Hi!
I’m currently doing a Master’s Degree in Library Science, and one of my classes focuses on participatory practices. I have to write a report on an example of participatory practice, and I immediately thought of contributors on Viki, voluntarily forming teams with different roles (subbers, segmenters, moderators, editors, managers), and doing it for free, because they want to help and they’re passionate about it.
Here are some questions for volunteers about the reasons why they chose to become members of the Viki community.
When did you find out about Viki?
When did you start contributing to Viki?
Were you watching shows on Viki before becoming a contributor?
What are your main roles?
How many hours a week do you spend on contributing?
Why did you choose to contribute? (no need to elaborate on this if you don’t want to, I only need the main reason)
Is there anything you’d like to improve or change about the community of contributors?
Do you feel like the different roles (subbers, segmenters, moderators, editors, managers) communicate efficiently?
Do you feel like your contribution matters and is appreciated by the rest of the community?
In your opinion, can anyone become a contributor on Viki?
I would really appreciate if you could take the time to answer to these questions! You don’t have to elaborate on the answers if you don’t want to, and it’s okay if you don’t answer to all of them
I actually was very competitive on here during 2020 or so. I used to keep myself really high on the leaderboard for contributions and discussions, and trying to get badges (hahaha) - I have actually moved to a different group - so this would be old information that I would have to draw from - like I have SEVERAL discussions that were going on at the time -
Is that information still good to you? Since I will have to draw from my OLD experience on VIKI discussions?
When did you find out about Viki? - In November 2015
When did you start contributing to Viki? - March 2016
Were you watching shows on Viki before becoming a contributor? - Yes
What are your main roles? - I’ve done all of them. Subtitler, moderator, editor, Channel Manager and sometimes segmenter. Nowadays I’m mostly an editor.
How many hours a week do you spend on contributing? - Depends on how busy/free I am in real life. There have been times when I was on Viki for 8 hours a day, and other periods when I just worked here twice a week - of course I do check messages and Discussions daily.
Why did you choose to contribute? - The reason I started was to get a free Viki pass without the annoying ads. Nowadays it’s for the joy of working together and the challenge/satisfaction of producing a quality product.
Is there anything you’d like to improve or change about the community of contributors? - Many, many, many things. But they are things that can only be implemented by Viki, and Viki sadly doesn’t have the desire to, as lately us volunteers have become all but reduntant, with paid subbers doing all the new shows.
Do you feel like the different roles (subbers, segmenters, moderators, editors, managers) communicate efficiently? Yes, they do. Even with this messaging system which sucks. They have found alternative ways, with Google sheets, Messenger chats and what not.
Do you feel like your contribution matters and is appreciated by the rest of the community? - Yes, but only for those who are involved in it in some way (be it volunteers or viewers). There are many here who don’t know me because they don’t watch or work on the dramas I work on.
In your opinion, can anyone become a contributor on Viki? - If they are really fluent in one or two languages (more than C2 level), yes, they can try. Although not all have the same capabilities. It is possible to know the language well but not have the gift of writing fluently, naturally, simply; maybe they don’t know how to condense a subtitle to make it fit to the given time, or to adapt the language to different characters (a professor, a street sweeper, a child) or time periods (ex. historical dramas) and so on. So, everyone who knows the language may try, but not all will be as successful. In this community, just as in the real world, not everyone is the same. But passion and hard work can make you progress greatly. And sometimes to the point that you may think of doing this job professionally as well.
I knew about Viki before I got myself a Viki pass 2021 (before that I didn’t think I would watch so many series/movies as I do now).
December 2022 i started subtitling (I don’t count that I was in the Academy and waiting for sensei).
Yes I was.
Swedish moderator/subtitling (but I have graduated and have done a few segments so my goal is to have the rights to call my self a segmenter)
I don’t know…
It’s fun and it gives me the same feeling I get when I do crosswords and similar things.
No.
Don’t know everyone I have worked with have been helpful.
Everyone the helps out no matter what they do are important. That said I do think the sensei’s that teaches segmenting are rockstars, some might not think about them as much as the names you see in the credits but without them there would be fever segmenters.
Yes if you really want to be a part of the system, why not.
I started contributing to Viki in 2023 in April, but took a while to find a project.
Yes, one of the shows are Happiness and Reset.
My only role is translator, I make subtitles by translating it to an language.
Depends, but I’m mostly available for 8 hours.
Benefits (Like free Viki Pass.) and to help the community to watch drama shows and movies.
Not yet, but being more active in the community is good.
In my opinion, they do. They choose to communicate via documents, PMs, etc…
Communication is the most important thing in a project, without it we couldn’t even make a project properly.
Yes, absolutely.
Anyone can become a Viki contributor, however you need language skills before starting as a Subtitler. Being a Segmenter is another option too if you don’t know any languages. Do whatever you can to contribute on Viki!
Were you watching shows on Viki before becoming a contributor?
Yes.
What are your main roles?
Subber, sometimes moderator, very few times channel manager or editor.
How many hours a week do you spend on contributing?
That varies, at the start it was 10 -20 hours a week, now 2 hours a week.
But it is possible, that I will do them on one day in a month.
Why did you choose to contribute? (no need to elaborate on this if you don’t want to, I only need the main reason)
Because it was fun inside the community and I wanted to keep my language
skills, if possible, even enhance them.
Is there anything you’d like to improve or change about the community of contributors?
Still the same communication with Viki on eye level.
Do you feel like the different roles (subbers, segmenters, moderators, editors, managers) communicate efficiently?
I think so, but I can’t tell most of the time I am now working as a helper, or start
at old projects, that need adjustments.
Do you feel like your contribution matters and is appreciated by the rest of the community?
I have gotten used to that people/viewers are most of the time unaware.
People know that there is someone doing the work, but don’t really get to see it.
It’s like in most supermarkets, you are used to shelters getting refilled, but most
of the time, you don’t get to see the workers.
In your opinion, can anyone become a contributor on Viki?
Yes, if you don’t mind taking advice and follow some rules, working on your
knowledge or skills.
Dutch Moderator/Editor/Subber, English Editor (CE and GE), Chief Segmenter, segmenter, occasionally Channel Manager. I did some Swedish subbing too.
A lot, but I’m not counting and sometimes it’s more than at other times.
It seemed interesting so I wanted to try. Over time, more reasons to stay revealed themselves, even though there have also been times I considered quitting.
Yes.
Not always.
It matters but has not always been appreciated.
Anyone gets the chance to try. And some manage to stay even if they don’t do a good job. Whether everyone is suitable is a different matter.
When did you find out about Viki? In 2020 - hence my name kdrama2020Ali
When did you start contributing to Viki? January 2021 - I ventured into discussions
Were you watching shows on Viki before becoming a contributor? Yes very much so
What are your main roles? I mainly am just a discussion contributor - like to get topics going or get reviews on shows we are watching and used to start Watch Parties here with friends
How many hours a week do you spend on contributing? Nothing anymore - probably daily several hours when I was actually on here a while a go
Why did you choose to contribute? (no need to elaborate on this if you don’t want to, I only need the main reason) I wanted to start a topic - I have about 64 topics - My first one was Hottie Posse - I wanted to know other male actors everyone liked - I also have topics to help find more shows to watch in certain genres - or discussions on WP shows we are doing together etc
Is there anything you’d like to improve or change about the community of contributors?
I like the community - I just wish Viki would fix some of the BUGS we have in the actually Watch Parties or with Viki Collections and the Continue watching button
Do you feel like the different roles (subbers, segmenters, moderators, editors, managers) communicate efficiently? Sometimes
Do you feel like your contribution matters and is appreciated by the rest of the community?
Yes - before I moved to another discussion group - I was active here to talk to like minded drama people
In your opinion, can anyone become a contributor on Viki? Yes - Just start a discussion and try
Someday in 2018, (to be more precise it was thanks a youtube channel about doramas)
December 2022 (because until then I found out that I could contribute)
Yess
For now just subtitler
Depends, some days is like 4 hours a day and other days i’m free, so depends
I started for get Viki pass free, but now is because i really like, is fun when you translate a scene dramatic or romantic, and you wanna sub more fast to know what’s gonna happening
i would like to change the new format of sub of korean-english, because before when you look a kdrama there were expressions or sayings that the subtitlers didn’t change, they just put a (T/N) to know what’s mean, but now they sub feel more plastic or generic
Yes, at least the ones I’ve worked with
I don’t know, but Whenever I finish watching a series or movie on viki, I like to read the names of the subs that appear at the end, and sometimes I see users of people I’ve already worked with
If you really want and you no matter sometimes to make mistakes or correct you, yes. You just have to have good spelling and always be ready to learn
When did you find out about Viki?
Somewhere in 2013
When did you start contributing to Viki?
Summer 2014
Were you watching shows on Viki before becoming a contributor?
Yes, I was.
What are your main roles?
Moderator, subber, editor
How many hours a week do you spend on contributing?
Between 0-6 hours.
Why did you choose to contribute? (no need to elaborate on this if you don’t want to, I only need the main reason)
It’s something I like, I feel I’m good at and it takes little effort to start contributing.
Is there anything you’d like to improve or change about the community of contributors?
Mainly I want more efficient communication channels on Viki (especially in the Dutch community)
Do you feel like the different roles (subbers, segmenters, moderators, editors, managers) communicate efficiently?
No, not efficiently enough.
Do you feel like your contribution matters and is appreciated by the rest of the community?
I hope it is.
In your opinion, can anyone become a contributor on Viki?
Yes, but not every role is suitable for each person. And people can also contribute through non-official roles.
Example from the Dutch community: someone made at topic on discussions with a list of shows fully translated to Dutch and regularly adds new shows she finds.
We also have a topic in which we discuss and advise each other on how to find the most suitable translation for tricky words or phrases. Also, anyone can recommend or advise against a series to people here on the discussions.
Although these are not offical roles, they are still helpful and valuable in my opinion.
My profile said I joined Viki in 2013 but I wasn’t fully on here until after DF closed down.
2. When did you start contributing to Viki?
November 2020
3. Were you watching shows on Viki before becoming a contributor?
Yes, I was an avid viewer prior to becoming a contributor.
4. What are your main roles?
Chinese to English subtitler, TE, and segmenter
5. How many hours a week do you spend on contributing?
It depends, but I’d estimate about an average of 3 hours on a weekday, and 7 hours on the weekends.
6. Why did you choose to contribute? (no need to elaborate on this if you don’t want to, I only need the main reason)
I wanted to give back to the community after watching dramas on the platform for so long. I was suddenly not working crazy hours anymore towards the end of 2020 and mustered the courage to reach out to help. I also wanted to help others learn the language and be able to watch Chinese shows. And lastly, so I don’t have to pay for the Viki Pass
7. Is there anything you’d like to improve or change about the community of contributors?
Not really sure, so no?
8. Do you feel like the different roles (subbers, segmenters, moderators, editors, managers) communicate efficiently?
At least the projects and teams that I am on as editor, I feel like we communicate efficiently. We check Team Discussions and Inbox often and share questions/comments with each other. Also, prior to accepting a project or at the very beginning of a project, expectations and schedules are established to ensure everyone knows what they signed up for. If something comes up, we communicate that immediately and work together as a team to fill in for that team member.
9. Do you feel like your contribution matters and is appreciated by the rest of the community?
I feel like my contribution matters and is appreciated by the community, for the most part. More and more viewers want subtitles in their language immediately once the episodes are released, and complain when they’re not. So the English team tries their best to release episodes to the OL mods, but more recent dramas come with pre-subs and we are told TEs are no longer needed, along with Chinese to English subtitlers. This would put me “out of work”. Most dramas that I TE for still require lots of editing due to paraphrasing, mistranslation, modernizing phrases that don’t match the setting, etc. As TE, and as a viewer, I appreciate translations of on-screen text, idioms, meanings behind certain phrases they use, etc. which are often missing from pre-sub dramas.
10. In your opinion, can anyone become a contributor on Viki?
Absolutely! There are always opportunities to contribute on Viki, whether you are proficient in another language or knows English really well to be a subtitler, editor/moderator. There is always a need for segmenters as well!
