--- rose.parks(a)att.net wrote:
Hi,
I am writing this without even looking at
Quatro 2. I saw it last 2 days ago. I am, however,
reading today's e-mail about the release of Quatro 2
and getting rather disturbed.
I was Chief Copyeditor of Quatro 1. At that time I
was put in contact with Sj+, in case I had any
questions or comments. When Quatro 2 was being
written, I began as the Chief Copyeditor and somehow
became a "Proofreader." I let this go.
Yes, sorry, it was I who simplified.
Not to diminish the quality of your work, but simply
to recognise the work of others. What I mean is that
you are the chief proofreader in english, but how
different is it from those who translated the whole
issue in one language ? They also were chief
translator and chief proofreader in their language. I
just do not know how to make this difference :-(
I have slowly been copyediting Quatro 2. I am
not finished. I stopped a few weeks ago because so
many parts of Quatro 2 were actually not even in
good Engliish, and contacted Sj+.
He told me to stop for a while, and he would clean
it up a bit. After a week or so, I contacted him
again, to see whether this clean-up was done. He
never answered. I started copyediting,again.
By now, I am totally confused. It seems like
Aphaia is more in charge of Quatro 2 than Sj+.
You are correct. Aphaia is in effect the leader of
this version.
Further, although there are a number of Proofreaders
listed on Quatro 2, I rarely see any changes except
my own.
Others work in other language versions.
To publish a newsletter properly, first all the
content should be complete. Then, it should be
"copyedited," then translated, and then published.
Quatro 2 has gone from 6 to over 30 pages, while I
have been copyediting it. This is not right.
I am confused. Except for the interview Sj took so
long to add to Quarto, all content was fixed in
january. I spent 2 long weeks fixing everything,
because very little had been done in the previous
weeks. Just when I finished fixing all texts, Riorio
worked a lot on the pictures and Aphaia started
helping a lot with the translations and announcements.
Text (but for an update on technical part and the
interview which was only added long after) was done.
Further, I have no one to contact who responds.
Further, if discussions are being held about
publishing parts of it, I think I might have been
included or at least told. Today I am reading, on a
mailing list, how selective parts of it are due to
be published March 15. Fine - has anyone checked
them to see if they are copyedited. I haven't had
the time yet.
Actually, I read this proposition at the same time
that you, and just commented what I thought to
Aphaia... I understand why she proposed it, but I do
not support it. I mentionned I would prefer that parts
not yet translated be left in english, and so be it.
I would appreciate it if you would wait for
some input from me, include me as member of the
Quatro team, or tell me that I am not needed and
remove my name.
You are giving input right now Rose :-) And you are
needed.
Every contact I made with Sj+ is
availble on his
en.wikipedia.org user page on the
Talk part. My user page on the same site, has mostly
a lack of responses on the Talk part. If you choose
to check these pages, they will confirm what I have
told you.
Then, I am most sorry to be crystal clear, but here is
the point. I think it was an error to keep the same
person as an editor in chief, simply because someone
has time at a moment, and not time at another moment.
I think Sj had very little time to give for the second
issue of Quarto unfortunately :-( I would have
preferred that he told us before hand, but very likely
he just did not know. We can not always predict our
availability. He spent a huge lot of time on the first
issue, but far less on the second.
So, when I came back from Christmas holidays, I spent
hours everyday to try to fix it all myself. And
fortunately, many others came after me to help as
well. But Aphaia is currently the nearest one to be
the editor in chief, as she has both time and energy
for this. Sorry, but I was again on holidays, then
with a very tough week at my job which left me in a
pretty bad shape, but I will try to help tomorrow
morning.
I am glad to review the sections you want to
publish, given a day or so to look them over, or
alternatively, to resign from this "position." But,
as a contributor, I expect to be kept informed of
new deverlopments and be given someone to contact
(who responds,) or I cannot do this job properly.
I await your decisions.
As Ever,
Ruth Ifcher
Please, consider Aphaia your contact Ruth.
Additionaly, I will add that I have been thinking over
the last days how we could reduce the burden over the
translators, as it is too much work.
I still think it is important that we regularly give
information over what the Foundation is doing, and how
the projects are progressing; However, we'll have to
think over the current form of it. It is too much work
for a too limited number of people.
I think a good part of what is currently on Quarto
should be removed of it in the future, and only placed
as ongoing information on the foundation site. If
there are translators for it, great, if not, too bad.
For example, we could keep doing regular interviews of
people, but only put them on the site. And generally
leave them in the original language plus english.
The quarto could limit itself to strict report of
board activities.
Possibly, one idea could be to favor the creation of a
small weekly newspaper, a bit as Michael Snow did, and
invite people from all projects to publish in it.
Translation is not so fun for everyone. Everyone is
volunteer here, and we can only do according to our
possibilities Ruth. I am very sorry you got upsetted,
I hope you understand the problems and have
suggestions of how best we can move on.
I just know too much work and publishing 2 months late
is just not the solution.
Ant
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