Hi. Do you mind if I create a post to help brazilian newcomers? Last days I've saw a lot of newcomers and a big part of them were brazilian. I just want to try to explain the rules of the website to them. Sure I would write in English, but can I write some explanations in Portuguese? (Even if I write in English AND in Portuguese?).
I tried to post this on Cormyn's, on Gantic's and in Cenere's profile but only Gantic answered me and didn't explained correctly if that was a Yes or a No.
I know that AG3 will have international translations of the rules and stuff, but while AG3 isn't released I was thinking: if I create such topic, I would avoid massive rule violations by those users that don't understand the rules properly.
Based on Gantic's post, I'd say it's a yes, but he's just questioning the point of it. Just keep in mind accents and other symbols that go with letters don't work on the site. As long as you have the english with it, it's fine.
Based on Gantic's post, I'd say it's a yes, but he's just questioning the point of it. Just keep in mind accents and other symbols that go with letters don't work on the site. As long as you have the english with it, it's fine.
I will write everything without the accents, then. I think I will trust in Gantic's post and create a forum like that.
Based on Gantic's reply, I will still point out the "what's the point" part. To put it rather blunt: The rules are simple: This is an English speaking site, you write and read English. If someone doesn't understand the language, they obviously shouldn't have agreed to follow rules they don't know are there. So, there are no need to make a dual language thread, since it will then be a duplicate to the regular rules.
Further, when one starts, there will be others following, and I fear a lot of people are going to make their own custom newcomer's thread for their particular language, which will be rather annoying. They already do it in English, after all.
I was thinking to explain the rules and not simply translate them. And what's the problem of making threads with dual language in several other languages too? Threads like that would be useful, unlike several "Hi there" threads that are some kind of messenger topic and is useful for one user only, while dual-language threads would help lots of users and avoid several rule violations.
It was just simple reasoning. It's not like half these stickies aren't explaining rules already. As for several borderline duplicate threads... That's just annoying, and not exactly what that section is for. It is for introductions (all the hi-threads are supposed to be there). Sure, it might avoid several rule violations, but as mentioned, so should the rules in general. We mods don't go off simply banning people the moment they step outside the lines, we warn first, usually by explaining what trouble the user did and why they shouldn't, so avoidance is not exactly that big a reason.
Anyway, cut short: People should already be aware. If they aren't, then they haven't read the rules, and they are just as unlikely to read your thread as well.
Translators are quite good for getting the core of the rules, though. And the newcomer's section would probably still be appropriate, I am just pointing out the hi-thread are natives there as well, and shouldn't be laughed at, just because they are seemingly pointless. If they were that, then they wouldn't be allowed in the first place.
As for AGv3, this is exactly why I feel it to be a bother to try and update the stickies properly. There is currently no final say on what will happen to the forums, if they are going to stay as they are, if they are going to be cleared entirely, or they are going to be change. I generally believe it would be a good thing to update the help-page when this is cleared out, to include all rules and guides, and at that point, it would be more appropriate for users like yourself to make these custom threads, which would then be collected in a sticky for better use. That way we could still point towards the rules (collected somewhere central), while there would be use- and helpful threads in a newcomer's section to help out even further.
Especially if AG should become more of a multi-lingual site (at least when it comes to rules and guidelines).
Google Translator is crap, but not the only one out there either. I have found at least one that is decent at what it does. But yes, in case of actually making such themed threads, a native speaker, or someone with good skills in both languages would be needed.
If you did such a topic, it would not be against the rules (which is why none of us have actually told you not to do it). However, at least for most of us mods, it will seem a little pointless, because we have seen many of that kind of threads, and it might end up giving the idea that using another language than English would be okay in the forums. Mods are usually pessimists. So, if you do make the thread, I am sure some of the users will be grateful that you did, and that is all that matters, isn't it?
Yes, it is. So I will do it anyway. But I will make SURE that all comments stay in English.
And what translator you found decent? Every single one of all I've ever saw is crap. And I've saw from Google, from Yahoo, from a Windows Vista's sidebar app and from a site named "imtranslator.com"
