| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10] > | New golden stars to acknowledge long term membership ('Canceled') Thread poster: Enrique Cavalitto
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Prawi 
Austria
Local time: 10:36
German to Italian
| Couldn't agree more | Mar 12, 2009 |
Michele Johnson wrote: This seems like a classic distraction measure to me - look at the beautiful shiny things! - to draw attention away from stuff like the Google Analytics fiasco, obtrusive/offensive advertising, heavy-handed forum locking, massive moderator resignation, to say nothing of the multitude of unattended bugs/suggestions that need processing, e.g. http://www.proz.com/forum/prozcom_suggestions-13.html This just seems so out of touch with users - I mean, stars? What? You actually wasted programmers' time with this? Honestly, the combination of these things makes me reconsider my upcoming membership renewal. But I had better hurry and send this off before the thread is locked.
Paola
| | | | PRen (X)
Canada
Local time: 05:36
French to English
+ ...
| Agree with Attila | Mar 12, 2009 |
Attila Piróth wrote:
Hi Enrique,
Like many others, I don't see a utility of this new feature, as it does not carry extra information. Moreover, it can be misleading, giving an impression of higher quality. It might also influence the decision of inexperienced outsourcers when looking for translators, which is probably unfortunate, as I don't know of any proven correlation between quality and long-standing membership (and even if there is one, I have serious doubts about whether such a correlation should be used in such a way).
Kind regards,
Attila
It's misleading, just like the big red P for professional. Neither the star nor the P offers proof of anything other than the willingness to pay for a membership with dubious benefits, and one's own estimate of one's abilities, which in many cases appears to be overinflated, to put it mildly. As for the ribbon, if pink is for breast cancer, blue is for....?
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Mervyn Henderson wrote:
The Irish flag is green, white and orange, though sometimes the third colour is actually yellow, but in the best circles that colour is not called either. They call it the green, white and gold. Why? Simple. For all those tearjerking songs and poems about the Auld Sod. "Green, white and gold" rhymes with "our warriers bold", "in days of old", "to England sold" (and "bloody hell it's cold", too, of course!), whereas the only word "orange" rhymes with is, er, "orange".
Thank you so much, Mervyn! I needed that... I wonder why there is no gold in the Canadian flag - it's bloody cold here, too.
| | | | | You hit the nail on the head! | Mar 12, 2009 |
Michele Johnson wrote: This seems like a classic distraction measure to me - look at the beautiful shiny things! - to draw attention away from stuff like the Google Analytics fiasco, obtrusive/offensive advertising, heavy-handed forum locking, massive moderator resignation, to say nothing of the multitude of unattended bugs/suggestions that need processing, e.g. http://www.proz.com/forum/prozcom_suggestions-13.html This just seems so out of touch with users - I mean, stars? What? You actually wasted programmers' time with this? Honestly, the combination of these things makes me reconsider my upcoming membership renewal. But I had better hurry and send this off before the thread is locked.
Nearly two months have passed (for the first thread) and more than a month for the second one and we are still awaiting a positive answer concerning the Google advertising, see here:
http://www.proz.com/forum/prozcom_suggestions/125120-google_ads_here_out_of_control.html
http://www.proz.com/forum/money_matters/126820-google_ads_and_proz_image-page2.html
And so many other issues that have not been solved so far or features requested that have not been taken into consideration or ended up in the to-do-list and are sitting there since then.
Any other stars to give away instead?
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Aniello Scognamiglio (X)
Germany
Local time: 10:36
English to German
+ ...
| You hit the nail on the head! | Mar 12, 2009 |
Michele Johnson wrote: This seems like a classic distraction measure to me - look at the beautiful shiny things! - to draw attention away from stuff like the Google Analytics fiasco, obtrusive/offensive advertising, heavy-handed forum locking, massive moderator resignation, to say nothing of the multitude of unattended bugs/suggestions that need processing, e.g. http://www.proz.com/forum/prozcom_suggestions-13.html This just seems so out of touch with users - I mean, stars? What? You actually wasted programmers' time with this? Honestly, the combination of these things makes me reconsider my upcoming membership renewal. But I had better hurry and send this off before the thread is locked.
"out of touch with users"...
Hopefully, ProZ management will take this "wake-up call" seriously and address the issues mentioned to fully satisfy all ProZians (customers).
Thanks, Michele!
| | | | | Completely agree! | Mar 12, 2009 |
Anne Koth wrote: Ray_S wrote:
when these non-paying users have decided to acutally fork out some cold hard cash, they will be given a star... after a year or so.
You're probably right: this scheme could be an incentive to make non-members join up right this moment. Every minute you fail to pay up is another minute your profile looks dull and unimpressive. How about a black mark for us translators who've been here more than 3 years without paying a penny? Or should that be a silver star for those of us who've loyally contributed our ideas to an institution in which we have no financial interest at all?
I completely agree with your comments and with most of the colleagues that showed their disapproval with this new announcement. In fact, I think the only reason for implementing these icons is because they want more people to pay for the membership. In my case, since I am no longer a full member of the site, in my ProZ.com Certified PRO certificate(s) section, it says that I am accepted as a "certified" professional, but my "P" icon has disappeared. I am wondering why... I really don't care about these icons. I must admit that I was wrong when I asked for the red P. I don't think Proz.com is in a position to evaluate who is a professional translator and who isn't.
Kind regards,
Fernando
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cannot open those threads... never been able to, either with Firefox or IE... it takes me to a blank page....
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 10:36
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Term of existing membership only, I see | Mar 12, 2009 |
Enrique wrote:
A new golden star has been created to identify members who have supported the site with their membership during the last three or more years.
Why not give people the option to get that yellow star by giving it also to people who have bought membership in excess of three years, even though some of those years are yet to come?
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| What happened to the sounding board function recently assigned to the community? | Mar 12, 2009 |
First of all, I would like to thank Attila for his thoughtful and on-target post. I gave it some thought, and I have decided that Attila is right: opting out is not enough as it would be unfair to those opting out if some people decide to keep their yellow stars.
I also wanted to underscore an announcement made last week: moderators are now only policing the site and the sounding board function is now assigned to the community. However, this yellow star announcement entirely neglect... See more First of all, I would like to thank Attila for his thoughtful and on-target post. I gave it some thought, and I have decided that Attila is right: opting out is not enough as it would be unfair to those opting out if some people decide to keep their yellow stars.
I also wanted to underscore an announcement made last week: moderators are now only policing the site and the sounding board function is now assigned to the community. However, this yellow star announcement entirely neglects that idea. It was my understanding that, as a sounding board, the community needs to be asked for its opinion on features before they go live. This isn't what happened here. So, I openly ask: are we, the community, or aren't we acting as a sounding board? If we aren't, who is? It would be nice if we could settle this once and for all.
Finally, I would like to make a summary of the thoughts expressed in this thread. A few people have said they like the yellow star (they also for the most part agree that the option to opt out should be available). Apart ffrom these few users, people are against the idea, for the following reasons:
- It's childish.
- It hides the fact that there are so many much more important and urgent problems to be fixed on this site.
- It serves no useful purpose.
- It is hard on the eyes.
- It may be confusing for people new to the site (e.g., potential clients).
- It discriminates against non-members.
- It adds to the already overwhelming clutter.
- As Michele says, the yellow star only shows that ProZ is out of touch with its users.
I probably forgot a few.
So, can we just get rid of this already, and concentrate on more important matters? If ProZ doesn't know what else can be improved/introduced/eliminated on the site, I can provide a rather long list (although one can also get a pretty complete picture if one reads my posts).
Us paying members are paying you guys to run the site efficiently and to serve our interests. Considering this, I am sure the money could be spent on more intelligent stuff. Heck, I don't even mind that part of my money is invested into functonality that will also benefit mere non-paying members. But I'd rather see it used to serve the clientele appropriately. A yellow star is not going to make me want to renew my membership - on the contrary. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mervyn Henderson (X)
Spain
Local time: 10:36
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Falling stars | Mar 12, 2009 |
I am not in the habit of writing longish posts, apart from an ongoing story certain Prozians will be familiar with.
It occurs to me that two days ago this thread would have been locked by now for reasons of state security, and may still be. North Korea comes to mind. Seriously.
I am calling it a day with ProZ.com when my membership expires in November. I only require one reminder of the expiry date, please, not one every single day two or three weeks beforehand to mak... See more I am not in the habit of writing longish posts, apart from an ongoing story certain Prozians will be familiar with.
It occurs to me that two days ago this thread would have been locked by now for reasons of state security, and may still be. North Korea comes to mind. Seriously.
I am calling it a day with ProZ.com when my membership expires in November. I only require one reminder of the expiry date, please, not one every single day two or three weeks beforehand to make me feel guilty. Guilty. Again. I know all about guilt, being from where I'm from. All of us studied an MBA in Guilt and Applications of Guilt.
I am tired of the site. I do not need a star or a ribbon. It makes no difference to the commercial dross that can freely enter this site to exploit it. I no longer use the site for jobs, but who would, with all these unknown walk-in "professional users" flinging out mysterious offers you can never reply to or even find out who they are, because you aren't an "expert" in their particular area. It's like a translation brothel. After 18 years I am an expert in the whole gamut, I know I am, but I can't put the entire gamut on ProZ.com, and I now specialise in finance, but here I see newbies who live with mummy and daddy and who haven't a bloody clue snapping up these jobs for a quarter of the price, and people like me being offered less than the newbies for retranslation of the hash they create.
Even the moderators are rebelling, for the rules are made up as we go along. Yesterday showed what happens when a reasonable moderator is left in charge. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Yes, one new golden star for Corporate Members too | Mar 12, 2009 |
Ralf Lemster wrote: Finally, there are some bugs:
- The month of becoming a member does not seem to be taken into account properly. I could see members who joined ProZ.com in May and December 2005, and for whom "4 years" is displayed when the mouse is moved over the star.
- Corporate members do not get the star, even if they are long-standing members (e.g., no start next to "Member (2002)").
I had hoped that this was a feature...  Best, Ralf
Yes, I hope too!
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Mervyn Henderson wrote:
I no longer use the site for jobs, but who would, with all these unknown walk-in "professional users" flinging out mysterious offers you can never reply to or even find out who they are, because you aren't an "expert" in their particular area. It's like a translation brothel.
Yes, I use this site mainly to read the forums, to organize meetings, to attend conferences. No jobs, except for those proposed by visitors who like my cv (or my photo, P, ribbon and stars?) and contact me. But, hey, this could be done through my personal site (still to build...) or another site. Whenever I "smell muzzles" I run a mile.
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Mervyn Henderson wrote: ...
It occurs to me that two days ago this thread would have been locked by now for reasons of state security, and may still be. North Korea comes to mind. Seriously.
Wait for it, my friend - I give it not even 24 hours.
I am calling it a day with ProZ.com when my membership expires in November.
Welcome to the club. At least, I'm pretty sure on my part, and I only have a little over a week left. Imagine, my Certified Pro status will also expire - the horror
| | | | MariusV
Lithuania
Local time: 11:36
English to Lithuanian
+ ...
| sad, but true | Mar 12, 2009 |
I fully agree with Mervin's words "but here I see newbies who live with mummy and daddy and who haven't a bloody clue snapping up these jobs for a quarter of the price, and people like me being offered less than the newbies for retranslation of the hash they create." This EXACTLY what was in my mind for a long time already...Proz does not generate any jobs for me...All those newbies take away everything by rate dumping, and all those ribbons, starts, whatever, makes no sense for me and look chil... See more I fully agree with Mervin's words "but here I see newbies who live with mummy and daddy and who haven't a bloody clue snapping up these jobs for a quarter of the price, and people like me being offered less than the newbies for retranslation of the hash they create." This EXACTLY what was in my mind for a long time already...Proz does not generate any jobs for me...All those newbies take away everything by rate dumping, and all those ribbons, starts, whatever, makes no sense for me and look childish. So, what is that all infantile "community" with ribbons is all about? What are these for? What sense do these ribbons, baloons, or even The Golden Stars of Soviet Union" make? For us to look smarter in each other's eyes? But what sense it will make in the eyes of the client (who is not an agency and who is not a linguist)? Will such a client care how long the member has been proz paying member? Even if someone was Plat for 120 years, so what?
Sorry if this sentence will appear tough, BUT proz has to decide - is proz a) a business or b) comminity/charity. "Drink and drive - do not mix" (as you can get into a bump and spill your beer).
P.S. And I will NEVER forget how I lost my client which generated me around one third of the total income for many years. Just because I was too stupid to post a "5" on BB for them as a "thanks" for a super cooperation. Well, did not even think that BB is also meant for newbies and other hungry people to steal clients and jobs.
I AM ONE OF THE FIRST PROZ MEMBERS - REGISTERED IN 1999 OR SO (DO NOT EVEN REMEMBER NOW)...So, you can even ban me for this post - I do not care any more...As it will not make me a very big difference...
[Edited at 2009-03-12 15:40 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Slightly off topic | Mar 12, 2009 |
Seeing the last few posts, I wondered if this isn't actually what is intended. I mean, once the cream of the crop leaves, everybody will be more than happy to have yellow stars, red Ps (and I am sure the red P crowd would become the majority), everybody will be willing to accept work at dime-a-dozen rates, and nobody will have any problems with Google ads advertizing Ukrainian women for sale. Come to think of it - we are a bunch of whiners. Who needs whiners, anyway?
Maybe this site... See more Seeing the last few posts, I wondered if this isn't actually what is intended. I mean, once the cream of the crop leaves, everybody will be more than happy to have yellow stars, red Ps (and I am sure the red P crowd would become the majority), everybody will be willing to accept work at dime-a-dozen rates, and nobody will have any problems with Google ads advertizing Ukrainian women for sale. Come to think of it - we are a bunch of whiners. Who needs whiners, anyway?
Maybe this site has outgrown itself and needs to make a choice... ▲ Collapse
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