What do you think of threads in languages other than English?

[Zaty]

As you can see in this originally Spanish thread that went completely off topic and turned into a discussion on whether non-English threads should be allowed or not, this question seems to be important for at least a few members of the community

So what is your opinion, should members be allowed to use any language they chose?

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83391

(BTW, I'm not innocent either, that that thread got carried away :) )

I think that English is the main language of this forum and general discussions on news bits or rumours in the "News and Article Discussion" should exclusively be in English so that everyone can follow the thread. However I don't mind if community discussions are in different languages. I don't hope the "language factor" will cause any problems and all members can enjoy their visits on Macrumors.

[Converted2Truth]

I think ppl should be able to post in whatever language they want... on a site designed to target that audience/etc...

[edesignuk]

My views are clear in the linked thread...

[Krizoitz]

Absolutely they should. It doesn't harm anyone so why should it even be an issue.

[Zaty]

My views are clear in the linked thread...

You don't have to repeat your views, I just thought we should open up this discussion to the general public.

[sjjordan]

I think ppl should be able to post in whatever language they want... on a site designed to target that audience/etc...

Have you ever been in a group when other people start talking in a language you don't know? You don't exactly feel welcome and obviously can't contribute.

The whole purpose of the forums is so that people can contribute/interact in a beneficial way. If I ask a question about program x, maybe only 25% of the readers can help, but 100% of the readers can read the post. A post in another language instantly removes a large majority of the readers, who want to help if possible, from contributing anything. I, personally, find that frustrating.

[Sun Baked]

Absolutely they should. It doesn't harm anyone so why should it even be an issue.Yes, let's open up some threads in languages the moderators don't speak so some members can play some games.

I'm quite sure some of the threads that have been quickly closed in English would thrive in another language -- even though they violate the rules.

So no need to keep the threads limited to the languages the mods speak.

---

Imagine the threads mymemory would open if the mods didn't know what he was doing... http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6694&stc=1

[edesignuk]

You don't have to repeat your views, I just thought we should open up this discussion to the general public.I know that thank you. As I siad in the other thread I'm not going through it all again here. Which is why all I was posting in this thread is that if anyone actually gives a stuff what I think (and honestly why would they?), then they are in the other thread to be seen.

[Zaty]

I know that thank you. As I siad in the other thread I'm not going through it all again here. Which is why all I was posting in this thread is that if anyone actually gives a stuff what I think (and honestly why would they?), then they are in the other thread to be seen.

Calm down man, I was just explaining why I started another thread.

[edesignuk]

Calm down man, I was just explaining why I started another thread.Dude, I'm calm...





DUDE!!!....DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[Zaty]

Yes, let's open up some threads in languages the moderators don't speak so some members can play some games.

I'm quite sure some of the threads that have been quickly closed in English would thrive in another language -- even though they violate the rules.

So no need to keep the threads limited to the languages the mods speak.

---

Imagine the threads mymemory would open if the mods didn't know what he was doing... http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6694&stc=1

That's a good point, though

[SilentPanda]

I guess I don't particularly mind (not that I have any clout here anyhow) if there are threads in foreign languages... however I don't see why a thread in a foreign language isn't posted on another board of that languages type. If you want to know if other people speak Spanish, ask. If you want to know why your Mac is goofing up, post it in English. What is the benefit of posting in Spanish to the community as a whole? All it does for most of us is put a new post/thread on the main page that we can't read anyway. Is there something you can only say in Spanish? I just don't get it I guess.

I'm not so sure it bothers me so much as I don't see the need for it. I'm sure there are Spanish Mac sites out there... by all means if you want to know if other people speak Spanish, just ask. Otherwise... why bother?

Note: I'm just picking Spanish as an example.

[Converted2Truth]

Have you ever been in a group when other people start talking in a language you don't know? You don't exactly feel welcome and obviously can't contribute.

The whole purpose of the forums is so that people can contribute/interact in a beneficial way. If I ask a question about program x, maybe only 25% of the readers can help, but 100% of the readers can read the post. A post in another language instantly removes a large majority of the readers, who want to help if possible, from contributing anything. I, personally, find that frustrating.

I'm on your side, and agree with you... No need to target me Gina

...on a site designed to target that audience/etc...

[iGav]

It doesn't especially bother me if people want to post in other languages, it just means that I won't be able to participate in those particular threads that I don't understand.

I pretty much agree with what SilentPanda has said above though.

[bousozoku]

I find it to be a mistake to allow such, even while I find the intent of such threads to be benign.

While I was an Op on an IRC channel, we were on a machine hosted by Europeans. Several times people would wander into the channel and greet us with their sweetest words. Since many of us were multi-lingual, the visitors were pushed out immediately with a warning to not return.

It's true that much of the world doesn't speak English, but there are forums in many languages. I personally have been on Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Swedish, and Spanish Mac forums. If someone truly wants forums in their own language, they should be able to find them with a little research.

[jsw]

I don't care what languages people use in their threads as long as the majority stay in English - the lingua franca (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_Franca) of this forum.

Since the purpose of this forum is to discuss rumors and to help others in the Mac community, most of the threads and posts need to remain written in English.

And, agreed - no posts in languages the mods don't speak.

[rueyeet]

My take is that if you're determined to post in a language that the majority of people on the site don't speak, don't be surprised when the majority don't answer your posts. *shrug*

I do think that News and such should be in English. But again, if you try to submit a News item in a language the moderators don't speak, don't be surprised if it doesn't get posted.

If there were to be a significant portion of posters using a particular non-English language, though, they effectively create their own subcommunity within the site, shutting everyone else out and preventing the moderators from doing their jobs. That's where it starts getting out of hand. Other U.S.-based online communities have been hijacked this way, and I'd hate to see that to happen to MacRumors.

[crookedcharlie]

I don't understand why people have this desire to create subgroup after subgroup in our culture. We're on a mac site that is in English. Why do you have to distance yourself by posting in another language? I don't care if people bost in Farsi, English, or whatever, but the reason I like Macrumors is the sense of COMMUNITY about it. I don't understand why anyone would want to exclude themselves from it. Whatever...

[wdlove]

To be a community there should be a common language. Aviation adopted English for that very reason, so that all can understand the information presented. If the amount of other languages increased then it would cause of feeling of being left out. For the safety of this forum there should be a moderator that understands the language being used.

[iMeowbot]

And, agreed - no posts in languages the mods don't speak.
That's exactly it. In particular, the post starting the drug thread did include a phrase that, if written in its equivalent tone in English, would not be allowed here. In other words, it amounts to circumventing the profanity filter. I believe that this rule was supposed to apply to all of us, not just those writing in English.

[stevehaslip]

i don't really mind, i don't or can't read the threads in other languages so i pass over them. It would be good if they were kept seperate, it would help everyone to find or avoid them. As long as we don't get people posting replies in multiple languages. ie an english thread with other language replies. That'd just be confusing as hell!

[Les Kern]

Each thread is it's own world, and it's a BIG world out there. Welcome strangers from a far land! Of course mixing the two would be chanchit an lakad nad yelkin dom noos jeeba natrabatam.

[jxyama]

MR�A“ú–{Œê‚̃|ƒXƒg•\Ž¦‚Å‚«‚é‚Ì‚©‚È�H

:p

as a diversion, i can see some community discussions being carried out in non-English language. but as a whole, i think there's little benefit to have threads in foreign languages. i agree that if i wanted discuss Mac stuff in japanese, i should go find a japanese Mac forum. (and oh boy, there are many...)

of course, i can think of some exceptions... if a non-newbie wanted to ask a question about a particular language installation of OS X, for example, then he/she should be able to post the problem details in the particular language. (i said non-newbie because perhaps he/she's already used to coming to MR and wouldn't want to pose the question in a brand new forum when he/she already knows there are people from the relevant country here at MR.)

[mymemory]

Yes, let's open up some threads in languages the moderators don't speak so some members can play some games.

I'm quite sure some of the threads that have been quickly closed in English would thrive in another language -- even though they violate the rules.

So no need to keep the threads limited to the languages the mods speak.

---

Imagine the threads mymemory would open if the mods didn't know what he was doing... http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6694&stc=1

Hay dude come on... the Spanish treads are basically cheese topics and people are just practicing the language.

I would like to see some german threads as well as long they can help me out with the german language as people collaborate in the spanish threads.

Usual;ly and Spanish therad is some one talking about something and the rest is just chacking his/her spelling and grammar. Entendiste?

[mymemory]

I don't understand why people have this desire to create subgroup after subgroup in our culture. We're on a mac site that is in English. Why do you have to distance yourself by posting in another language? I don't care if people bost in Farsi, English, or whatever, but the reason I like Macrumors is the sense of COMMUNITY about it. I don't understand why anyone would want to exclude themselves from it. Whatever...

No one is excluded, it is a community not a dictatorship, free will. There are one or two therads in Spanish and that is ok for me. In case they were in German or French I would just skip them, is not such big deal. Live and let live.

Macrumors still a very nice community no mater the language, I can send you some links of some other communities that even they are in English are very nasty. As I say, live and let live.

[Ugg]

Some of these response sound borderline xenophobic to me. If someone posts in community discussion or specifically states why they're posting in a different language, then there should be no problem whatsoever right? This is a WWW community afterall. The problem does arise if no mods speak the language so the threads should be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Es gibt viele Mitgleidern die deutsch sprechen, aber die meisten sprechen (schreiben?) sehr gutes englisch und wollen vielleicht was lernen. Es gibt ausgezeichnete deutsche Mac Foren, MacUp.com (http://www.macup.com) und auch MacTechNews.de (http://www.mactechnews.de) aber warum nicht ein bisschen fremdes auf MacRumors.

[FredAkbar]

I would be totally in favor of people being allowed to post in whatever language they want (props to logicat for taking a stand (yet remaining polite) in the "opinas de las drugas" thread), but I can't get around that argument that the mods should be able to understand all posts. I think for other-language posts/threads to be allowed, the mods would have to understand the language. Otherwise they can't properly fulfill their duty as mods, unless they feed everything into some online translator, which they shouldn't be obligated to do.

Then again, what if one of the mods already does know a non-English language? We need to first find that out (if we don't know already), and I think as long as at least one mod knows a language, then it should be okay to post in that language.

Another solution is if someone who knows another language, and is well-respected and trusted in the community, could volunteer to be a mod, or at least a mod specifically for posts in that person's language.

[mymemory]

Another solution is if someone who knows another language, and is well-respected and trusted in the community, could volunteer to be a mod, or at least a mod specifically for posts in that person's language.

That would be me :eek: :D :rolleyes:

[Sun Baked]

Hay dude come on... the Spanish treads are basically cheese topics and people are just practicing the language.It's just that after you stopped with the war threads, we got quite a few women/sex/dating threads from you.

Hate to have seen where those would have gone unmoderated... http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11013&stc=1

[takao]

personally i have no need for threads in my own language ... i'm so used to english that it doesn't matter (as long as the difficult vocabulary isn't involved)

but if somebody wants to practice a language here it's fine with me as long as the thread is marked as a "language practice thread"

[bousozoku]

That would be me :eek: :D :rolleyes:

Considering your thread topics, that's doubtful.

[bousozoku]

Some of these response sound borderline xenophobic to me. If someone posts in community discussion or specifically states why they're posting in a different language, then there should be no problem whatsoever right? This is a WWW community afterall. The problem does arise if no mods speak the language so the threads should be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Es gibt viele Mitgleidern die deutsch sprechen, aber die meisten sprechen (schreiben?) sehr gutes englisch und wollen vielleicht was lernen. Es gibt ausgezeichnete deutsche Mac Foren, MacUp.com (http://www.macup.com) und auch MacTechNews.de (http://www.mactechnews.de) aber warum nicht ein bisschen fremdes auf MacRumors.

It shouldn't be a problem, as long as the language is acceptably clean. However, from my experience, it wouldn't remain a thread or two, it would be a mess and too much to moderate effectively.

[Hoef]

My views are clear in the linked thread...

Euhh ... I am new here ... How do I see the linked thread ?

[FredAkbar]

Euhh ... I am new here ... How do I see the linked thread ?
He was referring to the link in the first post of this thread.

Here it is again:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83391

[FredAkbar]

That would be me :eek: :D :rolleyes:
Well I said "well-respected" and "trusted" but I suppose you'll do ;) :D.

[Squire]

Euhh ... I am new here ... How do I see the linked thread ?

Click on the text in blue in the first post.


That's exactly it. In particular, the post starting the drug thread did include a phrase that, if written in its equivalent tone in English, would not be allowed here. In other words, it amounts to circumventing the profanity filter. I believe that this rule was supposed to apply to all of us, not just those writing in English.

I agree. Also, I think people have to realize that this is a site owned and operated by individuals. (Arn and Blakespot, right?) Shouldn't it be their decision?

Squire

[medea]

What a petty thing to argue over. If someone goes into an alternate language thread and sees that it is not appropriate then that person has the right to inform the mods and that thread will be dealt with. Not all spanish threads are going to go that route. If a inappropriate thread goes on and on for a while and no one notices it then no harm is done until someone is offended and reports it, that goes for spanish threads and that goes for english threads. There have been many english threads that have gone on off base for a long time until someone finally complained and the thread was shut down. Language should never be an issue here. Excuse me if I'm appalled at the notion some people would like to isolate macrumors to an english-only speaking crowd but that is sad. What next, we will all have to have a moderator approve all our posts before they are allowed online?????

[Abstract]

Like others have stated, this is an English forum. If you want to post in another language, then find a Mac board in that language. I wouldn't go to a Japanese Mac forum and post the only thread in English. Wouldn't you find that to be an idiotic thing to do?

Yes, if there was a mod here who understood the language being posted, then its easier to moderate, but this board is large enough that demands of the mods shouldn't be made more difficult. Imagine if one mod had to go around looking for all the spanish threads just because he knows the language. Its easy for us to sit here and say its possible, but its another to actually be the one who has to do it.

I know its only 2 threads on the 1st page of the Community Forum, but if people are saying its okay, then whether its one, two, or ten threads, its okay, right? So if 5 threads in the Community forum were in spanish, 2 were in German, 3 were in Japanese, and 10 were in English, wouldn't this place be a lot less pleasant? There are plenty of places to post where English isn't the official language. Use them.

I can't think of a single topic where it is absolutely necessary for people of only a certain language to understand it. If you ask a questions about drugs, why do you only want to ask people in Spanish? Why the exclusion of others?

[medea]

You know what, there have been other language threads on the board before, such as a german language thread. I could not read anything anyone was saying and therefore did not participate but the others sure looked like they were having fun in it. But all of a sudden someone creates a few threads in Spanish and everyone is against it. I would be excluded if a thread were started about 4x4's, yet I don't complain and demand the thread to be opened to all automobiles. If a thread were started about Gay/Lesbian lifestyles I would be excluded, but would I demand the thread to be opened to include all sexual orientations because I alone am not gay? Absolutely not.
Boo hoo.
If you have such a hard time with the idea you may one day have to weed through the english threads because oh so many Spanish, German, Japanese etc threads have popped up then instead of BANNING non-english languages then, as lame as it is for something like this to happen, I propose a new forum for non-English threads.
Then no one will have to view any scary spanish threads. Who in the world will oppose this idea?

[The Muffin Man]

Go you, medea! Spymac has gained a large membership of Spanish and Portuguese speakers, and their blogs and threads are mixed in. It works really well over there. Even if non-English threads are put in a separate forum, at least MacRumors can pride itself in having a "diverse user base".

[Squire]

...I propose a new forum for non-English threads.
Then no one will have to view any scary spanish threads. Who in the world will oppose this idea?

That's not such a bad idea. ;) And ask the participating members to be diligent in reporting offensive material. Sure, that works.

Squire

[mymemory]

Oh thank you! if I was a moderator you all would be banned by now! :rolleyes:

Besides.. I remember I was one of the first one pushing the ordinary threads in to comunity discusions BEFORE the comunity discusion was created. I remember everybody telling me to quit the sabotage and then... a community discussion section was opened. The good old day. Who know, may be we are going to end up with a "sexually oriented" section or actually a "only movies" section would be good to talk about film, video, effects, etc.

But who cares I am such missundertood individual anyway :(

[mymemory]

It's just that after you stopped with the war threads, we got quite a few women/sex/dating threads from you.

Hate to have seen where those would have gone unmoderated... http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11013&stc=1

They were all good man! Still I have some others coming up. I was just warming up the croud :cool:

[jefhatfield]

i am from america...i wasn't aware that there were macs in other countries

[Sun Baked]

They were all good man! Still I have some others coming up. I was just warming up the croud :cool:Yes, can wait to see what follows these mymemory threads...

Why men talk about themselves?

The king of Masturbation!

Sex search sites

over-masturbated!

What is "Orgasm"

Women: for cooking, cleaning and sex.

Vniow... would you be my Macrumors cybergirlfriend?

etc...

[Squire]

Oh thank you! if I was a moderator you all would be banned by now! :rolleyes:

Who are you directing this apparently sarcastic remark at? If it's in response to a particular post, please quote that post. Otherwise, people might assume it's the post directly above yours. (In this case, that would be my post.)

Squire

[mymemory]

Who are you directing this apparently sarcastic remark at? If it's in response to a particular post, please quote that post. Otherwise, people might assume it's the post directly above yours. (In this case, that would be my post.)

Squire

no, is not about you sorry.

[Abstract]

I would be excluded if a thread were started about 4x4's, yet I don't complain and demand the thread to be opened to all automobiles. If a thread were started about Gay/Lesbian lifestyles I would be excluded, but would I demand the thread to be opened to include all sexual orientations because I alone am not gay? Absolutely not.


Lets say there's a topic about 4x4's, and its posted in english. I'm not excluded from the conversation simply because I don't like or own a 4x4, or any car, for that matter. I'm excluded if I don't choose to participate, or if I simply don't care to be included.

If a thread was written in spanish (or any other non-english language) and was about drugs, then I would be excluded because I don't have a choice.

Exclusion because of the topic of conversation, and exclusion because of the language are 2 very very different things.

[bousozoku]

Lets say there's a topic about 4x4's, and its posted in english. I'm not excluded from the conversation simply because I don't like or own a 4x4, or any car, for that matter. I'm excluded if I don't choose to participate, or if I simply don't care to be included.

If a thread was written in spanish (or any other non-english language) and was about drugs, then I would be excluded because I don't have a choice.

Exclusion because of the topic of conversation, and exclusion because of the language are 2 very very different things.

This reminds me of being at the grocery store when two clerks start talking in Spanish about something the customer has that is not being scanned properly. The customer has no clue about the content of the conversation, but is not about her at all. In the end, things work out, but she's left with the impression that she can't trust the store and has to shop elsewhere.

[mymemory]

I would say you are free to start the thread in English as well if you are interested in THE topic.

If a thread is about 4X4 and I want to talk about all cars in general then create the new threat...

I mean, one or other thread in another language for me is not a problem. I mean, I do not see Steve Jobs saying: Apple products are English based only and everybody have to learn English because the English is the standart language in aviation.

I see keyboards in Spanish, Photoshop in Spanish, OSX in Spanish, Russian, Chinesse, etc.

There is just one thread man, I haven't seen any submission asking for an Spanish base section, THAT would be something to discuss then.

[The Muffin Man]

mymemory, ¿de cuál país eres?

[FredAkbar]

no, is not about you sorry.
If it was about me and my comments about you earlier, I was only giving you a hard time, I didn't mean to offend or insult you...sorry! :)

[jxyama]

i am from america...i wasn't aware that there were macs in other countries

that's pretty funny, jef.

even funnier would have been: "i am from america... i wasn't aware that there were other countries." ;)

[mymemory]

mymemory, ¿de cuál país eres?

Venezuela.

[mymemory]

that's pretty funny, jef.

even funnier would have been: "i am from america... i wasn't aware that there were other countries." ;)

well... believe me that is not a surprise find some one from the US drowing the Ecuador line acroos the US. :eek:

[mymemory]

Vniow... would you be my Macrumors cybergirlfriend?

Oh God! that one was so good! LOL

[SilentPanda]

that's pretty funny, jef.

even funnier would have been: "i am from america... i wasn't aware that there were other countries." ;)

There are other countries besides the U.S. but they're all populated with actors (like DisneyWorld) and not real people. They are only meant to be vacation spots for Americans not actual places where people live.

;)

[bousozoku]

There are other countries besides the U.S. but they're all populated with actors (like DisneyWorld) and not real people. They are only meant to be vacation spots for Americans not actual places where people live.

;)

Isn't that the truth. Of course, there are plenty of people that try to live in the area.

[The Muffin Man]

mymemory, por qué pregunté es porque dices que vives en NYC, y hablas inglés y español (¿algunos más?), y has hecho unos pocos errores de gramática y ortografía, pero muchísimos hablantes de inglés hacen errores cada día. Pero hables inglés muy bien.

[mymemory]

mymemory, por qué pregunté es porque dices que vives en NYC, y hablas inglés y español (¿algunos más?), y has hecho unos pocos errores de gramática y ortografía, pero muchísimos hablantes de inglés hacen errores cada día. Pero hables inglés muy bien.

Because I just moved to New York in January and I am moving to Miami soon. I just didn't like the social life here, too much isolation.

[bousozoku]

mymemory, por qué pregunté es porque dices que vives en NYC, y hablas inglés y español (¿algunos más?), y has hecho unos pocos errores de gramática y ortografía, pero muchísimos hablantes de inglés hacen errores cada día. Pero hables inglés muy bien.

英語で出来ませんか？

[edesignuk]

英語で出来ませんか？Winner...

[The Muffin Man]

I think bouso asked something about Japan or Japanese. I can't read kanji very well at all.

[Sun Baked]

英語で出来ませんか？For all I know it's Japanese written with a Cuban accent. :confused:

[jxyama]

bousouzoku:

your handle should be

–\‘–‘°

instead. it looks much cooler. :cool:

bousouzoku originally wrote "couldn't you do this in english?"

[bousozoku]

For all I know it's Japanese written with a Cuban accent. :confused:

Ju know I don't do Cubano. ;)

[vniow]

Oh God! that one was so good! LOL

No it wasn't.

[crenz]

No it wasn't.

Well, mymemory, guess you asked for it :D

I think a language-learning subforum is a neat idea. It is nice to be able to practise* a language with fellow Mac users from all over the world.

However, for the rest of the forum, I fell the language should be limited to English. As we are guests on an American website, I think it is not too much to be asked to use English. Even though it's not my first language.


*We can still use British spelling, right? :p

[Neserk]

I can't read them but I have no problem with them. If two people speak in French and what to converse in their native language more power to them.

[Neserk]

Have you ever been in a group when other people start talking in a language you don't know? You don't exactly feel welcome and obviously can't contribute.
.

Completely different situation. This isn't two people standing in front of you having a conversation. This is a thread where the title is in language X and you simply don't click on it.

[rainman::|:|]

i have two points of common courtesy that would make me OK with non-english threads. First off, a subject line that clearly indicates a different language, so we're not constantly clicking on threads we can't understand. And, that each thread be one language, so a thread doesn't suddenly switch to something else. Or, perhaps a whole subforum dedicated to international chat, people that don't speak english but need buying advice, etc.

paul

[Squire]

i have two points of common courtesy that would make me OK with non-english threads. First off, a subject line that clearly indicates a different language, so we're not constantly clicking on threads we can't understand. And, that each thread be one language, so a thread doesn't suddenly switch to something else. Or, perhaps a whole subforum dedicated to international chat, people that don't speak english but need buying advice, etc.

paul

Good points, Paul. I think the sub-forum for non-English threads is a good idea and I don't think different languages should start popping up in the middle of a thread.

Squire

[bousozoku]

Good points, Paul. I think the sub-forum for non-English threads is a good idea and I don't think different languages should start popping up in the middle of a thread.

Squire
Exactly.

The only exception I can see is where it has to do with a translation or a comparison. A word or even a paragraph in another language might be necessary to resolve the situation.

[janey]

this is reminding me of the orkut `brazilian invasion`. Yeesh.

Anyway, my personal opinion is that english is the lingua franca of macrumors (like someone mentioned earlier in this thread) so having threads in foreign languages would be limiting, but if people insist on starting them, why don't you let them?
Nothing wrong with them, and its a good practice...*shrug*

[mymemory]

No it wasn't.

Ohhh... poor baby, let me :*

[janey]

Ohhh... poor baby, let me :*
roflmao. cant wait for vniow's reaction to that ;)

[Abstract]

i have two points of common courtesy that would make me OK with non-english threads. First off, a subject line that clearly indicates a different language, so we're not constantly clicking on threads we can't understand. And, that each thread be one language, so a thread doesn't suddenly switch to something else. Or, perhaps a whole subforum dedicated to international chat, people that don't speak english but need buying advice, etc.

paul

Fair enough. Good idea, I say. :)

[ThomasJefferson]

If MR has a moderator that speaks the language and can insure that no illegal activity is taking place I have no problem with threads in other languages.

How about a Latin thread for all the Romans out there?

Ubi Deus Ibi Pax

[medea]

Fair enough. Good idea, I say. :)
Gee isn't that what I recommended in my second post?

[mymemory]

Gee isn't that what I recommended in my second post?

Are people ignoring our women in our community? :mad:

[Zaty]

I still don't like the idea of sub-forums in different languages. Why? Because now, we're all members of the same communitiy. If we open new sub-forums, we kind of divide this communitiy into different communities which would be sad IMHO.

[bousozoku]

Are people ignoring our women in our community? :mad:

Since when is our MacRumors medea a woman?

[medea]

Since when is our MacRumors medea a woman?
Is that what he meant? Weird.

Anyways, the thing is to me it doesn't seem like this has become a big problem so I'm not sure what prompted all this non-english thread resentment. Can't we get along here without such BS?
Plenty of people speak spanish so if there is a spanish dominated thread that has questionable content I'm sure one of our spanish speaking members can alert the mods of the problem. To ban all spanish, all german, all italian, all french etc seems a tad rash to me. In the end it's really up to arn and such to decide of this should be taken further, and since this thread has gone on for a while with no input from the authorities I would say they are not going to take this "problem" seriously.

[bousozoku]

Is that what he meant? Weird.

Anyways, the thing is to me it doesn't seem like this has become a big problem so I'm not sure what prompted all this non-english thread resentment. Can't we get along here without such BS?
Plenty of people speak spanish so if there is a spanish dominated thread that has questionable content I'm sure one of our spanish speaking members can alert the mods of the problem. To ban all spanish, all german, all italian, all french etc seems a tad rash to me. In the end it's really up to arn and such to decide of this should be taken further, and since this thread has gone on for a while with no input from the authorities I would say they are not going to take this "problem" seriously.

Well, this thread was started by a person in a country with three main languages. ;)

My concern is that it will all descend into chaos and all languages but English will be banned eventually, so that even casual non-English usage will be confined to PMs.

[edesignuk]

Are people ignoring our women in our community? :mad: http://upload.yo-momma.net/uploads/macros/saywha.jpg

[vniow]

roflmao. cant wait for vniow's reaction to that ;)


He won't get one.

[Sneeper]

I think we are making mountains out of mole hills..

but ultimately I think that forums are a great way to bring people hundreds and thousands of miles apart together to help each other. To ban the use of other languages borders on elitism and bigotry. Don't fear things you don't understand, embrace it.

I can easily imagine someone who doesn't know English posting on macrumors because he heard that macrumors is the greatest forum (it rocks!) to solve his particular problem. Maybe he's tried posting on all the forums of his own language. Maybe there are no Mac forums of his own language. Maybe he's in a third world country. There are very few macs in impoverished nations, strangely.

But I digress. Anyway, say that person posts a question in his own language because he doesn't know how to phrase it and he doesn't trust babelfish to get it across. Most people ignore the question not knowing what he's asking, but someone else who happens knows the language translates for the rest of the group.. Then people can help in English.. the person will translate it back.

We are a large community. We shouldn't limit ourselves for fear of the unknown. And besides, it's not like people are posting in different languages left and right. Relax. Let's all be friends.

:D

[MacCoaster]

I'd generally stay away from posting things in other languages. It might NOT be that others can't understand it, but some advertisers require that all content be in English.

I really love foreign language and I practice my French and Spanish with friends. I just don't feel like this is a much of a problem if kept low profile and if arn's advertisers approve non-English content. My main problem with this, if it ever be a problem, is the community hijacking, à la (ok I'm guilty there) Portuguese in Orkut.

But that ASL thread: THUMBS UP! :)

[Rower_CPU]

I'll paraphrase my comments from earlier discussion on the topic.

Other communities exist for discussing Macs in Spanish, so there would be little reason for arn to make the effort to dedicate a forum to it here on MR. However, I still don't see any reason why the occasional thread in a foreign language isn't OK. I speak Spanish and French and can monitor those discussions, and online translation software works well enough (for "romance" languages at least), if they want to check out the small talk. A couple threads for people to practice their Spanish is pretty analogous to folks wanting to discuss the intricacies of the CPUs in the G5s - its all "Greek" if you don't have a certain amount of education on the subject.

Posts, regardless of language, must adhere to the site rules and infractions will be handled in the customary manner. Since the profanity filter isn't multilingual, folks need to self-police when the mods aren't available. Obviously, there's a certain amount of trust involved here and if that trust is abused, the moderators will have to re-evaluate non-English discussion.

[The Muffin Man]

Rower, te tengo que preguntar algo. En otro thread, usé la palabra "*******", y me doy cuenta de que no es "apropriado" y se quitaría su equivalente en inglés, pero si no le importa a nadie, ¿importa para cualquiera cosa? Creo que no.

[Rower_CPU]

Rower, te tengo que preguntar algo. En otro thread, usé la palabra "*******", y me doy cuenta de que no es "apropriado" y se quitaría su equivalente en inglés, pero si no le importa a nadie, ¿importa para cualquiera cosa? Creo que no.

Importa porque las reglas establecen que las palabrotas no estan apropriadas.


2) The profanity filter is there for a reason. Do not circumvent it. This is actually becoming my biggest pet peeve.

Escribir palabras en otra lengua es una manera de evitar el filtro.

[medea]

Well said, thanks for the response rower. Hopefully that will put an end to all of this.

[mymemory]

Is that what he meant? Weird.

Sorry dude, I though medea was a female nick :rolleyes:

[CmdrLaForge]

I would like to see some german threads as well as long they can help me out with the german language as people collaborate in the spanish threads.


I thought you don't like the germans after your past experience in Berlin ? Why do you want to learn the language ? :rolleyes:

[CmdrLaForge]

that's pretty funny, jef.

even funnier would have been: "i am from america... i wasn't aware that there were other countries." ;)

Are there ?

[mymemory]

I thought you don't like the germans after your past experience in Berlin ? Why do you want to learn the language ? :rolleyes:

So I can insult people in their own language!

[CmdrLaForge]

So I can insult people in their own language!

If that makes sense for you ...........?
:rolleyes: :eek: :o

[Rower_CPU]

OK, looks like this topic is done. Thanks for the input, folks. :)