Why remove questions?

The KudoZ terms help network is publicly available and widely used. As a result, sometimes questions are asked that are not of a type for which the system is intended. In order to reduce the inconvenience caused to members by such questions, ProZ.com gives its experienced members a means of removing such questions.

Who can remove questions?

ProZ.com members who have earned at least 500 KudoZ points are presumed to have become familiar with the KudoZ rules and culture. These members, and also a group of approximately 100 designated site moderators, have also been given the right to remove certain questions for specific reasons.

For what reasons should a question be removed?

There are a number of specific reasons why a KudoZ question can be removed. An explanation of each is included below. Also below is a list of invalid reasons for removing questions.

- Offensiveness (sexism, racism, etc.)

If a questions is sure to offend any subset of the ProZ.com community, it may be removed.

- Adult nature and/or profane - without use of "May offend" option

In the absence of plausible professional reasons, terms inappropriate for children may be removed. Note that this reason should not normally be used if a question has properly been marked "May offend"

- Unprofessional; lacks literary/technical merit

ProZ.com's KudoZ service is available via affiliate sites, and sometimes it is evident that there is no serious or professional basis for a question. For example, if an askers posts a series of "terms" with no apparent merit (ex. "Hi! You are a pig!"), those questions may be removed.

This reason should not be used as a basis for removing questions simply because they are elementary questions. It is OK for askers to ask how to say "I love you", "happy birthday", "Maria", etc., as long as they are serious and the questions are marked "non-PRO". Use your judgment.

- Nonsense

Questions like 'sdbf;' may be removed.

- Repetition

Sometimes an asker reloads the submit page, causing the same question to be entered two or more times. Before removing a question for repetition, be sure that (1) no one has answered the questions, and (2) the question was not asked in two different language pairs (sometimes a person wants to know how to translate something into multiple languages.)

- Text to be translated is longer than (approximately) ten words

Expressions or sentences should be no longer than (approximately) 10 words. See http://www.proz.com/siterules/kudoz_asking/2.2#2.2

- Includes more than one term question

Unless they share a root or are otherwise related, terms should be posted separately--an asker should not ask how to say "apple" and "banana" in the same question. Check this FAQ for a definition of "term help"

- Not a language question

If a member uses KudoZ to post something other than a language question, for example an offer to sell something, the posting should be removed.

- Incomplete question

A question should not be removed for lacking context. However, if a question is truly incomplete (ex: "q" with no context), it may be removed.

For questions lacking in context, ask the asker for more context, but do not make the question invisible.

- Asker and answerer the same

A person should not answer his/her own KudoZ question. Moderators and staff members have ways of determining if this has occurred, and questions may be removed for this reason.

- Asker wishes to remove question

If an asker wishes to remove a question AND the question has not been answered, the question may be removed. If the question has been answered, it may not be removed.

- Staff testing

Sometimes staff members post KudoZ questions in order to test the system. Such questions will be removed, and this reason will be shown.

Invalid reasons for removing a question

A question should not be removed for any of the following reasons:

• Question was asked in the wrong language pair (Note: the languages specified can be edited by anyone with the right to remove questions)
  
• Question has already received an acceptable answer
  
• Question has not received any "good" answers
  
• Question is "old"
  
• Question was asked and answered in the past (there may be a twist)
  
• Term can be found in a dictionary
  
• Asker has asked too many questions

Does it matter whether or not answers have already been submitted?

Once answers have been submitted for a question, only a moderator may remove it.

What if a question is removed for invalid reasons?

Moderators and staff members have a means of reinstating questions that have been improperly removed. If you believe that a question you asked (or answered) has been improperly removed, you may write to the moderator in the language pair concerned. Use the "call to question" link on the page of the KudoZ question at issue.

Moderators are instructed to contact members who remove questions inappropriately, to make sure that they understand what types of questions may or may not be removed. If a member consistently removes valid questions, that member's right to remove questions may be suspended.

Links for more info

• Guidelines for PRO / non-PRO classification
  
• KudoZ rules
  
• KudoZ FAQ
  
• List of KudoZ moderators (consult for clarifications)