Is it alright to post sites that aren't in English?

November 24, 2001 9:04 PM

Is it alright to post sites that aren't in English? I know many MeFites speak other languages, and don't see why it should be limited to English-language sites.
posted by signal to Etiquette/Policy at 9:04 PM (19 comments total)

I can sorta work my way through French sites, so if you know a good French site, please e-mail me a link even if the general decision here turns out to be English-only. Thanks, J.
posted by realjanetkagan at 9:21 PM on November 24, 2001

You could always provide a link to the site through babelfish as well: Site link (site translated), no?
posted by Nothing at 9:29 PM on November 24, 2001

Of course not. The Internet is a US and British conspiracy formed with the hope of further spreading out culture worldwide and imposing our language on all. MetaFilter is part of this. Instead of asking whether you can post non-English sites, write to the site owners and insist that they translate their work. Oh yeah, and certainly don't post a French site, they are onto us, and are fighting tooth and nail to save their language.
posted by RobertLoch at 9:38 PM on November 24, 2001

I can only find this previous discussion, but I could have sworn I posted a "don't do it because it will get little-to-no response and be unreadable to a vast majority of the site viewers."

Linklust, a european pseudo-metafilter requires that all posts are in english and I assume links as well.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:50 PM on November 24, 2001

I would say that if you do do it, you should at least post a note saying what language it was in so non-users* of that language could avoid. Seems like a simple courtesy for anything that goes against expectations.


*Expressed that way to point up the parallel with non-users of media software: Flash, RealPlayer, et al.--anything beyond the basic browser.
posted by rodii at 9:56 PM on November 24, 2001

rodii: Now that's the perfect metaphor: If the link-poster will only say the link "requires French" or "requires Urdu," I'll know whether I can access or not.
posted by realjanetkagan at 10:11 PM on November 24, 2001

I'm leaning 75% against and 25% for posting non-English links. On the 75% side, if you come to metafilter, you're coming under the presumption that you're going to be reading in English. Some would say that if you want to post in a different language, get your own site devoted to French links,or German links, etc... If a link were posted in a language other than English, those who are mono-lingual (such as myself, sadly) might feel like they're missing out on something, like the people who get freaked out when someone talks in another language near them, the people get convinced that they're being made fun of.

On the 25% side, there are things available to translate(such as babelfish) which we could use if we were interested in seeing the link, not to mention the fact that links in other languages might provide a unique prospective people would be exposed to before.

IMHO, They're not likely to generate much discussion though.

Having said all that, I do believe someone has posted links in langauges other than English before, but I can't remember how it was received.
posted by drezdn at 10:55 PM on November 24, 2001

I remember I posted a French site--god, it is so embarassing to reread my post and comments. As is so often the case. And I'm sorry I was ever rude to MrBalihai--that was a comment with which I totally agree. And rodii's was hip, too. And realjanetkagan could read it. ::Sigh::
posted by y2karl at 10:58 PM on November 24, 2001

Matt, what was the position on posting paid-subscription links? As far as the practical concerns go, that seems to be a directly analogous situation.
posted by NortonDC at 11:16 PM on November 24, 2001

If a link were posted in a language other than English, those who are mono-lingual (such as myself, sadly) might feel like they're missing out on something

Um, but you (and I) ARE, you know....
posted by rushmc at 12:57 AM on November 25, 2001

I wouldn’t mind links to non-English sites if the topic post was written in that language.
posted by raaka at 2:17 AM on November 25, 2001

Go for it, but (as someone else said) also include a link to an auto translation (and ask in metatalk first if you don't know how to ;-)

Unfortunately, that restricts you to common European languages (afaik) - but I doubt a post in anything else would have any readerds (I can imagine an exception if, for example, it was to show some beautiful eastern script...)
posted by andrew cooke at 3:46 AM on November 25, 2001

If someone doesn't like the link in question because they're ethnocentric, they can opt to just not go there, and not contribute to the link. Unfortunately some people will go into the thread and complain because it's not in English, and think they're being amusing, but such individuals should be branded as silly weiners. =)

It might be helpful if the poster mentions that the link is not in english, maybe in parentheses or something.
posted by ZachsMind at 4:42 AM on November 25, 2001

Kind of reminds me of this. (warning: satirewire)
posted by dlewis at 4:59 AM on November 25, 2001

Doesn't it slightly depend on what it is that is being linked to? For instance this site in Spanish offers a graphical explanation (flash movie) as to why the WTC collapsed after being hit. I would prefer it if it were in English, but you get the general idea of what is going on.

Also, as you all know, I great number of MeFites take acid. For them it is not so much the language that is important, it is more about the experience, as demonstrate my this French offering.
posted by RobertLoch at 5:38 AM on November 25, 2001

I'm with Fearless Leader on this one ("don't do it because it will get little-to-no response and be unreadable to a vast majority of the site viewers.")
posted by Carol Anne at 6:55 AM on November 25, 2001

(Heh. That's funny. I'd wondered when Carol Anne was finally going to want to make a comment that it was harder to find a link for.... Perhaps she could've linked to the Líder Audaz page?)
posted by mattpfeff at 8:12 AM on November 25, 2001

I'm with Fearless Leader on this one ("don't do it because it will get little-to-no response and be unreadable to a vast majority of the site viewers.")

From a small acorn, an oak tree may grow. If you build it, they will come. Etc, etc.

(Irrelevant given the anti-growth attitude around here, but it hints at the potential of what MeFi could become.)
posted by rushmc at 9:43 AM on November 25, 2001

I think that the policy should be as follows: if your Member nom refers to a foreign place or another language, you can post ACCORDINGLY.

Seriously, I have no opinion. O, how about this:no front page posts, but elsewhere it's cool.
posted by ParisParamus at 8:18 PM on November 25, 2001