| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Have you ever turned down a job for ethical reasons or because you didn't agree with the content? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever turned down a job for ethical reasons or because you didn't agree with the content?".
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No, I have not, I have received only two jobs which were not exactly "ethical" for me, but the non-ethical part was well hidden so I had not seen it when I had read through the document.
they involved experiments on animals for drugs. At the end of the day, I did them, but I tried to forget as soon as I could what I had written.
IN the future I think I would refuse jobs like these.
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Once I refused to translate religious materials. And I will do so in the future.
| | | | Ventnai 
Spain
Local time: 03:40
German to English
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I once accepted a translation from an agency without really looking at it properly and as I was going through the translation I realised that it was a type of pyramid scam. I told the PM that I wouldn't accept such a document ever again. She apologised but told me she hadn't read it herself, so she didn't know.
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William Murphy
Italy
Local time: 03:40
Member (2009)
Italian to English
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| Timely question | Aug 2, 2011 |
I actually had this issue come up just last week. I did a translation about a month back that came into conflict with my (Christian) worldview. I translated the document faithfully and did not say anything to the agency that sent it to me since I do a lot of work for them and they have a wide range of clients, figuring that this was just a one-off affair. Unfortunately for me, last week the agency sent me some more material from the same client. Again, I did the translation but, upon delivery I ... See more I actually had this issue come up just last week. I did a translation about a month back that came into conflict with my (Christian) worldview. I translated the document faithfully and did not say anything to the agency that sent it to me since I do a lot of work for them and they have a wide range of clients, figuring that this was just a one-off affair. Unfortunately for me, last week the agency sent me some more material from the same client. Again, I did the translation but, upon delivery I requested that the agency please not ask me to translate for that particular client again, citing my reasons and providing examples from the material that I found objectionable. The agency was very understanding and I am happy to continue working for them and likewise pleased that I have the freedom to refuse to be a link in the supply chain for materials which, in addition to being contrary to my own beliefs, may actually even be challenging (read: attacking) them. ▲ Collapse
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I refused a large job because it had misleading and abusive content regarding a particular religion. The 'client' was ready to pay whatever I quoted. This incident has left a lasting "feel good" sentiment.
| | | | Caro Maucher
Germany
Local time: 03:40
Member (2005)
English to German
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Though some guidelines for managers on employee "motivation" were somewhat disgusting.
I recently translated a website for an islamic trust. They asked for donations in order to print and distribute free copies of the Quran so that "light may prevail in the hearts of those who seek wisdom..." and I forget the rest, nothing nasty anyway. When I told a (male) friend anbout it this weekend he replied he wouldn't work for that kind of client any more than for weapon manufacturers becaus... See more Though some guidelines for managers on employee "motivation" were somewhat disgusting.
I recently translated a website for an islamic trust. They asked for donations in order to print and distribute free copies of the Quran so that "light may prevail in the hearts of those who seek wisdom..." and I forget the rest, nothing nasty anyway. When I told a (male) friend anbout it this weekend he replied he wouldn't work for that kind of client any more than for weapon manufacturers because the Quran was absolutely misogynic and islam had never had anything like a period of enlightenment (historically speaking) or reformation and was still basically stuck in the Middle Ages. Since apparently he'd read the Quran and I hadn't, I found myself in a bad arguing position, and anyway I hate it when people seem to think I ought to justify myself... but I argued valiantly and I still don't think I did wrong as there was nothing objectionable in this website.
And actually I quite enjoyed that translation, as it was something different altogether than the usual users' manuals... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 03:40
Spanish to English
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I did talk to a PM (agency owner) about certain reservations regarding a particular client. She took a good long look, and since she was in the process of specialising in another market, the problematic client simply dropped out of our event horizon... we still work together happily, though.
That issue was environmental practice. I'm perfectly alright with religious and related issues, as it's an academic interest for me. (For that matter, I don't think Caro did anything objectionab... See more I did talk to a PM (agency owner) about certain reservations regarding a particular client. She took a good long look, and since she was in the process of specialising in another market, the problematic client simply dropped out of our event horizon... we still work together happily, though.
That issue was environmental practice. I'm perfectly alright with religious and related issues, as it's an academic interest for me. (For that matter, I don't think Caro did anything objectionable; I've read the Quran and done several papers on Islamic history, and I'd challenge that particular colleague of hers).
I also once refused gay material on grounds of jargon, but not because of ethics -- rather the contrary, I simply couldn't have done it justice. My gayspeak in my second mother language is on the flippant side, and nowhere scientific. ▲ Collapse
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 03:40
Member (2009)
English to German
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| No, but I would | Aug 2, 2011 |
If the content is abusive or glorifying anything that strongly goes against my belief, e. g. lab tests which involve animals, "hate" campaigns against religious or ethnic groups, any type of scam etc.
I would politely inform the client - direct client or agency - that I cannot translate that document or any others of its kind.
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I'm pretty much in the same camp as Thayenga.
I once did a translation for a company that did surveillance, i e private investigators. It was kind of creepy because these people were being tailed to make sure they weren't spending company money or eking out company time. I felt like i knew more about their lives than I wanted to! But it was only that one job one time...and it's not really as objectionable as say, animal testing, racially offensive material, scams etc.I haven't been ... See more I'm pretty much in the same camp as Thayenga.
I once did a translation for a company that did surveillance, i e private investigators. It was kind of creepy because these people were being tailed to make sure they weren't spending company money or eking out company time. I felt like i knew more about their lives than I wanted to! But it was only that one job one time...and it's not really as objectionable as say, animal testing, racially offensive material, scams etc.I haven't been confronted with that yet but I would definitely say NO! ▲ Collapse
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I had to refuse translating a whole document on abortion, which even included horrific pictures. So, after a quick check, I had to stop scrolling and said "No way". The client was very nice, as he said he understood completely (and actually this job had been previously rejected by other translators as well).
Then there was an interpretation about AIDS, based on a completely different view than mine. And finally, I had to reject 2 or 3 texts about Protestantism which did not match m... See more I had to refuse translating a whole document on abortion, which even included horrific pictures. So, after a quick check, I had to stop scrolling and said "No way". The client was very nice, as he said he understood completely (and actually this job had been previously rejected by other translators as well).
Then there was an interpretation about AIDS, based on a completely different view than mine. And finally, I had to reject 2 or 3 texts about Protestantism which did not match my beliefs. ▲ Collapse
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Gianluca Marras wrote:
No, I have not, I have received only two jobs which were not exactly "ethical" for me, but the non-ethical part was well hidden so I had not seen it when I had read through the document.
they involved experiments on animals for drugs. At the end of the day, I did them, but I tried to forget as soon as I could what I had written.
IN the future I think I would refuse jobs like these.
I carefully check every single page of scientific docs before I translate them now - for exactly that reason. Looking up stuff like that is not something you forget in a hurry!
In a similar vein, I've also done some quite harrowing Auschwitz translations. I was in tears typing some of them, but I consider them important to translate, so I would accept more.
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Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 03:40
English to French
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| No but I would | Aug 2, 2011 |
... refuse to translate anything that stirs up hatred or intolerance, whatever the grounds.
I translate a lot about torture, genocide, ethnic or religious conflict, etc. but that is part of history and/or life. I too find it important, not just because of the “never again” motto (we all know that stands little chance), but also to try and understand what triggers some purported ‘human’ behaviours.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 03:40
Spanish to English
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At least not as far as I recall. I might be reluctant to handle anything that stirs up hatred or intolerance though, but it has never happened.
I think a certain degree of detachment is always advisable, and try not to get too caught up in what I am working on. I don't really think that translating a report on animal testing contributes to their suffering any more than eating goose liver paté, for example. I recently translated a book in favour of animal rights and think that in al... See more At least not as far as I recall. I might be reluctant to handle anything that stirs up hatred or intolerance though, but it has never happened.
I think a certain degree of detachment is always advisable, and try not to get too caught up in what I am working on. I don't really think that translating a report on animal testing contributes to their suffering any more than eating goose liver paté, for example. I recently translated a book in favour of animal rights and think that in all fairness I should also be prepared to translate one proposing the opposite viewpoint too, should the occasion arise. The same would go for texts on abortion, both pro- and anti-.
Having been brought up a protestant and now enjoying healthy, reasonably carefree agnosticism, I don't really find religion much of a taboo either, as my own beliefs tend more to the humanist and I really don't consider them worth arguing about. In fact I was once approached by some Muslims in Scotland who wanted to have an abbreviated version of the Quran translated into Gaelic (they said one of its commandments is that it should be translated into every language in the world, to spread the word). I asked a university professor who had already translated either the Bible or Torah (I don't remember which, it was 20 years ago) but he refused because of his own beliefs. I do remember being miffed that I wasn't able to take on the job myself as I don't speak Gaelic, since they were willing to pay top dollar and as a student I could have done with the money!
Let me play devil's advocate for a second. Imagine that an agency sent me a manifesto similar to that of the Oslo monster - I might not agree with its contents, or even find them the ravings of an unspeakable lunatic - but I still don't see how translating it into another language would be contributing to its tragic outcome. This opinion might have to be reconsidered now though, after the event. Food for thought indeed.
[Edited at 2011-08-02 15:40 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 21:40
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
| I'm primarily a technical translator | Aug 2, 2011 |
so this simply doesn't come up much in my work. Most instruction manuals and technical patents are not particularly political/sexist/hate, etc. Since I don't do medical, I haven't run into animal testing, so I haven't really considered where I would fall on that.
I have done religious translation, as history, religion, and the history of religion are among my subfields. I've not run into anything egregiously wrong, or that would offend my sensibilities, nor anything associated w... See more so this simply doesn't come up much in my work. Most instruction manuals and technical patents are not particularly political/sexist/hate, etc. Since I don't do medical, I haven't run into animal testing, so I haven't really considered where I would fall on that.
I have done religious translation, as history, religion, and the history of religion are among my subfields. I've not run into anything egregiously wrong, or that would offend my sensibilities, nor anything associated with hate speech.
Like Hilary, I feel that texts dealing with the Holocaust need to be translated, and I have translated letters and documents associated with both survivors and those who did not. I feel strongly enough about these documents that my rate for these handwritten letters is minimal.
So, while my ethics have not driven me to turn down work, they have driven me to accept specific projects. ▲ Collapse
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