[PumpkinPieHead]

I was wondering if maybe we could start forums designated to our members who prefer to speak in other languages.

Yo tengo ganas ver PC en otras idiomas, si es posible.

[sabby]

Unfortunately, we would not be able to moderate a forum in another language. We are a USA site and our main language is English. I'm sorry about that.

[PumpkinPieHead]

So...if the moderator were bilingual, would that make it possible?

[sabby]

Unfortunately no.

I don't know if it's possible but you could pm DocJohn and ask him if creating a social group would work in this instance. Again, I don't know how he would rule on that but there is no harm in asking.

the thought of creating all the forums in another language is just...... overwelming

if you think the forum'ss big now, well... you get the idea

[lizardlady]

I know we have members whose first language is not English. Would it be doable for those folks to cut and paste posts into a translation program to help with understanding and responding?

[-jimi-]

I understand that you might not find moderators for other languages for an other languages subforum. That is fine.

But saying this is an American site so this goes! If it is an American site maybe I should leave??? I thought this was a site for anyone in the world and that any issues with mental health in any type of culture was OK to discuss? I was wrong? Is it just for discussing American health care and American news etc?

In that case, it should really SAY when you sign up!!!!

Geez guys. There are SOOO many languages out there. English is one that many can find all over the world. It's not practical to have other languages as well, especially when you want so many of them.

Why are (some of) you complaining now when you haven't had a problem with it before?!

[PumpkinPieHead]

In the past week, I have replied to new member introductions from 3 people whose first language was not English. It is important to me that all feel welcomed here, and a language barrier should not inhibit our inclusiveness. I'm not complaining, I just thought it would enhance the forum.

Lizard Lady, online translation programs' accuracy is mediocre, at best. I don't recommend them.

[PumpkinPieHead]

Mods, can we close this thread? I did not mean to start a "universal language" debate.

-jimi-

I like your post and you raise a very good point

would it be possible while signing up to select your language, and the forum displays itself in that language?

just a thought

[DocJohn]

While we are an American-based site, we actually welcome people from anywhere in the world. Indeed, over 30 percent of our traffic comes from countries other than the United States.

Having said that, however, we can't support the other top 9 languages in the world without significant resources -- resources we simply do not have. (As pointed out, machine reading language translation services are mediocre at best, and when it comes to health concerns, their validity drops significantly.)

I think it's a wonderful suggestion, but one we simply can't implement today. But we would certainly consider it at some point in the future.

Thanks,
DocJohn