I almost hope no-one reads this...... - Virtual Assistant Forums

#1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

.....this article (if that's what it could be called). Not too sure about the line that says:

"Virtual Assistants are resources that you can exploit online, who can help you with lot of your trivial work."

Exploit? Trivial?

Not to mention the fact that it's very badly written. The second last paragraph doesn't even make sense.

I realise that this has come from someone's blog and is therefore merely just an opinion, but I don't think it does a great deal for VA's being seen as professionals.

http://alcorp.net/?p=6717

What do you think?

#2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

Mandy,

I agree that the wording is terrible. He is actually trying to promote VA services but I was thrown off by the choice of wording as well.

Hope SKG is not banking on this as a promotional item!

#3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

I read the article and I agree that the wording was really bad. I also dug a little deeper and found that SKG technologies is from India so I am wondering if that person who posted it translated it into English and that's how it translated or if he is actually a person from India. I guess, at least I'm hoping that's the case so that it's not an english speaking virtual assistant writing that.

Tracy

#4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

Ugh. I do understand what the author was trying to say, but did it in bad way. Maybe s/he needs to take a writing class. So many people think that they can write well, but don't.

#5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

Thanks for posting this. ugh. Quite honestly, I see a lot of people, including VAs, post absurd articles or ads all the time thinking they're promoting this industry. The bad ones I've seen really give people the impression that VAs are no more than lowly servants, there to cater to anything the client needs at the lowest possible bid - taking any crap the client desires to throw. Yuck. The desperation I read in those ads is just sad. I wish people would think before publishing things like this - but perhaps it's just a bad translation as someone already mentioned. Let's hope so! (sorry if this offends... it's JMO!)

#6 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009

Amen Shana.. I have seen a lot of horrible I mean horrible articles.

#7 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009

It's too bad you have to sign in to leave a comment, or I would have given him/her a piece of my mind!

I'm sure this person's intentions were sincere, but it annoys me to no end when people who are NOT VAs acts as if they are experts about the VA industry. It's articles like this that perpetuate misconceptions about Virtual Assistants.

#8 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009

"Lastly, VAs are not unprofessional people looking to make quick bucks" I learned years ago that using negatives in writing more than positives is a big No No. Any normal person would have phrased this: "Lastly, VA's are professionals that will save you time and money" It's like telling a child not to touch something they weren't even paying attention to, you have put the suggestion in there mind. This obviously is the writing of someone struggling with the English language. Thanks for posting!

#9 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009

I ALMOST used a few bad un-lady like words when reading that nonsense. I mean yes it is one persons opinion but gosh exploit trivial ???? Maybe someone needs to look in the mirror before trying to cast a stone at others trying to make a living!

#10 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009

I don't think they were trying to disparage VAs. If anything it looks like they were trying to promote, but doing a pretty poor job of it. The English language can be tricky, and since I work with quite a few non-English speakers, I've realized you sometimes have to concentrate more on their intent, rather than what they actually say!

#11 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009

It's true he was trying extol the virtues of a VA and I agree that his his choice of words was in bad taste, but let's not forget he was actually trying to help. Like Kristyle said the English language can be very tricky. I am bi-lingual myself with both Spanish and English under my belt but sometimes translating English to Spanish or vice-versa can be tricky. It's innevitable that some things are just going to get lost in the translation...

#12 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009

Sad! I can say a lot more but I'm afraid it will not sound tasteful and/or tactful.

#13 (**permalink**) 11-17-2009

This is definitely not well written and the sad thing is he was actually trying to promote the industry. They did not do a good job and ended up insulting the very people they were trying to praise.

#14 (**permalink**) 02-01-2010

It looks as though the link has been redirected to an explicit site at this point, but from the posts I've read, I don't think I'm missing much by not being able to read it.

#15 (**permalink**) 02-05-2010

I can only say one thing; I'm glad that site is no longer available

.