Idea: Multi-lingual forum section?

[Tricky]

I saw someone post in Russian earlier. It got me thinking.

I am part of a different technical support forum for Linux that has a small section for non-english speakers. It's not all of the forums categories multiplied by the amount of supported languages, but rather a small sort of 'general-rpgs' section where people ask questions ranging from tech support, to off topic banter and software help, all on single, seperate forum pages for each language. The Indian and Latin sections are doing particularly.

It's a little subtle, but Gamebanshee is quite the American forum, especially in the SYM section. I think this place should take advantage of a slightly larger but international community.

Thoughts?

Oh, I am not trying to become a moderator or anything. I am simply not cut out for that. But I would offer help in other languages if that became a possibility.

[Xandax]

It is not an American forum - it is English speaking forum. Much of the international community is English speaking/writing in a form which is understandable. Yes, some aren't, but well ......

Anyway - the acceptance of other languages are up to Buck, until then they're against forum rules (unless accompanied with an English translation)

[dragon wench]

I'm of two minds.

The internationalist/cosmopolitan side really loves it, but my moderator side is a bit cautious

As Xandax says, it's not an American forum. Basically, English is a kind of "common tongue," and the goal is for people to be able to understand one another.

The problem I can see is that it could be a bit of a moderating nightmare... We'd have to ensure we had enough multi-linguists here willing to cover such a forum, and then where do you draw the line? Is it fair to say to somebody, "Sorry you can't speak your language here because no mods/caretakers can understand it?

The other problem is that people sometimes become fairly exclusive, and sometimes a bit rude, when conversing in a language where few can understand them. I speak French as well as a small amount of Dutch and German. The city where I live gets a lot of international visitors.... I sometimes find it quite entertaining to comment or raise my eyebrow at people who are nastily running the place down... they go crimson and look like they wish the ground would swallow them up whole.

Still though, in theory I quite like the initial concept, but it's ultimately up to Buck.

[Tricky]

@ Xandax Yes, that was too american thing was stupid of me to write. Sorry. I do think SYM is 80% american though. Not so much in make-up, but in the things people tend to talk about. Anyway, regardless of that I didn't mean to turn that into an issue. All I thought was that it might make it a slightly appealing for other ethnic groups.

I am probably overthinking this. I didn't even consider it until I realized GB runs on the same forum software as that Linux forum.

[Tricky]

Addition: it just struck me that all the advertising is in English. It's not really localized, is it? (though.. there do seem to be RUSSIAN girls looking for me, :laugh . Then it probably would be a bad idea.

[Xandax]

Addition: it just struck me that all the advertising is in English. It's not really localized, is it? (though.. there do seem to be RUSSIAN girls looking for me, :laugh . Then it probably would be a bad idea.

At times adverts are localized as I on occasion go get Danish language adverts. (Usually the ones where I'm number X and have "won" the right to give up personal details for nothing)
Although lately - it's been almost nothing but Russian girls for me as well.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Those Russian hussies! The ads said they were interested in me!