Număr de pagini:   [1 2 3] >
Real names in profiles
Inițiatorul discuției: Cecilia Falk
Cecilia Falk
Cecilia Falk  Identity Verified
Local time: 06:46
din engleză în suedeză
Nov 16, 2006

Hi,
One thing I have been wondering for some time is what the reason is not to use one’s real name in the profiles. I am sincerely curious. Is it because of bad experiences on the Internet, or something else?

Best regards,
Cecilia


 
Agnieszka Hayward (X)
Agnieszka Hayward (X)
Polonia
Local time: 06:46
din germană în poloneză
+ ...
Link to former discussion Nov 16, 2006

Hi Cecilia,

Maybe you read it already, but if not...

Several interesting posts you may find here: http://www.proz.com/topic/24080?start=0&float=

enjoy!


 
Cecilia Falk
Cecilia Falk  Identity Verified
Local time: 06:46
din engleză în suedeză
INIŢIATORUL SUBIECTULUI
Thanks! Nov 16, 2006

Hi,
Thank you for the link! I searched the forums before I posted, but did not find this!

Best regards,
Cecilia


 
Walter Landesman
Walter Landesman  Identity Verified
Uruguay
Local time: 01:46
din engleză în spaniolă
+ ...
trust Nov 16, 2006

I think that real names get more confidence from colleagues and outsourcers.

That`s my opinion. But, what do I know?

Walter


 
Henry Hinds
Henry Hinds  Identity Verified
Statele Unite
Local time: 22:46
din engleză în spaniolă
+ ...
In Memoriam
Still wondering Nov 16, 2006

Yes, I recall that other one, I started it.

I am also still wondering.

I would submit that:

1.- People can have their reasons for remaining anonymous, but to me and I'm sure to many others they remain less than people.

2.- It does not appear help the professional image of those anonymous persons nor of the site in general.

3.- Some also go to the extreme of using a picture of someone else in their profile. Are they as ashamed of th
... See more
Yes, I recall that other one, I started it.

I am also still wondering.

I would submit that:

1.- People can have their reasons for remaining anonymous, but to me and I'm sure to many others they remain less than people.

2.- It does not appear help the professional image of those anonymous persons nor of the site in general.

3.- Some also go to the extreme of using a picture of someone else in their profile. Are they as ashamed of their countenance as they are of their name?

4.- Some make themselves anonymous in their profile yet then include their CV with their true identity and contact information. Come again?

Now Proz.com has an ID facility. My opinion would be that if a person wishes to remain anonymous, then they may remain so. However, if they have a verified ID, then it should be mandatory to use their correct identity and picture in their profile.

If they wish to protect their "privacy", then their only choice should be "identity not verified".

There have been notable cases of persons abusing the system while masquerading under false identities.

Finally, would you give a job to someone called "katzgalore" with a picture of a cat, a symbol, a cartoon character or a child in their profile?

Would you extend them credit?

I, for one, would not.

I would enjoy hearing your comments on the above. I don't think this topic is dead yet. I think it would be good for the "other Henry" to hear them as well.
Collapse


 
Anne Patteet
Anne Patteet  Identity Verified
Local time: 23:46
din engleză în franceză
+ ...
I agree with Henry Nov 16, 2006

And I also think that if someone wants to remain unknown to the rest of us, why do they want to have their identity verified? It doesn't make sense.

 
Walter Landesman
Walter Landesman  Identity Verified
Uruguay
Local time: 01:46
din engleză în spaniolă
+ ...
Agree Nov 16, 2006

Hi Henry,

Once again I agree with you, 100%.

Best regards,

Walter


 
CMJ_Trans (X)
CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 06:46
din franceză în engleză
+ ...
I can't be the only who... Nov 16, 2006

... is not marketing services via this site and therefore chooses to remain anonymous so as not to attract business.
I'm here for my love of language. I have nothing to sell. I work in a different field. I have long-standing and permanent clients for my particular field of work.
I have worked in the same industry all my long career in one form or the other and I am happy to share my knowledge - at least with true professionals who may occasionally need a little help and not lazy litt
... See more
... is not marketing services via this site and therefore chooses to remain anonymous so as not to attract business.
I'm here for my love of language. I have nothing to sell. I work in a different field. I have long-standing and permanent clients for my particular field of work.
I have worked in the same industry all my long career in one form or the other and I am happy to share my knowledge - at least with true professionals who may occasionally need a little help and not lazy little wanebee translators who just want to pick others' brains rather than making an effort for themselves. But that's another story.

The more I say about myself, the more it looks as though I want something from the site so, while I have nothing to hide, I prefer to keep a low profile.

Surely that's not a crime?


[Edited at 2006-11-16 20:06]
Collapse


 
Marie-Hélène Hayles
Marie-Hélène Hayles  Identity Verified
Local time: 06:46
din italiană în engleză
+ ...
Agree... Nov 16, 2006

There are message boards I belong to where I appear only as a user name, but they're not work-related. I use this site to boost my professional profile - and the best way of doing that is by using my real name.

Edit: Just had a quick check of the thread Tygru linked to, which has made me qualify my response a little - without mentioning any specific posters, which would be against the rules, there are some who use what is clearly a user name but which also manages to be translation
... See more
There are message boards I belong to where I appear only as a user name, but they're not work-related. I use this site to boost my professional profile - and the best way of doing that is by using my real name.

Edit: Just had a quick check of the thread Tygru linked to, which has made me qualify my response a little - without mentioning any specific posters, which would be against the rules, there are some who use what is clearly a user name but which also manages to be translation related, almost coming across like an agency (even if the user involved isn't an agency). This gives a positive impression, at least to me. So I think the *type* of user name is also important.

However, I do think that a photo of a pet or child always creates an unprofessional impression.

[Edited at 2006-11-16 20:29]

[Edited at 2006-11-16 20:33]
Collapse


 
Ana Brause
Ana Brause  Identity Verified
Local time: 01:46
din engleză în spaniolă
+ ...
I agree Nov 16, 2006

Walter Landesman wrote:

I think that real names get more confidence from colleagues and outsourcers.

That`s my opinion. But, what do I know?

Walter


I agree.
Though I would like to know the opinion of an outsourcer. Does it make a difference? I wonder...
Another thing...... I do have this thing about placing my picture here. I am not so confident in that department. Not like someone is going to steal my image but... who knows..
See you at the Powwow Walter, and I won't be wearing a tartan over my face!


 
Brandis (X)
Brandis (X)
Local time: 06:46
din engleză în germană
+ ...
how true Nov 16, 2006

Hi! I agree with you 100% in many ways. But I use always a picture I adore most that I cannot be myself , like an ocean or the eagle etc., that represent freedom symbols, but I think these days the air traffic regulations are domesticizing these as well aaha...:-) Best Brandis

 
Will Matter
Will Matter  Identity Verified
Statele Unite
Local time: 21:46
engleză
+ ...
Agree Nov 16, 2006

Henry Hinds: I essentially agree with all of your points. You described the various problems and issues quite well. Bravo. Luckily for me, I get to enjoy the fact that my 'profile' name and my 'real' name are, in fact, completely and totally identical. Above and beyond that, numerous ProZians have met me and my identity is verified so there's little problem there. ;0)

[Edited at 2006-11-16 20:43]


 
Jaroslaw Michalak
Jaroslaw Michalak  Identity Verified
Polonia
Local time: 06:46
Membru (2004)
din engleză în poloneză
SITE LOCALIZER
My case... Nov 16, 2006

When I joined ProZ, it was out of curiosity rather than to seek business relations. I have used the nickname, as it is quite customary in various Internet forums, not really to remain anonymous, but to protect my personal data from abusers (personalized spam, anyone?).

Now, as ProZ for me is now more a business venue than a meeting point, I am seriously considering switching to my real name. However, many Prozians know me as „Jabberwock”, in fact even those who know me personall
... See more
When I joined ProZ, it was out of curiosity rather than to seek business relations. I have used the nickname, as it is quite customary in various Internet forums, not really to remain anonymous, but to protect my personal data from abusers (personalized spam, anyone?).

Now, as ProZ for me is now more a business venue than a meeting point, I am seriously considering switching to my real name. However, many Prozians know me as „Jabberwock”, in fact even those who know me personally like to use that name, so I would feel a kind of loss, so to say.

I have asked if it would be possible to show both (ideally, the nickname in less formal situations, i.e. forums, and the real name in business functions - jobs, quotes, profile, etc.), but the suggestion met little response.

My two cents
Jarosław Michalak
Collapse


 
Astrid Elke Witte
Astrid Elke Witte  Identity Verified
Germania
Local time: 06:46
Membru (2002)
din germană în engleză
+ ...
There are business disadvantages for the rest of us as a result Nov 16, 2006

I, for one, feel too embarrassed to write down a Proz.com conference as a "business trip" when about 50% of my colleagues have weird, fictitious names. I have even been to a previous conference where at least one of the speakers had a fictitious name. I think it gives a laughable impression. However, it rubs off on all of us if Proz.com conferences and annual membership fees cannot be written down in the books as business expenses, because of the unprofessional image of Proz.com, created by th... See more
I, for one, feel too embarrassed to write down a Proz.com conference as a "business trip" when about 50% of my colleagues have weird, fictitious names. I have even been to a previous conference where at least one of the speakers had a fictitious name. I think it gives a laughable impression. However, it rubs off on all of us if Proz.com conferences and annual membership fees cannot be written down in the books as business expenses, because of the unprofessional image of Proz.com, created by the high number of anonymous amateurs (definitely amateurs, since all professionals, in any profession, wish their name to become known, and therefore use it).

Astrid
Collapse


 
Jerzy Czopik
Jerzy Czopik  Identity Verified
Germania
Local time: 06:46
Membru (2003)
din poloneză în germană
+ ...
I wouldn´t get so far to see any business disadvantages because of nickname profiles here Nov 16, 2006

Certainly I think showing the real name has advantages for me. But I do respect people with nicknames, keeping those for whatever reasons. It is a private decision and so shall it be.
I also live in Germany and have no problems in using my ProZ expenses for tax purposes. And of course do I use the conferences I participated in. IMHO one should not mix up Internet (virtual reality) with real life. People who we meet at the conference are of flesh and blood. There at the latest we can have t
... See more
Certainly I think showing the real name has advantages for me. But I do respect people with nicknames, keeping those for whatever reasons. It is a private decision and so shall it be.
I also live in Germany and have no problems in using my ProZ expenses for tax purposes. And of course do I use the conferences I participated in. IMHO one should not mix up Internet (virtual reality) with real life. People who we meet at the conference are of flesh and blood. There at the latest we can have their real names, if they are speakers - if you feel to have to. Astrid, please just ask your tax advisor and see what he/she has to say.
But going so far and refusing professionality to ProZ just because user keep nicknames is IMHO simply an overestimation of this so called "problem".

Regards
Jerzy
Collapse


 
Număr de pagini:   [1 2 3] >


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:


You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Real names in profiles






Trados Business Manager Lite
Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio

Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.

More info »
Anycount & Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000

Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.

More info »