Spanishdict Survey

Question

I just logged on to Spanishdict and was asked to take part in a survey. No problem I thought, after all I do like this site and the least I can do is give them my feedback. Well, after spending about 10 minutes and getting 80 odd% of the way through the survey I was asked to provide details of my annual household income. I didn't bother answering this, but then the survey would go no further - answering that question was compulsory. So I cancelled the survey and closed the window.

What are they on? I was perfectly happy to give them probably 15 to 20 minutes of my time and answer all sorts of questions, but why are they so interested in my household income? I wouldn't even tell this information to a friend never mind a web site!

I was asked twice on the survey whether I would consider paying for using this site, then they want to know household income. Erm, where is this going I wonder?

• thanks for sharing - Rey_Mysterio Jan 25, 2012
• Myself, I've been wondering where this is going for awhile. Definitely explains why there is a lot less space for ads on the beta site. The forum wasn't as easy to use. In a paid site, that would be a less used feature. - Jadey7 Jan 26, 2012
• *to use either - Jadey7 Jan 26, 2012
• All market research asks the household income question, it usually gives an option to decline. As an ex stand on the corner lady and grab the public to answer a few questions I can tell you that it isnused to determine the type of cross section users - caza Jan 26, 2012
• continue/ cross section users involved in the survey. Crazy but true - and a very embarrasing question to ask a stranger er. - caza Jan 26, 2012
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Answer 1

f charges are to be made somehow what about the "input" from members who provided it for "free" ?

What I find amazing is that there are three threads of feedback on the site and hundreds of letters, I suppose, and only very few things have been amended.

How long does it take to add two accents on the main page, which is seen by everybody for example?

Heidita is a driving force for most of what I like about SD, but there was no place to acknowledge her

I don't know about acknowledging us moderators, but at least let us know? I had no idea a survey was being launched . Or a paid ad-free site.

What I am fighting for is good and effective moderation and having a mod in the American time zone is essential.

We (cogu especially) are also trying to get a person back who actually knows about Spanish grammar like nobody. I think that is much more important. This forum cannot exist if it does not have proficient speakers, and at this moment, there are only about five native Spanish speakers on the site, two of whom are seriously unhappy.

• I'm 10,000% behind you here, Heidita!!! - territurtle Jan 25, 2012
• "two of whom are seriously unhappy." -- I am so sorry to hear this. :( If there is anything any of us can do to make those people happier, I hope you will tell us. - hollyjollybe Jan 25, 2012
• We'll start our own Spanish learning message board! With snooker! and bears! - rabbitwho Jan 25, 2012
• nice one Heidita. The forum IS the site for so many people. There are dozens of other spanish learning sites, but what Spanishdict has is this wonderful forum - which you moderate superbly - billygoat Jan 25, 2012
• I completely agree!!! - Nicole-B Jan 25, 2012
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Answer 2

I just picked the answer with the lowest income. Maybe they'll think I really need that 50 dollar giftcard . Poor guy, studying Spanish with so little to spend, let's make him happy......

• lol, you get my vote for the $50!! - billygoat Jan 25, 2012
• Let me second Billy's vote! ;)) - territurtle Jan 25, 2012
• Ha ha! I want to do the survey, where is it I wonder... - rabbitwho Jan 25, 2012
• So did I, lol. But thats because I don't actually have any lol. Who ever know hehe. - Gregory84 Jan 25, 2012
• I think the winner will be chosen by a raffle type draw. Doing the survey messed up my signing-on procedure. - caza Jan 26, 2012
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Answer 3

I signed on, saw the survey questionnaire and then my wife called me to dinner. I haven't seen it again but thanks to Billy I won't bother. And, would I be here if I had to pay? Not likely!!!

• well, taht would be the upmost irony, people working for free having to pay!!! - Heidita Jan 25, 2012
• too many things seem very strange to me lately yesser. - billygoat Jan 25, 2012
• I wouldn't be here either. I'm a high school student and I found this site when I was looking for a dictionary. I would never have used it if it was not free and I think the same goes for many of us. - Jadey7 Jan 25, 2012
• I am with you guys... I don't have extra money to pay for learning resources. I love this site, but I just wouldn't (and couldn't) do it. - NikkiRivera Jan 26, 2012

Answer 4

I am really surprised to hear that such a personal question would be included in feedback about a popular and well-loved Language site...even more so.... prevent people from progressing to the next question in the survey! Our question to the survey designers ..What is the relevance of this question to using SpanishDict and why is answering this question critical to continuing with the survey?

After all, the survey should include an option that says:'' I prefer not to say'' like many online surveys Many people consider such matters too personal to reveal to people outside the family and I respect their decision so should the people conducting the survey!

Like Billy and i suspect many others I prefer to answer survey questions honestly, but ones such as these either encourage people to lie/make up something or discontinue the survey which rather defeats the idea of such a survey!...The results could be totally worthless and not truly representative of what people really receive!

• I agree Felix. I was happy to provide all sorts of feedback, but not personal income! - billygoat Jan 25, 2012
• Yes, I understand Billy and respect your decision It is a pity that the people designing the survey could not! - FELIZ77 Jan 25, 2012
• I suspect it was possibly an *oversight* on the part of an amateur form designer. - territurtle Jan 25, 2012
• or a lack of sensitivity in recognising that people might feel reticent in talking about such matters! - FELIZ77 Jan 25, 2012
• I lied about my income. If we could get everyone to put the same income, they would have to discredit this answer. That's it --- we are all millionaires. - CaliforniaDr Jan 26, 2012
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Answer 5

I thought the questions were very appropriate, especially since I have been lobbying forever (several months) for ad-free subscriptions.

I did not know the "household income" question was mandatory, but if so, making it mandatory is in exceedingly poor taste.

I think it essential for them to keep the bulk of their content free, as other sites only keep mostly baby learner stuff and static content free. To me it seems essential that they keep an enormous amount of high-quality, exceedingly useful, and constantly (at least daily) updated content free. Such content would keep them in the number uno position vis-à-vis the other language learning sites.

Heidita is a driving force for most of what I like about SD, but there was no place to acknowledge her (**or ** others in the survey). They could have included a general "comments" field.

Also, I hope the next time I log in it will know I already took the survey and I don't have to keep closing the dang window a thousand times.

• thank you terri, very thoughtful:) - Heidita Jan 25, 2012
• For me, the forum and the reference articles created by people on the forum IS Spanishdict. - billygoat Jan 25, 2012
• Exactly, Billygoat, and for them to make the Reference Articles and other user-created material part of a paid subscription would be unforgivable in my mind!!! - territurtle Jan 25, 2012
• I've seen that done too many times with "open source" software. You work hard for several years to help make a piece of software usable for everyone, and then after you've achieved the goal, you log in to find they want *you* to pay $1,700 for *your own* - territurtle Jan 25, 2012
• intellectual property!! Just happened to me again last week. :( - territurtle Jan 25, 2012
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Answer 6

Heidi: What I find amazing is that there are three threads of feedback on the site and hundreds of letters, I suppose, and only very few things have been amended.

I second this.

Heidi: to get a person back who actually knows about Spanish grammar like nobody. I think that is much more important. This forum cannot exist if it does not have proficient speakers

And this.

Billy: What are they on?

And this.

• The thing is I really wanted to give them feedback. Honest feedback to improve the site. I can't understand what route this site seems to be going down. Without the few native Spanish speakers we have - Spanishdict is nothing! - billygoat Jan 25, 2012
• Precisely, the only reason to be here is the availability of direct feedback from native speakers. - Stadt Jan 26, 2012

Answer 7

Hm. I take surveys with certain regularity, so the anonymous question about income range didn't strike me as odd. But two questions about a specific monthly fee did shake me up a bit. Of course, there's only one answer for that: No.

I feel that I put enough effort into this Forum (let alone people like Heidi, Cogumela, and other harder-working and more serious contributors than myself) as it is, without also being threatened with having to pay.

Yes, I know running something like this is expensive. So you have advertisement, and heck, you can take donations, like Wikipedia. But you certainly won't be seeing me on a paid version of SD (well, unless the one getting paid - and well - happens to be me! )

• I think the moderators should be paid, Gekkosan, without them, where would we be? Down the drain! - annierats Jan 26, 2012
• I have not even yet figured out why Gekkosan is here (as a native Spanish speaker who writes better English than I can)- but it reminds me that it is precisely the people who need this site the least that provide the most help.... - Stadt Jan 26, 2012
• ....and would have the least reason to stay if a fee were added. - Stadt Jan 26, 2012
• @stadt, The very fee could be used to pay some of them a bit. I think that would be reasonable. - annierats Jan 26, 2012
• But how do you decide who pays and who gets paid, most of us in the middle try to help those at lower levels and get help from those at higher levels. That is what is great about this site- we exchange help. - Stadt Jan 26, 2012

Answer 8

Look, you are all being silly. billygoat (I mention you because you started this) I expected a little more thought out of you. You're very smart and usually have good posts but I really think you and the other members are over-reacting.

This survey is simply a "tell us how we're doing" survey. I worked in for a survey company before and statistics are A.L.W.A.Y.S. part of the survey. It organizes it, if not helps get a better view point in many ways. My guess about the household income would be maybe they're trying to assure that they are pricing things affordable so they don't lose members. Span¡shD!ct has always been very caring and wallet-conscious of it's members, hints why the best online resource is free and I'm sure it will remain free.

I think Span¡shD!ct is offering some extremely good marketing ideas with the "ad-free version" of the site. It's been complained about before that people don't like the ads, but hey someone has to pay the bills to keep this community's doors open. If the ads bug you, you now would have a way to get rid of them.

I don't think this will become a pay site, but I do think in order to keep it running (this coming from a business point of view) they will need to try and develop some subtle and painless revenue works. As well y'all should not be so quick take everything to heart, especially when you're asked a generalized statistical question in a study.

Please do not bother me if you're insulted, unless you read everything I wrote.

• Amen. - territurtle Jan 26, 2012
• Well, DJ, you are a good guy, but in this case I think yours is certainly an amazingly naive vision. It shows that you have not been around in a while. - cogumela Jan 26, 2012
• I am not insulted either, by the way, but well: "tell us how we're doing"--> hehehe! - cogumela Jan 26, 2012
• Well, I'm on the site everyday just FYI Laura, I only choose not to post because I haven't had much to say and planning my wedding has kept me busy like a madman. I've only seen a sharp increase in useless questions recently, no other trend. =] - DJ_Huero Jan 26, 2012
• With the questions asked, they're are clearly looking for ideas on how to improve and take this site in a improved direction. They are asking members permission/ ideas on how they can pay the bills without upsetting them and instead they get... - DJ_Huero Jan 26, 2012
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Answer 9

Hello everyone. We just added a "I would prefer not to say option" for the income question. Rest assured, the forum and currently available reference materials will remain free in the future.

---

Most importantly, thank you for all the feedback! It is invaluable as we plan how to improve our website and help more people learn Spanish and English.

• Thank you for listening! I will now complete the survey. - billygoat Jan 27, 2012
• I would do it, but it never came for me... - NikkiRivera Jan 27, 2012
• Thank god one of y'all came and thanks for easing everyone's mind. We appreciate all y'all do to keep this site running smooth and enjoyable. =] - DJ_Huero Jan 27, 2012
• Thanks for telling us Stuart. I had no problem with the questions, I felt the whole idea was to help admin know what people want out of the site.. Hopefully it will improve even more! - annierats Jan 27, 2012

Answer 10

Looks to me like management made a HUGE mistake in not consulting their loyal fans first

• that's always the problem with management, everywhere, anywhere.... - 00434ec3 Jan 25, 2012
• Reminds me of the management and growing mushrooms joke :) - ian-hill Jan 26, 2012
• I haven't heard that joke, Ian? - territurtle Jan 27, 2012

Answer 11

I don't really know, but thank you for the heads up! Now I know, not to be part of the survey!

• no problem. I was disappointed because I had put a great deal of thought into my previous answers - billygoat Jan 25, 2012
• I can only imagine! Been there manytimes myself! - farallon7 Jan 25, 2012

Answer 12

I did answer the survey, and I must admit put my household income in without even thinking about it. It seems to be a pretty standard question on consumer surveys. I was pretty well guessing as it is in dollars and I didn't do any maths, just guessed.

I wouldn't pay for an ad free site, and as I am already paying for a language course which gives me a qualification I wouldn't pay for extras either. Maybe if this was my only source of learning materials I would, but I do think the most important thing about the site is the forum and the people on it.

• I doubt you would find many people who would disagree with you on what we value most!!! :-)) - territurtle Jan 26, 2012
• Thank you Mary, you said it. it's "a pretty standard question on consumer surveys". - DJ_Huero Jan 26, 2012

Answer 13

Mi6 said:Last night I had a dream. It was not about the money! It was how many points we earned last year . That would be a important question for SD-members!

That cracked me up! Because if you asked me how much I made last year, I'd have to go check my tax return, but if you told me how many points I earned last year, (albeit a very small amount) I could tell you in a second! Too funny!

Anyway, I was going to say that I was really disappointed how the whole survey did seem geared towards making more money on the site and not about helping the users of the site. I didn't get the feeling that it was about how they could improve my experience, but how they could get more out of me. Really I felt like I was being asked, "What do you like best about this site so we can charge you for it?"

My heart goes out to the hard-working providers of Spanish-Dict who want to see some more income for their work. I haven't been here as long, so I don't know the whole story, but I would think it somewhat reasonable if they wanted to see a little more income from those who would be willing to pay. I personally wouldn't pay for less ads or if they wanted a more personalized website, because they don't bother me, but I can understand why some might. I'm really surprised that some of the moderators don't seem to get any compensation for their input (if I'm reading all the comments correctly) So I would hope that some of that extra income would make it into their pockets. For that, I think I could stand to contribute to an ad-free page.

What I don't agree with is making some games and videos only available for members, as the survey suggested. That idea doesn't seem to harmonize with the spirit of the site which from the beginning boasted that E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. is free, and it will anger me a bit to watch Paralee say at the end of every video that everything at SpanishDict.com is free, when it's not anymore. The survey also seemed to suggest that other activities may be limited to only paying members. The one thing that mainly turned me to this site over others was not fighting for attention to one of my questions, so when they ask, would you pay to have priority questions (or something to that effect) it makes me feel like all they care about it money, and I don't even want to contribute to a site like that.

• Let's admit it. Who is going to pay for materials full of mistakes? The creators of this site don't seem to be aware that people here learn a lot from other people. - cogumela Jan 26, 2012
• How can I pay for the English materials of this site? I could consider paying to the people from whom I learn... !!! - cogumela Jan 26, 2012
• Excellent post mandamagoo. I reiterate what Cogumela says above too. I wouldn't pay for material full of holes and anomalies. Spanishdict, to me, is all about the people on the forum. That is where I receive all my help and encouragement. - billygoat Jan 26, 2012
• If that goes, then Spanishdict will be just like every other run of the mill Spanish learning website. - billygoat Jan 26, 2012
• I totally agree! - mandamagoo Jan 26, 2012
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Answer 14

I would vote for a proposed Tip Jar, provided it were to be split amongst correctors and moderators!

I would even put some twenties in it once in a while if I knew it was going to the correctors!!!

• Now there's an ***outstanding*** idea!! - territurtle Jan 26, 2012
• Hear, hear! - ajaks Jan 26, 2012
• I sometimes don't even answer game threads because I understand the work involved. I have corrected a couple of posts myself. Unless I have spent some time doing my homework, I don't even feel worthy of answering to those threads. Truth be told. :) - Amor_y_paz Jan 26, 2012
• Yes, with coins, not badges! - annierats Jan 26, 2012

Answer 15

I guess I'd say my income if I knew it was anonymous.. it would never do to have anyone find out that my students pay me in bags or raw carrots.

If paying became compulsory I'd leave the site. If it was optional to pay a small fee to get rid of ads or maybe something silly and pointless like extra rich text options I would pay it.

I would not pay for extra Spanish learning materials as I think that should be free for everyone who can't pay, and besides, there's so much free stuff on the Internet already I think it's better to try and make money out of ad revenue as well as grateful donations.

Anyway I keep coming back to this site because of the people on the forum, so paying for something that has nothing to do with the forum and doesn't benefit the people who make it great...

• hehe, here, have a carrot! - billygoat Jan 25, 2012
• yummy! Thanks! have a washing line full of clothes! - rabbitwho Jan 25, 2012
• **Very** thoughtful answer. Now that I've read it, wish it were my answer! - territurtle Jan 25, 2012