English vs Non-English boards

[Dinobot2]

One thing I have seen happen occasionally is that someone who isn't an English speaker will post a topic in one of the main forums here in a language other than English. An English speaking user will then kindly link them to the subforum for that user's language and direct them to ask their question there. I think that's fine.

But I've noticed that a lot of the time when I look through the Non-english subforums, someone will make a topic asking about something in a specific language, and people will still answer them in English. Sometimes people will answer them in both English and then translate what they said into the specific language and post both responses, but a lot of the time it's English only.

I think that's kind of an unfair double standard. I'm sure one could make the argument that the user can simply highlight the text and translate the English to their language, but you can make the same case for people posting in the main forums in something other than English: just simply highlight the non-English text and translate it to English.

So I just want to kindly request that if you are responding to someone in one of the non-English forums, please post your answer in the language of that particular sub forum. As a monolingual English speaker, i'm not personally affected by this. Just something i've noticed and wanted to suggest to make things fair.

[DavidR]

I generally do in both English and a translation service.  Here you get the issue of, do you get a grammatically correct translation.

This takes time and many Avast Forum users (not Avast Team) may not have the time to do that. 
You can reverse this and say there is nothing stopping the original poster using a translation service/function to convert the reply - I use thebImTranslator: Translator, Dictionary, TTS app for Firefox to translate. 

So in a way this is a two way street, outside of that there is a possibility that they don't get a response at all. 

Which do you feel is better, no response at all or one they can translate ?

[Dinobot2]

Whether you get a correct translation is a risk that is taken regardless of if the person responding does the translation, or the one reading the response does the translation. If we want a standard where the person making the initial topic and reading responses does the translation, that's fine. If we want a standard where the person responding does the translation, that's also fine. I just think the standard should apply consistently, and it doesn't always appear to.

[DavidR]

For me the extra time required may simply mean less replies on the non-english-language forums.

Does it really matter who does the translation or does the lack of a response just leave the user hanging in the wind, with nothing at all.  For me any response is better than none at all.  Don't forget those responding are doing so in their own valuable time.

[Dinobot2]

Ok so then you should have no issue at all when people post something of a different language other than English in the main forums.

[DavidR]

That certainly isn't what I'm saying. 
Why did the Forum Administrators have the various different language sub-forums in the first place.

When you try any enforcement like this the result is more likely to be no response at all, which helps no one.

[rocksteady]

If a original post appears on the main (English language) forum, I tend to reply asking for them to post here in English, then provide a link to the non-English sections, should they wish to converse in their native language.
However, there is nothing stopping a OP from using an online translator to post in English in the main forum.
There is also nothing preventing a non-Englsh reply to a non-English post in the main forum. It happens, but the answer may not be understood by English language users, so less help to the community overall.

[bob3160]

Ok so then you should have no issue at all when people post something of a different language other than English in the main forums.

I guess you're missing the point. In the English forum, the question should be in English.
In the on English forum, a reply not in English is at least a reply which is better than no reply.

[Dinobot2]

I feel like everyone is deliberately trying to not understand the issue i'm bringing up.

If the English forum posts and responses should all be in English, then that means the non-English boards should be kept to their language. Period.

Fair is fair.

If, for example, you're in the French language board, and someone posts a topic in French, and you want to reply but you don't speak French, then type out your response into Google Translate and then post the translation.

[bob3160]

I feel like everyone is deliberately trying to not understand the issue i'm bringing up.

If the English forum posts and responses should all be in English, then that means the non-English boards should be kept to their language. Period.

Fair is fair.

If, for example, you're in the French language board, and someone posts a topic in French, and you want to reply but you don't speak French, then type out your response into Google Translate and then post the translation.

We understand the point very well. I personally don't agree with your point and you aren't willing to listen to the objections. or our explanations.

[Dinobot2]

I'm well aware of the explanations. Essentially you're all comfortable with a double standard. I just don't agree with the double standard.

If non-English users are expected to translate every English language post they come across in the English area, then I don't see why English speakers (or anyone who doesn't speak the language of the particular language-specific forum) can't take the 5 seconds to do the same.

[bob3160]

I'm well aware of the explanations. Essentially you're all comfortable with a double standard. I just don't agree with the double standard.

If non-English users are expected to translate every English language post they come across in the English area, then I don't see why English speakers (or anyone who doesn't speak the language of the particular language-specific forum) can't take the 5 seconds to do the same.

The only time they translate or really don't need to translate is if there is no option in their native language.

[DavidR]

I'm well aware of the explanations. Essentially you're all comfortable with a double standard. I just don't agree with the double standard.

If non-English users are expected to translate every English language post they come across in the English area, then I don't see why English speakers (or anyone who doesn't speak the language of the particular language-specific forum) can't take the 5 seconds to do the same.

5 seconds, your taking the piss. This is an English colloquialism you may not be familiar with.
It may take 5 seconds to translate the question but far, far more to offer assistance and that is ongoing for as long as the problem is unresolved.

So would you rather there were no replies to posts in the Non-English Zone (which is clearly defined in the forum listing) if the person trying to help isn't in their native language, because that is essentially what would happen.  Or they be directed to the Non-English Zone for their language and sits there awaiting a response, because that would be the reality of your suggestion.

The people you are berating are the very ones (volunteers) trying to help. 

[rocksteady]

Ok so then you should have no issue at all when people post something of a different language other than English in the main forums.

Thats correct. It never has been an issue, so there is no need to make it one. Nothing needs to be changed.
We can, and have in the past lived with the occassional non-Engish post in the English forum. No big deal. So do please stop going on about it and wasting peoples time.