Suggestion for New Members and Moderators
I have a suggestion that I think would help users on the site. When a new member first signs up could more of their responses be visible? Right now it appears that one must only give a name and I'm not sure if anything else is compulsory. If a new member would at least have to list their first language it would be a great help in answering questions. Sometimes it is impossible to know whether they are asking for a translation to Spanish or to English. I have noticed that a lot of the dedicated stalwarts appear to be a bit tired of trying to interpret exactly what is being asked and figuring out how to respond. A bit more compulsory information on the profiles would be a huge help. What do you think? Is there a way to have more info visible?
10 Answers
Hi Margaret,
This has been a desire of many forum members for a long time. We have discussed it at great length. If you do a search, you might be able to see just how many people agree with you, including the administrators.
Hopefully, one day, members will be required to at least provide basic information like their native tongue, level in Spanish/English and age. I know that there are some people who don't like to divulge any personal information, but I don't think the answers to those three questions are too personal, nor can they identify the user in any way. Even if we could get a ballpark age within ten years that would be helpful. I know I can better help someone if I know they are a teen vs a senior who might not be used to using the computer, etc.
Oh well Margaret, we will all continue to dream. 
I don't really have anything to add to what has already been said other than to throw my two cents in and say that I definitely think that it would be a good idea if native language were a mandatory category to fill out when signing up, and I would find it even more helpful if such information were posted next to the person's avatar.
Regarding proficiency in a specific language, I could take this or leave it as such a category is very subjective and because of this may not really be an accurate gauge of proficiency or understanding. From what I can tell, the only two categories which give any real understanding as to a users actual proficiency would be 1). No previous experience and 2). Native speaker. All others categories (such as beginner, intermediate or advanced) often over- or underestimate a persons abilities in at least one area of understanding.
In any case, thanks for opening this thread. I would definitely like to see a persons native language (and possibly even age range within a given decade) displayed next to their avatar.
Hi Margaret,
There used to be a lot more info in the profiles when SD was still a small site with less than 2000 members.
I understood that because of the sheer amount of new members it had become impossible to list that much info. Also I believe that the site has changed hosts. I'm no techie but I can imagine it has to do with digital storing space and making sure the site doesn't become slow and so on.
Also, making it possible for members to add info doesn't mean that they will. Some members prefer to keep a certain amount of anonimity.
I think a lot of newcomers just don't bother to look at the forum rules. That's why I like to direct them to the rules so they can get familiar with them 
.
Saludos, Chica
That would help a lot. They used to require our age and we had to give it. I don't see how people could object to giving their native language. I try to translate the question both ways, but they may not even speak Spanish. I do always check to profile first and they are rarely filled out with what language the person speaks.
Margaret said: A bit more compulsory information on the profiles would be a huge help.
I agree!! I hope someday the Administration pays attention to this request, which has been made by many members.
Nametaken said: Why do we have the date of birth without the year?
This makes absolutely no sense to me! Just have the year of birth, without the date, so we can know if the answer is for a 16-year-old or a 60-year-old. Not having the month and day would protect a person's privacy much better.
I believe that at least the native language should be made mandotary In other words you can save your profile without filling out that. I can understand not wanting to give out personal information.
I agree completely with you Margaret .
Even if we could get a ballpark age within ten years that would be helpful.
This seems very reasonable to me. Why do we have the date of birth without the year? Wouldn't it be just as private and much more useful to simply have the year a person was born? The logic of the decision to get rid of the year and simply have the day and month of birth escapes me 
.
I think we have come to an agreement on three points: 1) that it would be a good idea to add 'language' to the part of the profile that 'must' be filled out to have the membership accepted. 2) Also to add a 'gender' sign to the avatar? Or have different colours to show fem/masc? 3) Also to have an 'age range' rather than the birth date. Anything to be added?
Izanoni said: I would definitely like to see a persons native language (and possibly even age range within a given decade) displayed next to their avatar.
I completely agree, I said almost exactly the same thing a while ago in one of Heidita's threads 
. It would be so useful to be able to see native language without having to open profiles! My suggestion was to have the usernames a different colour to indicate a person learning Spanish/ English/ both.
I also agree with what you said about the proficiency indicator not being very accurate (I'm sure I'll keep my beginner status forever hehe) however it does give a very basic indicator of how good a person's language skills are and how confident they are in the language which isn't a bad thing. I'm not sure I'd like to see that go.
Fontanero said: It does seem pointless knowing gender
I'm not sure I agree with this, if a Spanish learner puts up something about themselves to be proof read it can be useful to know if they're using the correct gender agreement - soy alto/a - how would we know if we don't know whether they've got it wrong or not if we don't know if they're male or female? Besides, I like knowing whether a user is male or female .
I think we have come to an agreement on three points: 1) that it would be a good idea to add 'language' to the part of the profile that 'must' be filled out to have the membership accepted. 2) Also to add a 'gender' sign to the avatar? Or have different colours to show fem/masc? 3) Also to have an 'age range' rather than the birth date. Anything to be added?
Yes, margaret, I have something to add: All this has been discussed before and I have asked for this so often I can'¡t count it any more. Trust me, this was asked for three years ago the first time. And it can't be done or won't be done.
Ok, thanks for participating everybody, but none of this can be done.
