| Vom Thema belegte Seiten: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: What conspiracy theories afflict translators? Initiator des Themas: ProZ.com Staff
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Daryo
Vereinigtes Königreich
Local time: 00:56
Serbisch > Englisch
+ ...
| A deliberately provocative question | Mar 28 |
A deliberately provocative question deserves a provocative answer, right?
There is a conspiracy theory about who, when and why coined the term 'conspiracy theory'. True or false? Can’t know, any conspiracy worth its salt stays out of the limelight.
One joke I heard recently: what's the difference between a conspiracy theory and proven facts? Currently about six months, and shrinking.
The unbelievable number of people who believe blindly the AI hype and th... See more A deliberately provocative question deserves a provocative answer, right?
There is a conspiracy theory about who, when and why coined the term 'conspiracy theory'. True or false? Can’t know, any conspiracy worth its salt stays out of the limelight.
One joke I heard recently: what's the difference between a conspiracy theory and proven facts? Currently about six months, and shrinking.
The unbelievable number of people who believe blindly the AI hype and think that human translators are already a thing of the past? Can't be, that must be my Protein Based Intelligence having hallucinations!
Now, if someone could put a seriously worded question about the future of translating, that may well be worth a serious answer ... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgien
Local time: 01:56
Mitglied (2020)
Französisch > Niederländisch
+ ...
Alan Corbo, CT wrote:
By the way, based on pure common sense, if only 40% of translators are reporting to be doing ok, as Lieven points out, I'd dare say something must be going on. That's 6 out 10 translators who report to be struggling. I know what follows is coarse extrapolation, but were the translation industry be a country, with us linguists its citizens, that would equal to a 60% unemployment rate. Nations have been obliterated for much less than that. On that front, I'd also be cautious of chalking up the apparent inability of that 60% to keep making a sustainable living to their incapacity to adapt, to quality issues, to their inability to work long hours or to their rates. Given the size of the figure, that's a sweeping statement that certainly does not reflect the reality of translators with decades of experience under their belts who have always known how to adapt in the ever changing language sector and that now are seriously considering to leave the industry. That's an oversimplification of a much more complex, multifaceted situation which, as I mentioned, merits further research.
You are deducing and then calling that deduction a statement of mine. That's not fair, really.
My main point here was to say that 40% of the translators is still doing OK, but that this isn't reflected whatsoever in these forums, where apparently you need to say that AI is bad and the reason of all misery to be a respected member. The benefit is that people who think that way don't have to question themselves, I'll give them that.
As far as the 60% of translators not doing OK is concerned, an important factor that remains unmentioned is without a doubt that our profession is open to everyone, and that it is overflooded with people that simply don't have what it takes. The number of people downplaying the importance of language education (who needs a translation degree, right?) is simply astounding. I started my language education when I was 12 (I already had some French in public school from 10 years on, but okay, let's forget about that) only to stop when I was graduated at 21. Is there really 1 serious person on this planet who believes that a translator starting his translation career at the age of 30 after a non-related education and career is even remotely as qualified as someone with a decade of language education and several years of inhouse experience? I'm not saying it's impossible to become a translator that way, but it will be most certainly the hard way with a big risk of failure.
Long story short: you may find it surprising that 60% is having a hard time, but I don't. Again, having figures would be nice. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it would appear that the percentage of freelance translators struggling has always been over 40%, regardless of the era we're talking about.
[Bijgewerkt op 2025-03-28 15:52 GMT]
| | | | | Conspiracy theories | Mar 28 |
This is mocking, guys. Like we are insane, right? So it's not AI taking the industry, that's all in our heads.
I've heard there's a new domain. It's called ConZ.com
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Cecília Alves wrote:
And it even says "You have voted on this poll". How could that possibly be true if I haven't had the chance to do a single click on a response? Not much to lose, anyway...
Same here; I didn't have the chance to vote, and this isn't the first time it happens. Like most anything on this website, polls are also under the influence of bugs.
Or is it that all the website problems are just another stupid “conspiracy theory” afflicting translators?
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Gerard Barry
Deutschland
Local time: 01:56
Deutsch > Englisch
Lieven Malaise wrote:
I have an innate contempt for conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorists, but I think this is an interesting question because despite its provocative nature it points to a real problem, imo: the lack of reliable and extensive data about the state of the translation industry, and freelance translators in particular.
Why do you feel contempt for conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorists? Are you perhaps afraid that they might be right sometimes? Or maybe you just trust authority too much?
I remember here in Germany during the Covid hoax (yes, on this issue I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist, and I'm not afraid to say it) politicians were keen early on in the "pandemic" to say, for example, that the vaccine would be entirely voluntary for everyone. The reality a short while later looked very different, with a vaccine mandate for the Bundeswehr (and maybe the police, I'm not sure), the unvaccinated excluded from bars, restaurants, "non-essential" retail. etc and subjected to daily testing just to go to work. At this stage, I think anyone who dismisses all conspiracy theories as automatically wrong is naive.
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Gerard Barry wrote:
Lieven Malaise wrote:
I have an innate contempt for conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorists, but I think this is an interesting question because despite its provocative nature it points to a real problem, imo: the lack of reliable and extensive data about the state of the translation industry, and freelance translators in particular.
Why do you feel contempt for conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorists? Are you perhaps afraid that they might be right sometimes? Or maybe you just trust authority too much?
I remember here in Germany during the Covid hoax (yes, on this issue I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist, and I'm not afraid to say it) politicians were keen early on in the "pandemic" to say, for example, that the vaccine would be entirely voluntary for everyone. The reality a short while later looked very different, with a vaccine mandate for the Bundeswehr (and maybe the police, I'm not sure), the unvaccinated excluded from bars, restaurants, "non-essential" retail. etc and subjected to daily testing just to go to work. At this stage, I think anyone who dismisses all conspiracy theories as automatically wrong is naive.
In my country there is saying: Не верувај, проверувај.
Which means, don't believe it, check it. And everyone should this.
| | | | Mario Chávez
Vereinigte Staaten
Local time: 19:56
Mitglied (2024)
Englisch > Spanisch
+ ...
To say that a translator is struggling with the current working conditions and ascertain that failure to adapt is one of the reasons for their struggling smacks of churlish and inhumane analysis, almost akin to blaming the unemployed for their lack of trying to get a job.
It also reminds me of the claim by some entitled translators in the '90s and '00s who derided the claim from some translators objecting to lower rates as “whingers,” blaming them of possessing a poverty ... See more To say that a translator is struggling with the current working conditions and ascertain that failure to adapt is one of the reasons for their struggling smacks of churlish and inhumane analysis, almost akin to blaming the unemployed for their lack of trying to get a job.
It also reminds me of the claim by some entitled translators in the '90s and '00s who derided the claim from some translators objecting to lower rates as “whingers,” blaming them of possessing a poverty mindset while declaring the advantages of the premium market for translators.
If you are a translator well positioned with well-heeled clients and want for nothing, while charging 5-10 times the going rate for your language pair(s), of course your clients are operating in the premium level and the above argument makes sense. Then, to say that a translator's failure to adapt is one of the reasons for their predicament is like telling them “Get a job, you bum!” ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Chávez
Vereinigte Staaten
Local time: 19:56
Mitglied (2024)
Englisch > Spanisch
+ ...
| The future of translation? | Mar 28 |
Our future is what we make of it. No tarot cards, futurists or prophecies needed.
Daryo wrote:
A deliberately provocative question deserves a provocative answer, right?
There is a conspiracy theory about who, when and why coined the term 'conspiracy theory'. True or false? Can’t know, any conspiracy worth its salt stays out of the limelight.
One joke I heard recently: what's the difference between a conspiracy theory and proven facts? Currently about six months, and shrinking.
The unbelievable number of people who believe blindly the AI hype and think that human translators are already a thing of the past? Can't be, that must be my Protein Based Intelligence having hallucinations!
Now, if someone could put a seriously worded question about the future of translating, that may well be worth a serious answer ...
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| Same here, this is a recurrent Proz problem | Mar 28 |
Maria Laura Curzi wrote:
Cecília Alves wrote:
And it even says "You have voted on this poll". How could that possibly be true if I haven't had the chance to do a single click on a response? Not much to lose, anyway...
Same here; I didn't have the chance to vote, and this isn't the first time it happens. Like most anything on this website, polls are also under the influence of bugs.
Or is it that all the website problems are just another stupid “conspiracy theory” afflicting translators?
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Mario Chávez wrote:
Our future is what we make of it. No tarot cards, futurists or prophecies needed.
Daryo wrote:
A deliberately provocative question deserves a provocative answer, right?
There is a conspiracy theory about who, when and why coined the term 'conspiracy theory'. True or false? Can’t know, any conspiracy worth its salt stays out of the limelight.
One joke I heard recently: what's the difference between a conspiracy theory and proven facts? Currently about six months, and shrinking.
The unbelievable number of people who believe blindly the AI hype and think that human translators are already a thing of the past? Can't be, that must be my Protein Based Intelligence having hallucinations!
Now, if someone could put a seriously worded question about the future of translating, that may well be worth a serious answer ...
One thing is certain for all of us in the end. No escape from that. And you are wrong if you think that you could shape your own future.
There are things which you and I can't change, modify, affect...
| | | | M. Anna Kańduła 
Vereinigtes Königreich
Local time: 00:56
Englisch > Polnisch
Cecília Alves wrote:
And it even says "You have voted on this poll". How could that possibly be true if I haven't had the chance to do a single click on a response? Not much to lose, anyway...
Mine doesn't claim I already voted, but I also can't vote in this poll. It's not the first time this happens, and I don't mean yesterday's fluke when no one could vote.
Are some polls for paying members only?
| | | | | Manipulated poll results | Mar 28 |
ProZ.com Staff wrote:
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What conspiracy theories afflict translators?". This poll was originally submitted by Mario Chávez. View the poll results »
The poll results are not trustworthy because someone else voted for many of us, as has happened many times before, Mario.
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You can vote now, guys, they find and kill the bug under the pyramids
| | | | Lieven Malaise
Belgien
Local time: 01:56
Mitglied (2020)
Französisch > Niederländisch
+ ...
Mario Chávez wrote:
If you are a translator well positioned with well-heeled clients and want for nothing, while charging 5-10 times the going rate for your language pair(s), of course your clients are operating in the premium level and the above argument makes sense. Then, to say that a translator's failure to adapt is one of the reasons for their predicament is like telling them “Get a job, you bum!”
I am talking about translators that are bluntly saying in these forums that they refuse to adapt, by not using CAT tools and refusing machine translation or refusing to lower their rate one bit for it. What the hell are you talking about?
Apart from that a lack of adaptability is only one reason why things might get stuck. I've named several others.
And 5-10 times the going rate? Who? My rate is anything but extraordinary. It's profitable, yes, and so should be everyone's rate or what the hell are they even doing in this business?
Is this harsh? Only if you don't understand that a freelancer is no more than a business and businesses act and react like they should or they go bankrupt, simple as that.
The amount of proudly announced amateurism on these forums is simply mind-blowing.
Over and out.
[Bijgewerkt op 2025-03-28 22:58 GMT]
| | | | Daryo
Vereinigtes Königreich
Local time: 00:56
Serbisch > Englisch
+ ...
Mario Chávez wrote:
Our future is what we make of it. No tarot cards, futurists or prophecies needed.
Daryo wrote:
A deliberately provocative question deserves a provocative answer, right?
There is a conspiracy theory about who, when and why coined the term 'conspiracy theory'. True or false? Can’t know, any conspiracy worth its salt stays out of the limelight.
One joke I heard recently: what's the difference between a conspiracy theory and proven facts? Currently about six months, and shrinking.
The unbelievable number of people who believe blindly the AI hype and think that human translators are already a thing of the past? Can't be, that must be my Protein Based Intelligence having hallucinations!
Now, if someone could put a seriously worded question about the future of translating, that may well be worth a serious answer ...
Is the mention of 'tarot cards' a variation on approaching a very serious matter under the angle of 'being afflicted by conspiracy theories'?
I can't remember suggesting a crystal ball as a tool for planning anyone's future. It seems that any constructive discussion about the current situation MOST translators found themselves in is for another time.
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