| Pages in topic: [1 2 3 4] > | Should non-paying non-verified members forum posts be vetted? Thread poster: Ty Kendall
|
|---|
Ty Kendall 
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:40
Hebrew to English
I ask this because I have often felt that the input in the forums by non-paying members is frequently overlooked and their participation in forum discussions is severely hindered by the fact they cannot join in on a forum discussion in real time like everyone else.
If a forum discussion is particularly fast moving and robust, then their posts often get left by the wayside.
I understand it is currently one of the ways that ProZ.com incentivize paid membership, but there are ple... See more I ask this because I have often felt that the input in the forums by non-paying members is frequently overlooked and their participation in forum discussions is severely hindered by the fact they cannot join in on a forum discussion in real time like everyone else.
If a forum discussion is particularly fast moving and robust, then their posts often get left by the wayside.
I understand it is currently one of the ways that ProZ.com incentivize paid membership, but there are plenty of incentives to join: http://www.proz.com/membership#top . Instantaneous forum posting is not even mentioned there.
In addition, seeing as the moderation of the forums is rather...comprehensive shall we say, I don't see how a distinction can be made between paying and non-paying members....surely they are both equally capable of breaking the rules and posting something inappropriate.
It's a bit like donating blood here, you can't donate blood if you are deemed "high-risk", yet ALL blood is tested anyway, so why bother preventing one group of people from doing it?
What's the point in vetting non-members posts when pretty much all posts are vetted by the moderators after the fact anyway?
I simply feel that it will increase participation and allow discussions to become far more fruitful.
Procedures already exist to deal with any bad apples who might sneak in and post the unpostable.
If ProZ believes whole swathes of people join ProZ to get rid of forum vetting then fair enough, I can see why they do it (in truth it's part of the reason I pay membership but there are other reasons I pay, and I doubt that's the case for the masses).
I just think it diminishes the forums for many members who don't pay to have their voices muffled.
[Edited at 2012-07-13 09:33 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Just a small clarification | Jul 13, 2012 |
Non paying members can post without being vetted when their identity is verified.
This is for preventing new and unknown users to post freely, saying sometimes vulgarities and similar...
All the best!
Edited for typo, sorry
[Edited at 2012-07-13 10:01 GMT]
| | | |
Angie Garbarino wrote:
Non paying members can post without being vetted when their identity is verified.
This is for preventing new and unknown users to post freely, saying whatever they like
If you ask me, there is no reason whatsoever to stop new and unknown users from posting freely, saying whatever they like. That's how a community should work.
My posts generally show up 3 to 6 hours after I post them. Guess if I like that... and no, I have no intention of paying proz or "having my identity verified", ever.
| | | |
How can I get my identity verified?
Of course, you probably won't see this post because the thread will be on to the next page before it is vetted...
| | |
|
|
|
| Thanks for clarification, Angie! | Jul 13, 2012 |
It is not that difficult to have one's ID verfied, for instance at a powwow.
It happens almost automatically for paying members - if they pay from a bank account or similar with the same name as their Proz.com membership, they are assumed to be the person they claim to be. But it must be the member's own name, not a partner's name on a joint account.
The other way of doing it is to send scans of documents to staff: I sent a scan of my membership of the IoL and som exam.... See more It is not that difficult to have one's ID verfied, for instance at a powwow.
It happens almost automatically for paying members - if they pay from a bank account or similar with the same name as their Proz.com membership, they are assumed to be the person they claim to be. But it must be the member's own name, not a partner's name on a joint account.
The other way of doing it is to send scans of documents to staff: I sent a scan of my membership of the IoL and som exam. certificates (as far as I remember), which were accepted.
At a powwow you have to show proof of identity to someone authorised to confirm identity, but the powwow organiser should be able to help, and possibly others as well (Moderators and former Moderators for instance).
So there are plenty of possibilities. Please do feel welcome, everyone, because it is the content people contribute that makes the site worth paying for ... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:40
Hebrew to English
TOPIC STARTER | Yes but how realistic is this? | Jul 13, 2012 |
Angie Garbarino wrote:
Non paying members can post without being vetted when their identity is verified.
This is for preventing new and unknown users to post freely, saying whatever they like
All the best!
Edited for typo, sorry
[Edited at 2012-07-13 08:27 GMT]
Identity verification, 9 times out of 10 is a by-product of paying your membership, when they use your credit card to "verify" your identity.
So this brings us to a rather circular argument. Non-paying members may be able to post without being vetted (is this actually the case? - would a verified non-paying member please stand up......), but becoming verified usually involves paying membership fees and hence no longer being a non-paying member.
Any the "safeguard" argument doesn't wash, anybody can say whatever they like, paying/non-paying, old and new, known and unknown alike. As I argued, a paying member is no more or less likely to break the rules or post something inappropriate merely based on the fact they shelled out for membership (see open door policy).
Which brings us back to my original point....(see OP).
| | | | | |
Ty Kendall wrote:
Non-paying members may be able to post without being vetted (is this actually the case? - would a verified non-paying member please stand up......), but becoming verified usually involves paying membership fees and hence no longer being a non-paying member.
Dear Ty I personally know several of them especially in the Italian forum and please check the link I posted above, I can assure you that I am not used to post an information when I am unsure, after all I am a Site Guide (like Christine), these are things I am aware of
Kindest Regards!
Angie Site Guide
| | |
|
|
|
Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:40
Hebrew to English
TOPIC STARTER | Not convinced | Jul 13, 2012 |
Sorry, but there are non-paying members whose identities have been verified yet their forum posts do NOT appear instantly.
I know this for a fact after following a recent LONG thread where verified non-paying members posts would just "appear" out of nowhere after hours/days.
Unless these are individual cases whose forum posts have a vetting restriction for some reason....I'd have to talk to the individuals to be sure.
Like I said, I'd still like a non-payin... See more Sorry, but there are non-paying members whose identities have been verified yet their forum posts do NOT appear instantly.
I know this for a fact after following a recent LONG thread where verified non-paying members posts would just "appear" out of nowhere after hours/days.
Unless these are individual cases whose forum posts have a vetting restriction for some reason....I'd have to talk to the individuals to be sure.
Like I said, I'd still like a non-paying verified member to stand up.....
(Also: Powwow identity verification - does anybody 'actually' do this?). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: empty post | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:40
Hebrew to English
TOPIC STARTER
But why can't just everyone be allowed to post regardless of identity verification?
I still don't see the logic in thinking that people who pay $5 or people who turn up to a little party are any more/less likely to be disruptive.
I think if we remove the barrier, then the forum threads will be all the more enriched.
As I said, there are plenty of safeguards already in place to take care of the bad apples.
| | | |
Ty Kendall wrote:
(Also: Powwow identity verification - does anybody 'actually' do this?).
I verified people in Italy and in NY at a powwow.
| | |
|
|
|
Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:40
Hebrew to English
TOPIC STARTER | I should change the title then...... | Jul 13, 2012 |
Should non-paying non-verified members forum posts be vetted?
I still think the answer is no and I think it's a shame that non-paying non-verified members are excluded in this way. People may have a reason not to get verified (don't want to fork out money - even $5 and can't attend a Powwow...I can think of other reasons), but their input on the forums might still be worthwhile and at the moment it's stifled.
Let's be honest, forum participation is already quite ... See more Should non-paying non-verified members forum posts be vetted?
I still think the answer is no and I think it's a shame that non-paying non-verified members are excluded in this way. People may have a reason not to get verified (don't want to fork out money - even $5 and can't attend a Powwow...I can think of other reasons), but their input on the forums might still be worthwhile and at the moment it's stifled.
Let's be honest, forum participation is already quite low (given the total number of members on this site - especially if we were to exclude CAT threads) and limited to the same group of people (Hello everyone!).
I think measures should be taken to encourage forum participation. Allowing a few more people (it won't be hoardes regardless) to have their say unimpeded can only advance that aim. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 00:40
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| Vetting can be temporary | Jul 13, 2012 |
Ty Kendall wrote:
Sorry, but there are non-paying members whose identities have been verified yet their forum posts do NOT appear instantly.
I know this for a fact after following a recent LONG thread where verified non-paying members posts would just "appear" out of nowhere after hours/days.
Unless these are individual cases whose forum posts have a vetting restriction for some reason....I'd have to talk to the individuals to be sure.
There are indeed both non-paying and paying members who have their posts vetted. This is when there has been some problems with previous site activity. See this FAQ:
28 - My posts did not require vetting and now they do. What happened? [Direct link]
When in doubt, submit a support request and site staff will be able to look into the issue.
In some instances, a forum vetting requirement may be placed by site staff or moderators. A vetting requirement can be in relation to a rules violation, but this is not necessarily always the case. Rather, the vetting requirement is a safeguard which is used by site staff and moderators to help protect the positive, results-oriented environment of the forums. When it is deemed that this environment is being endangered, the vetting requirement may be used.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 01:40
French to English
| thank you Ty | Jul 13, 2012 |
for bringing this topic up.
I am not (yet?) a member and my contributions are often published too late to be relevant.
I don't mind having a moderator vet my posts, what I do mind is when it takes a long time and then my post appears chronologically *according to when I first posted it* rather than when it was approved, by which time various other paying members have posted and nobody sees my post because they don't go back beyond posts they have already read.
... See more for bringing this topic up.
I am not (yet?) a member and my contributions are often published too late to be relevant.
I don't mind having a moderator vet my posts, what I do mind is when it takes a long time and then my post appears chronologically *according to when I first posted it* rather than when it was approved, by which time various other paying members have posted and nobody sees my post because they don't go back beyond posts they have already read.
This does give the impression of being ignored sometimes!
And the time it takes to have my post verified is totally random too...
All it would need would be for the post to appear after the last post to be published at time of approval rather than at time of posting, and I would be delighted.
I hasten to add that while I am considering taking out membership, this issue is not at the tipping point ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2 3 4] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Should non-paying non-verified members forum posts be vetted? | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
| | TM-Town | Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business
Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
