| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Have you ever rejected a project for ethical reasons? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
| Same here! :) | Jul 7, 2015 |
Chris S wrote:
I've always turned down texts about testing cosmetics on animals
I've sometimes accepted texts about testing medicines on animals but the more I hear about that the more I think I won't do so again
I also refuse any content related to animal ethics, from farming / husbandry to animal testing in labs to meat recipes! I feel that if I accept to work on such content, it makes me a part of these practices, somehow.
| | | | Paul Lambert 
Sweden
Local time: 20:42
Member (2006)
Swedish to English
+ ...
| Only if I really don't think I could be objective. | Jul 7, 2015 |
I am pretty thick skinned these days and while I take my work seriously, I try not to take it personally. If I feel I can do a good job and I have the time, I will consider the job.
The closest thing I have come to rejecting a job on an ethical ground was one case that I felt it would be a conflict of interests. Namely, there was a company accused of some kind of unethical behaviour. That company prepared a document explaining and defending its actions. Without taking sides or havin... See more I am pretty thick skinned these days and while I take my work seriously, I try not to take it personally. If I feel I can do a good job and I have the time, I will consider the job.
The closest thing I have come to rejecting a job on an ethical ground was one case that I felt it would be a conflict of interests. Namely, there was a company accused of some kind of unethical behaviour. That company prepared a document explaining and defending its actions. Without taking sides or having any inside information in the matter, I was happy to translate what that company wanted to publish on the topic.
As coincidence would have it, about 4 days later I got a request to translate a document from the very NGO that was accusing this company of wrongdoing! I thought it would be inappropriate to do both sides of the argument. I could probably have remained objective, but I felt compelled to tell the NGO that I had already worked for the opposing party and it may be a conflict of interests. In this case, it was just a matter of timing. Had the NGO called first, I would likely have done their job.
In general, I cannot think of a topic or point f view that I would a priori refuse to translate. I don't share the view that I would be part of something with which I disagreed if I simply provided a translation. I would feel no more involved than, say, the pizza delivery boy should feel he was involved in a bank robbery had he delivered the robbers their lunch right before they pulled off a heist.
That said, I have often been given jobs that other translators have refused on ethical grounds, in particular documents about hunting rifles or pornography (as a topic). While I don't quite understand the decision of such translators, I respect their right to make that decision for themselves. ▲ Collapse
| | | |
I am not even sure about topics I wouldn't handle besides the usual, blatant, really bad, nasty stuff, which I have never for the life of me been offered.
If I was to think about mining conditions and environmental damage due to the extraction of all the fancy elements that we alledgedly need to watch the telly or make pictures with a telephone, I wouldn't translate anything.
if I was to think about (ab)using electricity, thus generating enough spoil to kill everything for 10 ... See more I am not even sure about topics I wouldn't handle besides the usual, blatant, really bad, nasty stuff, which I have never for the life of me been offered.
If I was to think about mining conditions and environmental damage due to the extraction of all the fancy elements that we alledgedly need to watch the telly or make pictures with a telephone, I wouldn't translate anything.
if I was to think about (ab)using electricity, thus generating enough spoil to kill everything for 10 millions years, to obscure the skies for the next 10 thousand years or to increase the seal level by 40 m, I wouldn't use the internet. Or any computer.
I'd live in a hut by a river and hunt rabbits with bow and arrows. Or traps. And I'd surely find something containing sugar that I could convert into alcohol. For sauces.
On the other hand, progress is what will make mankind able to travel to another planet, go to war against its inhabitants, kill them all in a whiz, and make it mankind's new, fresh, clean and cosy nest.
Philippe ▲ Collapse
| | | |
I never accept any translations of manuals or IFUs connected with abortion. Had to refuse a couple of times.
| | |
|
|
|
| Ethics is not just "subject matter that you disapprove of" | Jul 7, 2015 |
I refuse to work for peanuts weekly and consider this a very ethical decision.
| | | | Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungary
Local time: 20:42
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
Less than a year ago I refused to continue a translation (it was a secretly recorded tape of conversations between a leader of an international committee and his financial director). During the translation I recognised and heard things I should not know/heard at all. I realised the boss was literally provoked by the emloyee who made the records. After a long time of hesitating I contacted a company and handed over all the materials (both the initial records and two translations) and handed over ... See more Less than a year ago I refused to continue a translation (it was a secretly recorded tape of conversations between a leader of an international committee and his financial director). During the translation I recognised and heard things I should not know/heard at all. I realised the boss was literally provoked by the emloyee who made the records. After a long time of hesitating I contacted a company and handed over all the materials (both the initial records and two translations) and handed over the down payment I received. I strongly believe if the translation would have been done it could seriously damage both the reputation of the committee and the boss (whic was the clear intention of the person who provoked the conversations).
I refused a lot of money but I think I have done the right thing. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungary
Local time: 20:42
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
Mikhail Kropotov wrote:
I refuse to work for peanuts weekly and consider this a very ethical decision.
It is one of the reasons I respect you so much.
| | | | | Another angle, but a very valid one | Jul 8, 2015 |
Mikhail Kropotov wrote:
I refuse to work for peanuts weekly and consider this a very ethical decision.
Respect here too.
| | |
|
|
|
Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 15:42
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| The question is not about money | Jul 9, 2015 |
Of course we have all rejected projects not to work for peanuts.
But ethical reasons are quite different than that. And I think a good professional will not refuse a project for ethical reasons, unless they know the potential client is a terrorist or a drug dealer or something like that, and the document to be translated is for these purposes.
For example, I translate documents for several clients with islam, protestant, catholic and jewish topics. I also translate docu... See more Of course we have all rejected projects not to work for peanuts.
But ethical reasons are quite different than that. And I think a good professional will not refuse a project for ethical reasons, unless they know the potential client is a terrorist or a drug dealer or something like that, and the document to be translated is for these purposes.
For example, I translate documents for several clients with islam, protestant, catholic and jewish topics. I also translate documents about homossexualism, drug addiction and urban crimes. I have translated documents to the biggest rival of my favorite team, and I did a great job, according to the client, although it contained some severe criticism about my team.
I mean, if you mix personal beliefs and principles with your professional life, I'm sorry, pal, but you're in the wrong track. Feasible ethical reasons to refuse a job include only crime-based tasks, that is, you don't want to collaborate with any type of crime.
[Edited at 2015-07-09 02:41 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I never said I was alone :) | Jul 9, 2015 |
Mario Freitas wrote:
Of course we have all rejected projects not to work for peanuts.
But ethical reasons are quite different than that.
Most of us translators reject offers that border on the offensive from time to time. My business practices are not the issue here. The point is that demanding fair compensation for your work is a very important part of ethics too.
I think we would all agree that stealing from others is unethical. Willingly being a victim of theft is equally unethical.
If your stand on ethics can be summed up with "don't facilitate anything evil," you're right there with the majority. I'm here to say ethics is broader than that.
[Edited at 2015-07-09 02:52 GMT]
| | | | | Pages in topic: < [1 2] | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Have you ever rejected a project for ethical reasons? | 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 » |
| | CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
