| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Would you still answer KudoZ questions if there were no KudoZ points? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you still answer KudoZ questions if there were no KudoZ points?".
This poll was originally submitted by Lady Strauss
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is ... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you still answer KudoZ questions if there were no KudoZ points?".
This poll was originally submitted by Lady Strauss
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | Blanka Salkova 
Czech Republic
Local time: 23:22
Member (2007)
English to Czech
+ ...
| Indeed, I would | Nov 6, 2009 |
Sometimes one simply gets stuck and then help of colleagues and their insight is of great help. So, yes, I would answer kudos.
| | | | Trinh Do
Australia
Member (2007)
English to Vietnamese
+ ...
Me too, that shows team spirit, colleagueship, and it helps to study different aspects of translation that you might not come across.
| | | | Jim Tucker (X)
United States
Hungarian to English
+ ...
| Ditch the points! | Nov 6, 2009 |
There's no point (no pun) to the points; they merely invite a lot of fast-button ghit dumpers, guessers, and bilingual-dictionary pasters. This really clouds the air in kudoz.
What we need instead is people who take the time (unconcerned with hurrying to snag points) to examine closely the asker's text and its context. The asker can google, too, after all; there's generally a reason, a complicating factor, why something makes it to kudoz.
I would support abolishing th... See more There's no point (no pun) to the points; they merely invite a lot of fast-button ghit dumpers, guessers, and bilingual-dictionary pasters. This really clouds the air in kudoz.
What we need instead is people who take the time (unconcerned with hurrying to snag points) to examine closely the asker's text and its context. The asker can google, too, after all; there's generally a reason, a complicating factor, why something makes it to kudoz.
I would support abolishing the point system altogether.
[Edited at 2009-11-06 09:18 GMT]
[Edited at 2009-11-06 09:19 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| KudoZ points make all the difference | Nov 6, 2009 |
While it is absolutely clear that the amount of answers would be much lower without the KudoZ points, it is also absolutely obvious that the quality of the answers would be much lower as well, and that the debates on which term is the correct one would be much less fierce, if any.
It suffices to look at all the other glossaries produced by translators' sites promoting interactive mutual help to see the difference.
The points represent a reward not only for an off-the-... See more While it is absolutely clear that the amount of answers would be much lower without the KudoZ points, it is also absolutely obvious that the quality of the answers would be much lower as well, and that the debates on which term is the correct one would be much less fierce, if any.
It suffices to look at all the other glossaries produced by translators' sites promoting interactive mutual help to see the difference.
The points represent a reward not only for an off-the-cuff answer, but also for research and explanations. The KudoZ points make answering peer questions challenging, exciting and fun. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Yes, I would, but... 1 to 4 points: not enough | Nov 6, 2009 |
Yes, answering 'em is a good excersise (well, usually).
Sometimes, eben an extreme exercise
INCREASING the quantity of points awarded would enhance the QUALITY of answers, however.
Would you agree?
[Edited at 2009-11-06 10:22 GMT]
| | | | Mark Nathan
France
Local time: 23:22
Member (2002)
French to English
+ ...
| The points are secondary | Nov 6, 2009 |
I am not sure of the value of clocking up points if you are already an established translator.
I appreciate that Kudoz is a two-way street and that it is only as good as the people who regularly contribute. I enjoy answering questions and it provides a contructive break from work.
The points are a good way of keeping tracking of this, and are also of use within the system itself, in that an answer from someone with 1000 points in that field is probably worth more than one fro... See more I am not sure of the value of clocking up points if you are already an established translator.
I appreciate that Kudoz is a two-way street and that it is only as good as the people who regularly contribute. I enjoy answering questions and it provides a contructive break from work.
The points are a good way of keeping tracking of this, and are also of use within the system itself, in that an answer from someone with 1000 points in that field is probably worth more than one from an "unknown" answerer.
So on balance, while I do not really care about the points, I would keep the system in place.
And I certainly wouldn't start tinkering with it, we already have enough pages of outrage and frustration about change for the sake of change. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Serious 'players' get far more out of KudoZ than points | Nov 6, 2009 |
I admit to being a point grabber in Mats Wiman´s original sense of the expression.
http://www.proz.com/translation-articles/articles/509/
But as he also explained, there is so much more to KudoZ than points.
To a translator it can be something in the direction of what playing scales and finger exercises are to a musician. I monitor questions through ... See more I admit to being a point grabber in Mats Wiman´s original sense of the expression.
http://www.proz.com/translation-articles/articles/509/
But as he also explained, there is so much more to KudoZ than points.
To a translator it can be something in the direction of what playing scales and finger exercises are to a musician. I monitor questions through the "daily digest" and note some of them in my dictionaries and glossaries for future reference.
And when the mind is numb, deadline is close and one´s own dictionaries are inadequate, oh, the bliss of that mail that beeps in with a sensible answer...
THANKS to all those who have helped me out of tight spots!
I have said it before, but I wonder if the default should be set to 1, not 4, so that askers would have to make an active decision before awarding top points.
The official scale is:
When deciding how many points to award, please consider this scale as a guideline:
4: Answer was acceptable, explanation was good, reference was provided (or not needed)
3: Answer was acceptable, explanation was good, but reference was lacking
2: Answer was acceptable
1: Answer was somewhat helpful
I have to admit that I am so grateful as a rule that I too simply click the button and give four points...
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| Agree with Jim | Nov 6, 2009 |
Whilst a good profile is enhanced by points, I do find that there are too many 'linguists' who focus on gaining KudoZ points to the detriment of quality. By trawling Wikipedia and Google for responses, there is a chance that these translators will eventually strike it lucky and receive points for a correct answer, thus boosting their rating. The end result is a distorted indication of quality and depth of knowledge and potential disillusionment on the part of clients.
I would be more than... See more Whilst a good profile is enhanced by points, I do find that there are too many 'linguists' who focus on gaining KudoZ points to the detriment of quality. By trawling Wikipedia and Google for responses, there is a chance that these translators will eventually strike it lucky and receive points for a correct answer, thus boosting their rating. The end result is a distorted indication of quality and depth of knowledge and potential disillusionment on the part of clients.
I would be more than happy to assist others for nothing. Referring to a previous poll, I firmly believe that fellow translators are colleagues and not competitors. We should help one another and not waste time fighting for points.
I personally know several translators who have either stopped using ProZ or are thinking of doing so, simply because of the animosity and poor quality of responses. By ditching the points the responses would be entered by those with a genuine interest in helping others and this can only lead to improved productivity, happier customers and a higher ProZ rating through WWA. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Yes, but possibly less | Nov 6, 2009 |
Another benefit of the KudoZ points system is that it gives translators who do not yet have a large number of years' experience an opportunity to show what they can do. Experience brings many benefits, but translators also need excellent creative and analytical language skills, and KudoZ provides a window in which to demonstrate that. In a way it is understandable that some outsourcers insist on a certain number of years' experience, however they may be depriving themselves of the services of so... See more Another benefit of the KudoZ points system is that it gives translators who do not yet have a large number of years' experience an opportunity to show what they can do. Experience brings many benefits, but translators also need excellent creative and analytical language skills, and KudoZ provides a window in which to demonstrate that. In a way it is understandable that some outsourcers insist on a certain number of years' experience, however they may be depriving themselves of the services of some very good translators in the process.
Even without the points I would still answer KudoZ, for the challenge, for a bit of variety and a break from a long, dull project, and to offer help to a community which also helps me when I need it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Yes, but not as often and not as fast | Nov 6, 2009 |
I would reply but I would probably not bother when I am very busy with lots of work and as it is now I do.
Also, when I am looking for co-workers, which I have done recently when trying to build a team, that is what I look at first!
| | | | | default points awarded | Nov 6, 2009 |
Christine Andersen wrote:
I have said it before, but I wonder if the default should be set to 1, not 4, so that askers would have to make an active decision before awarding top points.
The official scale is:
When deciding how many points to award, please consider this scale as a guideline:
4: Answer was acceptable, explanation was good, reference was provided (or not needed)
3: Answer was acceptable, explanation was good, but reference was lacking
2: Answer was acceptable
1: Answer was somewhat helpful
Totally agree with Christine, default points should start at 1. People seem to automatically expect 4 points for an answer (I have personally received a message calling me stingy (!), by an answerer who'd received 1 point, though I had clarified in the comment frame that I wasn't 100% convinced about the suggestion made!).
I see Kudoz as a community tool primarily, rather than a Kudoz point dispenser, though I do believe that awarding points incites answerers to make higher quality contributions...
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POints are something more, but the basis is cooperation. so definitely YES
| | | | Heike Kurtz
Germany
Local time: 23:22
Member (2005)
English to German
+ ...
| Of course I would | Nov 6, 2009 |
To be honest - I never cared so much about points...
I always wonder how colleagues with many points find the time for that. I never manage to look over more than the first few entries once or twice a day and I only answer if I know that I can provide some insight without consulting dictionaries etc. first. The askers are professionals who should have searched the usual resources on their own first, so what's the use if I do the same thing again?
| | | | Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 00:22
Turkish to English
+ ...
Jim Tucker wrote:
I would support abolishing the point system altogether.
[Edited at 2009-11-06 09:18 GMT]
[Edited at 2009-11-06 09:19 GMT]
Agreed.
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