rose have nothing to do with viewers Mar 6, 2021

Dear Laurent
How about you take those "disrespectful users who never close their threads nor giving any score nor comments' that they may be very busy because of their urgent project or don't know(still not familiar with Kudoz) how to follow.!?
Or they may very shy by nature.
The most important fact is that regardless of their way of responding, your kind with deep consideration of helping the linguists in need is most highly appreciated by all Proz members.
And as far as
... See more
Dear Laurent
How about you take those "disrespectful users who never close their threads nor giving any score nor comments' that they may be very busy because of their urgent project or don't know(still not familiar with Kudoz) how to follow.!?
Or they may very shy by nature.
The most important fact is that regardless of their way of responding, your kind with deep consideration of helping the linguists in need is most highly appreciated by all Proz members.
And as far as I have experienced, outsourcers watch those active Kudoz linguists for their projects.

As you know very well, the beauty and fragrance of rose have nothing to do with viewers.
Collapse


Yolanda Broad
Peter Shortall
Laurent Di Raimondo
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 12:27
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
@Laurent Mar 6, 2021

Laurent DI RAIMONDO wrote:
Those KudoZ users always take but never give...
I find this behavior particularly disrespectful towards respondents...


It's not. Some colleagues simply enjoy answering questions. But I understand that there are translators who do not want to answer questions without the promise of some sort of feedback. The KudoZ system encourages feedback from askers, but is designed to cater for those who do not wish to give feedback, too. And I believe it is possible for you to limit your answers to people who are unworthy of your assistance.

It would have been nice if there was some sort of setting that would prevent one getting notifications from users who have e.g. not closed a certain percentage of their previous questions.


Laurent Di Raimondo
Kang Seok Lee
 
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:27
Member (2004)
English to Italian
Don't help... Mar 6, 2021

...these people, then. It won't solve the problem, but you'll feel better (maybe)...

Yolanda Broad
Peter Shortall
Laurent Di Raimondo
expressisverbis
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 11:27
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
@Laurent Mar 6, 2021

You’re not the only one who finds that kind of behavior impolite, but it looks like someone is paying attention to your thread as one of my PT-IT answers dating from 2018 has just been closed…

Elena Feriani
expressisverbis
 
Laurent Di Raimondo
Laurent Di Raimondo  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 12:27
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
SITE LOCALIZER
Thank you! Mar 6, 2021

Many thanks to all of you for your supportive and valuable feedbacks.

I wish you the best.

Teresa Borges wrote:

You’re not the only one who finds that kind of behavior impolite, but it looks like someone is paying attention to your thread as one of my PT-IT answers dating from 2018 has just been closed…


Glad to hear that, Teresa! It's worth at least all the scores I've never ever got on KudoZ before...

[Modifié le 2021-03-06 18:31 GMT]


 
Tina Vonhof (X)
Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 05:27
Dutch to English
+ ...
Reminders no longer there? Mar 7, 2021

There used to be a time when you would get a reminder from proz staff to "close your question and award points to the most helpful answer". Likewise you would get a warning if you tried to close your question early, before 24 hours had passed. Is that one of the useful things that have disappeared?

neilmac
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
3089491 (X)
3089491 (X)  Identity Verified
Luxembourg
Local time: 12:27
Eternally open questions without context Mar 7, 2021

Not sure to what extent Proz.com staff are still monitoring fora, but a few things could be done:

Context

This is a huge topic. Its importance is severally underestimated.

Indeed, as a general rule we should not provide our specific context, out of consideration for the customer's confidentiality. Still, one cannot anwer a term question confidently unless he/she knows the context.

My approach to this was to dedicate some specific time to asking
... See more
Not sure to what extent Proz.com staff are still monitoring fora, but a few things could be done:

Context

This is a huge topic. Its importance is severally underestimated.

Indeed, as a general rule we should not provide our specific context, out of consideration for the customer's confidentiality. Still, one cannot anwer a term question confidently unless he/she knows the context.

My approach to this was to dedicate some specific time to asking questions, when I really needed to ask questions. I would look for a somewhat similar context on the Internet.

With the current technology, ofuscating the context could be easily automated. Possible scenario: the translator enters the real context in a box, and the system provides the translator with random similar contexts to choose from. Once the translator chose the preferred context, the real context is deleted without trace. Of course, there might be some legal hurdles to that, some legal risk to be taken. An arrangement with a corpus provider might be an option.

Open questions

The real problem, as I see it is the "the winner takes it all" approach (and only if some conditions are met). Answering a question is often a collaborative effort. A whole discussion takes place, with people looking in books and reference materials they cite in the discussion thread. There is a lot of value on some KudoZ pages and, with one exception, the people putting the effort get no reward at all.

Indeed, if a question remains open, no points are granted.

Potential solution: if recognised specialists (leaders in the KudoZ ranking) are inclined to, they could be given the administrative right to close questions and grant points. A recognition would need to be given for that effort.
They would not get involved in questions where they provided an answer, because anyway, the system would not alloiw that.
And naturally, some decisions to grant points (too many, or why even grant points for such an answer?!) will be contested. In vain, unless, of course, there is something very obvious that needs correcting.
Collapse


Sebastian Witte
Laurent Di Raimondo
 
Laura Mico
Laura Mico  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 12:27
Member (2023)
English to Spanish
+ ...
I wonder if there's a limit of open questions each user may have Nov 10, 2023

I have also noticed users asking questions without closing the (many) old ones (kind of rude if you ask me, I was expecting a "thank you", at least).

Is there any limit of time or quantity to open questions?
Like, "you can have x number of open questions" or "you can have open questions not more than x days old" if you want to post a new one.

However, I understand the main goal of KudoZ is glossary building, so this is probably not a priority for ProZ.
I am
... See more
I have also noticed users asking questions without closing the (many) old ones (kind of rude if you ask me, I was expecting a "thank you", at least).

Is there any limit of time or quantity to open questions?
Like, "you can have x number of open questions" or "you can have open questions not more than x days old" if you want to post a new one.

However, I understand the main goal of KudoZ is glossary building, so this is probably not a priority for ProZ.
I am also aware of the selfish vs selfless debate about answering kudoz, but I think very few things are so clear-cut in life.
Collapse


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Christopher Schröder
 


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


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

About KudoZ users : threads opened but never closed…






Protemos translation business management system
Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!

The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.

More info »
Trados Business Manager Lite
Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio

Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.

More info »