So I was quite surprised - indeed shocked - to find that freelancers are excluded from the conference aimed at end customers. Does ProZ think that freelancers don't work directly with enterprises in need of translation? Some of us do so to quite a significant extent, and participation in that event by freelancers could benefit the main target audience in a number of ways. I find it quite interesting that vendors and advertisers to the translation industry (such as SDL) are welcome. For once, I'll spare the world my commentary and analysis on this point; I think the situation speaks loudly enough by itself with regard to a number of issues.
Those of you who do maintain some sort of relationship to the Translation Workhouse might want to let staff know how strongly you support the exclusion of those pesky freelancers.
Ugly policy, I agree. That said, after seeing a shocking lack of professionalism among the majority of participants in the chats at the first two events, I can FULLY understand why Proz took this route.
ReplyDeleteReally? Would you care to elaborate on that? I'm really curious
ReplyDeleteAgree with Chacher!
ReplyDeletethe "deadly" pollution of presentations in the last Proz online conference was simply awful!
A peer of ours said "I had the feeling I was attending some surreal "speed dating" session. A real cacophony which had the following result: time-wasting and any serious or interesting discussion impossible."