| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Announcing the Pro Bono Project Thread poster: Andrew Morris
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| A confusion of beneficiaries | Oct 14, 2022 |
Thanks Jared for that.
A simple further point I'd add is that no one is doing pro bono work for ProZ.com. We are matching volunteers and beneficiaries just as we match translators and agencies/end clients in the remunerated world.
It's generating lots of enthusiasm amongst those – experienced and inexperienced alike – who are inclined to this sort of work, which is all we are asking for.
| | | | expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 15:01
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| With all due respect | Oct 14, 2022 |
Ali Bayraktar wrote:
There is no pro bono in this world.
Because the human being is becoming more and more selfish, I guess.
I can understand you, but you're mistaken. There are still a few kind people who offer help to those in need without asking for anything in return.
David GAY wrote:
I don t understand why high quality translations are needed for NGOs which help refugees or to cure people who only speak their mother tongue and also most of the time english.
Beside, Microsoft, Google... those are the kind of companies strongly involved in this kind of projects. The same that are involved in improving MT. Strange coincidence... Funding are scarce...LOL...It seems those companies have more than enough money to fund MT...
And I don't understand why a member who isn't interested in volunteer work, according to your profile, is interested in this topic. When a topic doesn't catch my attention, I avoid discussing it.
| | | | Stepan Konev 
Russian Federation
Local time: 17:01
English to Russian
Jared Tabor wrote:
there will be people for whom the project is neither compelling nor interesting, but there will be others for whom it is, and they should be allowed to participate in this discussion and the project if they choose to The more they talk the less they do. Those who are interested in the project don't have much to discuss, they do. Those who like talking don't have much to do, they talk.
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 16:01
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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I have a major problem with this "Pro Bono Project".
And it has nothing to do with the value or otherwise of doing pro bono translation/interpretation.
It has to do with the unannounced appearance on my profile (and presumably on everyone else's too...) of the following statement:
Volunteer / Pro-bono work Is not currently interested in volunteer work
I have never expressed any disinterest in doing volunteer work, here or in any other forum. I did a stint as an 'overseas volunteer' working in Central America back in the 1970s, and have a pretty clear idea of the ethics, benefits (and problems...) involved in this kind of activity.
I have not been notified by Proz.com of the inclusion by default of this false statement in my profile.
The fact that I can apparently edit the entry is irrelevant. The I choose not to enter this information option should be the DEFAULT, until we each decide to make an informed public statement about our stance regarding pro bono work.
JL
| | | | | @expressisverbis | Oct 15, 2022 |
expressisverbis wrote:
And I don't understand why a member who isn't interested in volunteer work, according to your profile, is interested in this topic. When a topic doesn't catch my attention, I avoid discussing it.
Hmmm... Have you looked at your own profile recently?
It says you are not currently interested in volunteer work. And here you are, discussing it!
JL
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 16:01
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Yes, get rid of that terrible, terrible statement | Oct 15, 2022 |
Jennifer Levey wrote:
It has to do with the unannounced appearance on [the profile page]...
Yup, this is what it looks like:
There are just so many problems with the wording "Is not currently interested in volunteer work".
Firstly, there is a difference between being not interested and being not available for something.
Secondly, the presence of this item means that I am forced to declare my willingness (or unwillingness) to do volunteer work. Previously, I could just leave it up to the client to contact me to ask me if I do volunteer work (then I could answer "yes" or "no"). I mean, personally I don't mind doing volunteer work, but I don't want to advertise it on my profile page, because then I'm going to start receiving a lot more requests to do free translation. And I don't want it said on my profile page that I'm "not available for volunteer work" because I am available for it.
Thirdly, the fact that something is on the profile page (and the options are either "yes" or "no") indicates that this is something that most translators do normally do or do normally consider something that all translators normally do. The profile page contains a "Memberships" section because being a member of some translator society is normal for translators. This is why, even if you don't have any memberships, the "Memberships" section is nonetheless shown on the profile page. The same applies to the "Credentials" section -- it is weirder for a translator not to have credentials than for him to have credentials. Translators who don't have memberships or credentials are forced to have "N/A" in those sections.
Fourthly, the term "pro bono" is often understood to mean "for free" (often under circumstances where payment would otherwise have been required), whereas "volunteer" implies some kind of charitable or humanitarian purpose. Not all "pro bono" work is volunteerism. Pro bono happens when a client doesn't want to pay your minimum fee and asks if you could do it as a freebie. Not all translators who would be willing to reveal that they participate in volunteerism would want to reveal that they are willing to do freebies.
Given all of the above, the volunteer option should really say "Pro Bono Project: N/A". This is, after all, not about volunteer translation, but about ProZ.com's Pro Bono Project.
An alternative approach (if you don't want to tie this specifically to the Pro Bono Project) is to name the section "Volunteerism", and have three options "N/A", "Contact me", and "Available for volunteer translation".
[Edited at 2022-10-15 21:44 GMT]
| | | | | False default statement | Oct 16, 2022 |
Thank you for noticing that, Jennifer!
For me, both of the given choices are undesirable, and I would prefer not to have information about this displayed on my profile at all.
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Daniel Grego
Brazil
Local time: 11:01
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Hi!
My name is Daniel and I've been teaching English for 10 years.
Only now I've thought about working with translation so I have no formal experience yet.
If experience is not needed I would love to be involved, especially if I can use it for my portfolio.
Let me know if I can be of assistance anyhow.
| | | | expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 15:01
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| You are right | Oct 16, 2022 |
Jennifer Levey wrote: expressisverbis wrote:
And I don't understand why a member who isn't interested in volunteer work, according to your profile, is interested in this topic. When a topic doesn't catch my attention, I avoid discussing it.
Hmmm... Have you looked at your own profile recently? It says you are not currently interested in volunteer work. And here you are, discussing it! JL
No, I haven't and I wasn't aware of this. I even don't remember if I checked any box...
Thanks for doing that it in my place.
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Daniel Grego wrote:
Hi!
My name is Daniel and I've been teaching English for 10 years.
Only now I've thought about working with translation so I have no formal experience yet.
If experience is not needed I would love to be involved, especially if I can use it for my portfolio.
Let me know if I can be of assistance anyhow.
Sure, just drop me a line at [email protected]. Thanks!
| | | | | Volunteerism, default etc. | Oct 16, 2022 |
Thanks, everyone (and Jennifer and Samuel in particular), those are useful points about the default options and the wording around them, and I'll pursue this internally.
As a new project, trying to avoid some of the pitfalls raised by Attila, whose article is both cautionary and inspiring, we're going to welcome all constructive viewpoints. Attila's take, as I read it, is not at all a blanket condemnation of all voluntary work, but sounds a rightful warning as to how it can stray o... See more Thanks, everyone (and Jennifer and Samuel in particular), those are useful points about the default options and the wording around them, and I'll pursue this internally.
As a new project, trying to avoid some of the pitfalls raised by Attila, whose article is both cautionary and inspiring, we're going to welcome all constructive viewpoints. Attila's take, as I read it, is not at all a blanket condemnation of all voluntary work, but sounds a rightful warning as to how it can stray off course... I've taken copious notes and shared internally how I plan to build something that learns from the past.
For those simply not interested in volunteering, or who don't agree with it, then I'll assume they'll just pass on, and spend their valuable time on things that do interest them. There are lots of things I disagree with (or simply find uninteresting) out there in the world too. but life's too short for me to bombard fora dedicated to just those pursuits with my objections, which would probably fall on deaf ears.
However, for anyone interested in steering, advising, and even challenging within a broadly positive framework, I'll be all ears. Two minds (or in this case several thousand minds) generally being better than one. ▲ Collapse
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| Emali today about profile indicator - can't find it, where is it? | Nov 4, 2022 |
I just received an email from the ProZ.com site team, saying:
A new option has been added to ProZ.com profiles, which allows users to indicate their willingness to be contacted regarding volunteer or pro bono work with registered non-profit organizations. Based on the information already in your ProZ.com profile (either your professional objectives, or previous work with Translators without Borders), this option has been set to "Yes." If you are no longer interested i ... See more I just received an email from the ProZ.com site team, saying:
A new option has been added to ProZ.com profiles, which allows users to indicate their willingness to be contacted regarding volunteer or pro bono work with registered non-profit organizations. Based on the information already in your ProZ.com profile (either your professional objectives, or previous work with Translators without Borders), this option has been set to "Yes." If you are no longer interested in considering working with NGOs or non-profit organizations, you can change this setting here:
https://www.proz.com/settings/freelancer/services?#volunteer_work
Happy translating,
The ProZ.com site team
I clicked on the link and it takes me to the section of my services but I don't see anywhere this indicator/option.
In fact, I looked all over my profile, both in owner view and visotor view, and can't find it.
If anyone knows where this supposed to appear, would you enlighten me? Screenshot would be great.
Thanks.
[Edited at 2022-11-04 17:21 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | | Stepan Konev
Russian Federation
Local time: 17:01
English to Russian
| Volunteer translations | Nov 8, 2022 |
Hi Jared,
Could you please help me with the 'Volunteer translations' section. I just can't find it anywhere in my profile, but I can see it in other users' profiles:
Is it limited to paid members only?
[Edited at 2022-11-08 14:14 GMT]
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