Multi lingual front page for eater.

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Elite Baiter Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 1702

Having read of the serious recent events, isnt it about high time we made the front page of eater multi lingual?

I am sure if we ask members we have every language under the sun as members who might be able to translate it?

Im asking because i want more people to be able to read and understand what 419 is and how to avoid it, I really think a multi language area would convey the message to more people, also include some groups for victim support etc.

Lets send a better more powerful message, and carry on what shiver so well began, it does make sense to have victims know there are people who actually do care, theres organisations to help with debt worldwide, organisations to help with crime worldwide, and support en-masse.

And to let them know there not alone, there not stupid, the scams exist from people feeling sorry for a lad needing an education - now you cant say thats f**** greed, to scams for multimillion pound dead relatives, that shows the diversity, we need to convey a message that we do not allow people to be scammed, we try to fight it, but if it happens we understand, theres professional people out there to care for them, etc etc, just so no one else dies!

Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 7:51 pm

How would you propose this be done?
Are you thinking of country flags that people can click on to get the page in their own language?

My own request would be to add to the appropriate page a link to a site in th eir own country, if one exists that will lead them to more information or a baiting site similar to this one.

Baiting Guru Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 2922

A line of each language ie

Does someone want to transfer to you huge sums of money, cash cheques for them, donate their money to charity or pay you more than something is being sold for? IF SO IT IS A SCAM!

and then

Est-ce que quelqu'un veut virer sur toi les montants d'argent �normes, ch�ques ordinaires pour eux, donner leur argent � la charit� ou vous payer davantage que quelque chose est-il vendu pour ? SI AINSI C'EST UNE ESCROQUERIE !

for as many languages as seen fit. I'd suggest (on rough basis of people who are fluent) English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Indian as the basics.

The statements above could be clickable onto a new page giving a more detailed "report" of 419 scams/fraud etc in each language-with back buttons in english and the other language. Also with the possible emphasis ie which one is more prevelant in each region/country. Please also include an internet savvy/awareness guide of how to stay safe online-stuff about giving out personal info etc etc

Also along the bottom of the screen (or below the translations) could be various other flags of languages/countries that aren't listed above and a smaller page of information.

Just my 2c's worth.

Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 9:58 pm

Lets face facts here, the vast majority of scammers do their dirty deeds in English. It may not be their first language, but they play the percentages and make sure that their "scattergun" approach reaches the most potential victims possible. That's always going to include the USA, Canada, the UK, and collateral targets like other Europeans who speak english.

For sure I realise that there are some spanish speaking victims out there (for example) but the hard facts of life are that scamming is generally done in english, and the replies from the victims are generally in english.

Bottom line, as far as I'm concerned, is that we don't need to get all multilingual here at 419eater. But that's just my opinion.

Elite Baiter Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 1702

@mugatu i respect your opinion, but my thinking is we do need multi-lingual ability.

A multi lingual message would reach more people, and using googles rank for eater actually save people ever becoming victims - regardless of the language the email is in.

Then theres the bit about debt, despair, feeling alone, isolated, thats a terrible price these people pay and it does need addressing, but we have to recognise not all our visitors can read english.

What im thinking is multi-linugal saying a message such as
"welcome to 419 eater .. what it is, and "if you have been a victim, the following organisations offer professional help which you may find helps, we recognise being a victim of any kind of crime can be hurtful and cause you to feel alone, here at eater we want you to know your not alone, its wrong what these people have done [ links to agencies etc ]"

Something like that but much better worded of course.

I dont feel I could offer these people support myself, it takes a very special person to be able to listen and show empathy and compassion, and I think eater would be improved if that was added in a multi language setting, with links to exactly those kind of professional bodies worldwide.

Not sure small flags would work, more like the front page reset to multi language with anchors on the top bit to each relevant language.

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 6:52 pm

^^ The risk is, if you start offering multi-lingual on the front page, there's a chance that newcomers might believe that the forum is multi-lingual and start posting in different languages. The forum will then soon become a mess.

And I have to agree with Mugatu. English is the international language of the scammer. If the vic is being scammed in English, he should be able to read English. Add to that the translation services that some web-browsers have and I don't see the point.

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 8:12 pm

This site has people who are multi lingual and all the better for that.

Recently I have just started receiving a lot of Chinese stuff in to my Inbox. I just delete it. Maybe if we had a thread where people post up their linguistic abilities we could direct the relevant stuff that way.

I'm fluent in English if that is any help.

** Retired ** Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 750 Location: Air

Its a very good point to be raised, as its easy to get wrapped up in the fun we have with some of our more inventive lads and may sometimes forget that we are all doing a very worthy and commendable 'public service' of sorts. As such, it would be great if we could broaden the user interface to accomodate multiple languages to make the site more accessible to our continental and international co-baiters.

However, with something as complex as this, the pro's have to outweigh the cons, and for me, i cant seem to see it working. The point about the forums is a very valid point - how many of us would get tired of translating posts ?

What about getting started aswell ? The mentor scheme may become more trouble that its worth if the newcomer speaks a foreign language. I am not and would never doubt a mentor's patience, and i have nothing but respect for mentors, but it is bound to be tiring translating every PM and email and post to get them up and running.

Mugatu also makes perfect sense. The info is out there for real victims in every concieveable language. If it is baiting that a non-english speaking person is interested in, then im sure they would go ahead and do it regardless. If our cousins were that 'into' this as we are, then surely they would have similar sites to this one, but in their own tounge ?

I understand your perspective digital-one, but in my eyes, its not very feasible for members and for the admin team.

Elite Baiter Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 1702

I take the points raised, but i didnt actually mean have a multi lingual forum - just a multi-lingual front page.

The aim isnt for victims to actually read it - its in english already and victims dont read that - this we know, but if it was in more languages - just maybe it might save 1 person if there friends read it etc etc.

So if we agree the multi lingual thing is too problematic to do at this time, how about help pages? where eater has links to organisations such as victim support and places like that?

Even if only 1 person ever used those links i still feel, that would be beneficial to have.

Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 9:18 pm

What if the forum link was removed on the translated pages, and an additional "please post only in english" request was added to the translation?

On the other hand, this move might have negative repercussions... See what happened to Orkut after the Brazilians invaded it.

Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 10:34 pm

I agree with digital-one and Tricia's opinions.

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 3:49 am

@digital-one - we are an English language site. If people that visit the front page see that it is in English, they have the options of not entering the site, or finding someone to translate it for them. Being USA and UK based, this site is expected to be in the language that is universal and the main language of both countries.

The front page is going to stay as is. Very Happy

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 11:52 am

There are increasing numbers of sites offering advice to victims in other languages. For instance I also moderate this site

http://foros.el4x4.com/viewforum.php?f=6

It is a Spanish 4by4 site with a forum dedicated to victims. T

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