“There are many different ways to hold your chopsticks, Ken-san, but there is only one best way.” This statement followed by an enthusiastic chopstick strike, scattering empty bottles like 10-pins. Men!

I’m very pleased that the discussion finally appeared in the comments, and glad to see that you see my point, and that even though we obviously act in our own interest, there are many ways to do that.

Marco Spinello’s and Patricia’s comments clarify my thought, as does my post (http://smuggledwords.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/a-reply-to-the-translation-guy-since-he-didnt-approve-my-comment/) to which I added an update giving you credit for publishing the comments, in the end.

Regards

GMB

Thank you for posting my comment and for your reply. The Sassicaia is totally worth its price, but if we meet in NYC I’ll be happy to have a drink with you and enjoy some beer from the excellent Brooklyn Brewery :-)

Kindest regards,
marco

On the bright side, you haven’t seen my replies either.

While vile, myopic and hypocritical (as noted by other posters) are generally accurate, in this case I think technologically incompetent is better suited. But didn’t your Mom ever teach you not to make fun of kids with glasses?

We’re not a group of fanatic luddites. No Peanuts is a grassroots movement aiming at having clients acknowledge professional respect for translators, which includes being willing to pay fair and honest fees in exchange for a service that’s strongly oriented toward quality rather than quantity.

If you go to a wine cellar and buy a bottle of Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido, would you start bargaining on the price? Or feel outraged for paying 150 or 200 bucks for it? If you do think the price is too high, you simply go for wine that fits your budget. Which is the case, if you think that “cheaper, faster” is your mantra. “Better” is missing from the triangle, you’d be lying to yourself if thought you could get it all; it’s either-or, not and-and. Not only in translation, but in all aspects of our society: business, healthcare, knowledge, etc. In fact, it’s more of a flat line than a triangle.
The cannibalistic capitalistic approach outlined in your post has done its time, and has caused serious damage worldwide. Capitalism can and needs to change to become more humane, to be focused on people and their well-being rather than quick and easy financial profit for its own sake.

Giuseppe Manuel Brescia left a comment on your blog that has not yet been approved. The same will probably happen to mine. Feeling a bit panicky maybe?

Marco Spinello