But why exactly is that a bad thing? Everyone was in an uproar when Viki initially introduced an automatic language translator. Yet no one has a problem with some of these volunteers that have little or no respect for Grammar and Syntax and Vocabulary, churning out thousands upon thousands of weird and nonsensical lines of dialogue.
Because I never wanted to offend anyone, Iāve always avoided this subject.
But if everyone here is in it for the benefits without putting in the time and effort to do a good job, then maybe machine learning is the better propositionā¦ Or hire actual translators and join the rest of the streaming world.
Otherwise you canāt expect people give even more of their time for free/without payment.
I remember that some years ago you made a post saying that the volunteers should get some payment for their work and many volunteers at that time got mad at you because of your idea / opinion.
The difference between back then and now is that back then around 80% of Vikiās content was free to watch (with ads) while now 80-90% is locked behind a paid VikiPass subscription similar to the other streaming services.
A machine translation software can easily translate simple lines for RomComs. Itād be faster and maybe even better to read, at least for some languages.
For other genres or more complex topics machine translation would fail bc even humans fail by sticking to words only and ignoring the context. In English it might be less visible than for other languages that are more complex, e.g. having more addressings than one āyouā for everyone.
Since most Chinese dramas are available for free by the official Chinese studios and Korean shows are often available at Netflix (many with synced version what I like more than reading text while watching something), Viki had more competitior than now when they only buy licenses but donāt pay for subtitles (in the aspect of making money).
Iām wondering which ābenefitsā youāre talking about? Benefits of working for free for a profit focused company?
Didnāt you wonder why the quality becomes worse, in some cases?
Volunteers who are able to offer quality often leave Viki soon again or left Viki due to global crisis and losing their real life jobs (or other reasons that occured during past two years).
I know some OL volunteers who were quite good and left because of that and I assume there are more who donāt spend their time for free for Viki anymore.
My favorite color is blue and I think this is a nice color. But it gives me a headache when Iām watching stuff on Viki late at night because itās too bright. I want tye old starry thing back.
adrianmorales
But if everyone here is in it for the benefits without putting in the time and effort to do a good job, then maybe machine learning is the better propositionā¦ Or hire actual translators and join the rest of the streaming world.
I second that, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for adding this here bc I get crucified every time I say things like that; when in reality [WE are just saying the TRUTH]. I even believe that some pre-subbed dramas are almost 100% correct, and some unscrupulous volunteers, just to get contribution count they start adding useless stuff in the sentence/subtitle, and mess something that needed no correction in the first place.
Pretty sure EVERYONE has a problem with volunteers who do that
After experiencing all kinds of machine translated pre-subs, I will remain skeptical of something like that. I would rather people whined about late subs than terrible unreadable ones. Correcting them is a bigger pain in the neck than correcting most subbers. MangoTV has earned a notorious reputation for the worst subs in Dramaland and I wouldnāt really like Viki to earn the same name when there are so many volunteers working hard here. Depends on the quality of the machine translator they use.
I agree that there are many volunteers like this, but generalizing a statement just to prove a point is a littleā¦ insensitive? To the majority who put time and effort into the job, wanting everything to be of the best quality possible, and even taking the time to meticulously train new volunteers - something that does not add to their sub count or affect their stats in any way. They do deserve to be paid, not get lumped with the abusers and ridiculed by ignorant viewers and community members.
āMangoTV, whatās that?ā I asked myself, so I immediately proceeded to download the app on my phone. The subs are hilarious. But I was hooked after randomly tapping on a drama called Unforgettable Love.
But I, the paying viewer, donāt care. Itās not as though you can search by the quality of the subs. You criticise the restaurant, not the employees. See what I mean? But personally, I do appreciate those who work hard.
I choose # 2, #1 and #3 sound similar and the last isnāt that good to my ears, I know the refrain, but didnāt know who was singing it, now I learnt something new
I also appreciate those who work hard here at RViki, and give good quality in their work as a volunteer, but lately you can count them with your fingers. I am so tired of dropping dramas bc I canāt stand the subtitles for the obvious reason.
Why paying for 100% bad quality in the first place if you already know, that the quality is bad?
Thereās a saying: If one wants change be the change.
So either you stop paying for bad quality subtitles or you could start subbing/editing by yourself.
Same goes for unpaid volunteers. Either (they) accept working for free (and might put less effort in it bc of that) or stop doing it.
In both cases Viki wins: viewers who pay for ābad quality subsā and volunteers who work for free.
Only if enough viewers and volunteers would stop offering money/time for something thatās unbalanced, things could change.
(In the same way you continue paying for ābad qualityā others continue to work for free and thatās how and why everything stays the same since cosmetic stuff like different colours or slogan on the page creates no true change.)
Lol. I couldnāt continue watching that oneā¦ Perfect and Casual is a better Miles Wei romcom Hope you enjoy Unforgettable Love, though.
But youāre criticizing the employees along with the restaurant. Your criticism of the restaurant is rooted in the sloppy jobs of some employees you encountered. This isnāt the Help Center, its the Discussions Board. Its like coming into the staff quarters of a restaurant after having a bad experience with a waiter and complaining about the restaurant and all its employees right in front of the employee staff, most of whom were doing their own duties well. Instead of speaking to the manager in charge. In terms of Viki, by filing a complaint against the specific show, or giving negative feedback in the feedback section. Sure, you may not get a quick answer. But as complaints pile against an abuser or a particular show, Viki might take proper action. Nobody likes abusers. Not the viewers, and definitely not the volunteers. And itās not like Viki can hear you any louder if you say stuff here instead of in the Help Center. There are already countless threads about abusers and bad subs and everything. Most of them were made by volunteers actively trying to stop them.
Paying viewers are paying for the videos. All of us here are paying for the video licenses in our regions. Volunteers are paying with their work and paid viewers are paying with money. Can you say youāre paying for subs when most of the subbers/seggers/editors/moderators/managers donāt get paid?
I think theyāre slowly but steadily removing all signs of the Volunteer community, oops, Contributor Community.
I believe it started when they took down the leaderboard from Home page, then shoved up drama teams behind āSubtitle Teamā tabs on new show pages, then changed Volunteer to Contributor, now changed their tagline. They now have more paid translators than before. I see a new face with āStaffā badge almost every week or maybe once in a fortnight.
In a way, moving the Discussions board from the Home Page was a good decision. This board is mainly for volunteers, and having it on the main page would result in an unnecessary influx of users using it like MDL 2.0 or complainers who complain without knowing what is actually going on. Having to go to the Contributor Community main page and THEN to the boards will let people know what contributors are.
However, I do agree that the contributor community seems to be shoved behind a wall.
Listen to all these versions of Drift Away! 
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Hope you enjoy Unforgettable Love, though.