| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5] > | Pseudonyms....Good, Bad or Ugly? Thread poster: Ty Kendall
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Anne R
Italy
Local time: 13:29
English to French
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| not all so simple | May 24, 2012 |
Just reading all the comments makes me want to add the following. I have been registered with proz for a good few years with my full name, but I became recently aware that if one looked for my name on google they could find all, but absolutely all comments that I may have entered on pro forums or kudoz etc.. and I have to say I did not like it.
I actually asked the support team what I could do about it, and if I could change my name, and this is why as from now, I only display my n... See more Just reading all the comments makes me want to add the following. I have been registered with proz for a good few years with my full name, but I became recently aware that if one looked for my name on google they could find all, but absolutely all comments that I may have entered on pro forums or kudoz etc.. and I have to say I did not like it.
I actually asked the support team what I could do about it, and if I could change my name, and this is why as from now, I only display my name and the Initial of my surname. I thought the problem would have been solved, but it has not, if one looks for my fullname name in conjunction with say, "translation" on google, they will all the same arrive to the "Anne R" profile, or see what Anne R post on proz under her fullname, so it has not resolved my query. Well, have to accept, it, not particularly happy about it either.
So I think that may be some translators do choose a pseudonym because they do not want others, potential clients, whoever else to know what they write, or what they ask on proz ecc... This is not necessarily nasty on their part, but just to preserve a bit of privacy.. ▲ Collapse
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Like Anne I signed up with my full name. After a while Google searches for my name brought up mainly KudoZ related pages. Since I have another job, I wasn't really pleased with this. So I changed to my pseudonym. I definitely do not abuse the KudoZ system (as you can see from my profile).
| | | | | My two cents | May 25, 2012 |
I don't really care much if people use pseudonyms... but it I have to choose someone for actual work, I don't really care much for people with pseudonyms...
| | | | Dave Bindon 
Greece
Local time: 14:29
Greek to English
In memoriam | My 3 cents (allowing for inflation) | May 25, 2012 |
I'm on the slightly anti-pseudonym side.
If people want to use a false name, for whatever reasons, then I have no objections as long as they choose something which sounds real and can easily be used when addressing the person. Using a first name and an initial is also fine by me (I'd prefer total openness, but I accept others' desire for privacy).
What I dislike - as others have said or implied - is the abc123 type of pseudonym. Is "Dear Mr 123" using the right gender? ... See more I'm on the slightly anti-pseudonym side.
If people want to use a false name, for whatever reasons, then I have no objections as long as they choose something which sounds real and can easily be used when addressing the person. Using a first name and an initial is also fine by me (I'd prefer total openness, but I accept others' desire for privacy).
What I dislike - as others have said or implied - is the abc123 type of pseudonym. Is "Dear Mr 123" using the right gender? Is "Dear abc" too informal?
Names (real or invented) should aid recognition, identification and communication. The abc123 type of pseudonym fails on the latter. ▲ Collapse
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XXXphxxx (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:29
Portuguese to English
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Anne R wrote:
Just reading all the comments makes me want to add the following. I have been registered with proz for a good few years with my full name, but I became recently aware that if one looked for my name on google they could find all, but absolutely all comments that I may have entered on pro forums or kudoz etc.. and I have to say I did not like it.
which leads me to the slightly OT question? Why are all of these visible on Google to anyone but registered users?
| | | | apk12
Germany
Local time: 13:29
English to German
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Privacy. I am not willing to give it up.
Personally, my full name is reserved for publishing - texts where I am the author. I keep my career as a translator as much separated from it as possible. The client gets my full name when there is a cooperation, not before that.
Plus, there is a main reason, mentioned in another thread longer ago: today, in times of "networking" and online profiles, profile harvesting is a serious danger, I am not willing to be the next person... See more Privacy. I am not willing to give it up.
Personally, my full name is reserved for publishing - texts where I am the author. I keep my career as a translator as much separated from it as possible. The client gets my full name when there is a cooperation, not before that.
Plus, there is a main reason, mentioned in another thread longer ago: today, in times of "networking" and online profiles, profile harvesting is a serious danger, I am not willing to be the next person addressed by an agency informing me that "I just contacted them offering the services I offer, but for half of my price".
No, for profiles, so for visitors of whom just a small percentage is a valuable client, an abbreviation is perfectly enough.
[Edited at 2012-05-25 10:49 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 13:29
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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| False sense of security | May 25, 2012 |
Ty Kendall wrote:
I've always been a bit ambivalent toward pseudonyms personally, they don't offend me, but I'd probably come down on the side of using real names. ... As a colleague on here recently noted "Nobody trusts pseudonyms". I'm inclined to agree. ... Are they less professional?
I think real-sounding or real-looking names give people a [false] sense of security. You might put your real name up there but if it does not sound reasonable or believable to the reader, he might think that it is a pseudonym anyway.
The same applies to profile photos -- how do we know that the photo on your profile isn't just some stock image, or a picture of your favourite hero? At least three of my clients' Skype profile photos are photos of movie actors and not of the clients themselves.
There may also be a reason why someone prefers to use a pseudonym, e.g. if that is also their e-mail address or their Skype name.
That said, I do have less faith (initially) in people if they use pseudonymns, especially if it looks auto-generated or includes numbers and/or are all in lowercase and/or include something overly personal. If you want to use a name like iamsatan2001, then that is your free decision, but it sure as heck looks a lot less professional than John Smith.
| | | | | When quality, not quantity, is your watchword | May 25, 2012 |
I have to say that I find it faintly amusing to watch each new wave of young, keen translators arrive on this site with all their great expectations.
Since I found the place myself, I have witnessed whole series of such people, full of bright ideas, and totally unaware that they were on a hiding to nowhere.
This site is a commercial venture and that is purely a statement of fact, not a value judgement. The site owners have every right to choose whatever business policy suits t... See more I have to say that I find it faintly amusing to watch each new wave of young, keen translators arrive on this site with all their great expectations.
Since I found the place myself, I have witnessed whole series of such people, full of bright ideas, and totally unaware that they were on a hiding to nowhere.
This site is a commercial venture and that is purely a statement of fact, not a value judgement. The site owners have every right to choose whatever business policy suits them best.
Yet their choice is bound to colour all the rest. Quantity has to be their priority: keeping up traffic on the site. And the rider to that is acceptance of all-comers: the good, the bad, the hopeless, those who may one day make it and those who will give the profession a bad name. And you could repeat the analysis in similar fashion for the outsourcers.
Under those circumstances, if you think joining the site, paying your dues and even acquiring the red “P” are the way to grow your business, then clearly pseudonyms are not for you.
By contrast, if you have a hard-earned reputation, more than enough customers to keep you in cotton socks, no need to advertise your talents and simply want to use the site as a social venue, then it is doing those looking for business a favour to keep a low profile, use a fabricated name and avoid all work-related contacts.
I simply do not want to have to deal with agencies or direct clients wanting to screw me on prices, deadlines and the rest. No time, no energy, no interest. Nor do I want my name to be extracted by search engines. My privacy is important and I am prepared to go great lengths to protect it.
And so, my guilty secret– that I like answering questions – is best kept just that: a secret! ▲ Collapse
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Concer (X)
Germany
Local time: 13:29
German to Russian
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| | Marteting tools | May 25, 2012 |
I don’t understand all this concern about privacy, Google etc. over here. We are professionals who want to market our services, offer our services online to the global world. So, what is more appropriate that being found in Google searches?
We also want to build up a solid reputation. Anybody may do a search on us to check our background and feedbacks on our work, as WE DO on unknown clients or agencies before accepting a job.
We followed the recommendations Proz has ... See more I don’t understand all this concern about privacy, Google etc. over here. We are professionals who want to market our services, offer our services online to the global world. So, what is more appropriate that being found in Google searches?
We also want to build up a solid reputation. Anybody may do a search on us to check our background and feedbacks on our work, as WE DO on unknown clients or agencies before accepting a job.
We followed the recommendations Proz has wisely provided in order to be within the firsts in those searches (key words, active posting, kudoz, etc.).- So, what is all this hustle on “privacy” about? Unless you don’t want to market your business and/or have something to hide... ▲ Collapse
| | | | XXXphxxx (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:29
Portuguese to English
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| Your point being? | May 25, 2012 |
I'm not sure if you're doubting this is my name or just mocking me??
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 12:29
Member (2007)
English
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| He? She? It? | May 25, 2012 |
polyglot45 wrote:
I simply do not want to have to deal with agencies or direct clients wanting to screw me on prices, deadlines and the rest. No time, no energy, no interest.
You really make that clear in your profile and I fully understand that reaction. Power to you!
Nor do I want my name to be extracted by search engines. My privacy is important and I am prepared to go great lengths to protect it.
And so, my guilty secret– that I like answering questions – is best kept just that: a secret!
It can be really satisfying doing that and I know for a fact that you help a lot of people that way.
The only problem I have is that when I agree or disagree (though it's unlikely I've ever done that) with your answers, or enter into discussion with you, I find it a real pain not knowing if I'm conversing with a man or a woman. I certainly am NOT interested in which appendiges you've got (to put it politely), but if I want to refer to something you've said to another contributor, what do I say? "polyglot45 says this, polyglot45 says that"? "He/she says?". It's just so impersonal.
And for me, it's the PERSONAL that counts. People can lie - I'd rather they didn't, but that's the internet for you - but contact is always better person to person.
I can understand the fear of searches and lack of privacy, too. It's just that I need to have an idea of who I'm talking to, and I think others do, too. I don't need to know every single thing about you, but how about at least completing the "gender" field on your profile? Please?
Sheila
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Concer (X)
Germany
Local time: 13:29
German to Russian
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| Under no circumstances :-) | May 25, 2012 |
I need to remember my english exercises at school (It was many many years ago...)
Lisa Simpson, MCIL wrote: I'm not sure if you're doubting this is my name or just mocking me??
Sorry. I could really not imagine that I could hurt you. (Someone are not particularly sensitive to other people's feelings and I am the one with "the ugly pseudonym") That was just an example. Try to start a search with the name of any participant of this discussion
Walter Landesman wrote:
We are professionals who want to market our services
Not "we", not everyone wants (or needs) that
[Bearbeitet am 2012-05-25 19:44 GMT]
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Challenged directly, how can I not reply?
Problem 1: if I state M or F, I'm already giving away a little bit of information about myself, making myself that little bit more easily identifiable
Problem 2: if I come out as a man, then my answers to questions of a more female nature (in people's minds), for example on beauty products, domestic issues, etc. will lose credibility. Conversely, if I admit to be being a woman, then my technical answers may well be taken less se... See more Challenged directly, how can I not reply?
Problem 1: if I state M or F, I'm already giving away a little bit of information about myself, making myself that little bit more easily identifiable
Problem 2: if I come out as a man, then my answers to questions of a more female nature (in people's minds), for example on beauty products, domestic issues, etc. will lose credibility. Conversely, if I admit to be being a woman, then my technical answers may well be taken less seriously.
We live in a world of stereotypes, whether we like it or not, and I had hoped, by remaining "neutral" that I could avoid such issues.
But, mainly, I feel that who and what I am is irrelevant. It should be the quality of my answers that should speak for itself. For me answering questions is a challenge that keeps me from sombering when the solitude of the sole translator gets me down... I'm probably just another oddball but I am prepared to 'fess up to that! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Concer (X)
Germany
Local time: 13:29
German to Russian
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| Once more: sorry for my english | May 25, 2012 |
"agree"
polyglot45 wrote:
Challenged directly, how can I not reply?
Problem 1: if I state M or F, I'm already giving away a little bit of information about myself, making myself that little bit more easily identifiable
Problem 2: if I come out as a man, then my answers to questions of a more female nature (in people's minds), for example on beauty products, domestic issues, etc. will lose credibility. Conversely, if I admit to be being a woman, then my technical answers may well be taken less seriously.
We live in a world of stereotypes, whether we like it or not, and I had hoped, by remaining "neutral" that I could avoid such issues.
But, mainly, I feel that who and what I am is irrelevant. It should be the quality of my answers that should speak for itself. For me answering questions is a challenge that keeps me from sombering when the solitude of the sole translator gets me down... I'm probably just another oddball but I am prepared to 'fess up to that!
I regret often that I uncovered my person (my photo) as a female one.
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