Why do I like the TC? Simple! It is the most friendly place for linguists I have ever seen.
TranslatorsCafe.com (TC) is friendly from the very “doorstep”. I mean the degree of localization, in this particular case. Whether a guest or a user or a member, you can get the essential info in your mother tongue, or at least a language you prefer to English. The site is not 100% localized, of course; no site is, and no living site can ever be, as sites ever develop and change, which means site translators cannot keep in pace. Still, the TC is localized much better than any other site, the “Number One” included, and that does mean something!
Then there are the forums. Apart from discussing the almost unlimited range of topics, you can use forums to ask and get help or advice concerning various things, like using the site* , or your software / hardware, or different translation tools; you can even find some info about national cuisines and tasty things you might have never have heard of. Plus, you can use the Flea Market forum to buy or sell used dictionaries and such. Not to mention colleagues ready to help you with linguistic advice and perhaps even translate a short text for free, should you need that – as long as you do not try to make excessive use of their kind help. Of course, not every forum poster might seem overly friendly, but no poster is banned outright, without warning, and everybody is given a second chance, which means democracy and is seldom the case elsewhere. Opinions differ, and the TC moderators respect the right to difference of opinion, mostly. On the other hand, moderators are human, here and elsewhere… Rules do exist, likewise, here and elsewhere… No draconian laws or draconic rules on the TC, however. As even the unflattering comments are informative, you are not likely to be banned for your postings, as long as you do not get really nasty / personal. Few sites are as friendly as that, I can assure you!
With TCTerms, things are different, a tad. The purpose of the TCTerms is help with terminology, so pointless bickering must be stopped, or it would be neither fair nor friendly toward the users who need just terms, not scuffle. Still, if you believe you are right from a linguistic point of view, you can argue your point at length. Matter is, comments might be as informative as answers, or even more informative, as often as not. Comments (and some answers, to be sure) can help you learn something no dictionary would tell you.
Last but by no means least is jobs. The job offers to be found on the TC Job Board are like the job offers posted elsewhere, more or less, but there`s this to the TC: both paying and non-paying members get notified about the jobs offered, although the paying members (Master Members) get notified first. But what`s really important – and surely decent – is this: freelancers are not forced to pay for jobs they get via the TC and no obstacles are put in the way of direct clients trying to directly contact a freelancer they might want to contact. In that, the TC seems to be a unique site.
The TC boasts many more useful resources (like, the space and templates to create one`s own website, for the benefit of all active users), but I`d rather not discuss those here. You`d better come and see for yourself. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Visit the TC, “taste” it, find some friends** ! Be one of us. I`ts fun!
*I`d say it`s more fun to just wander about the site and click various buttons and see what happens. There`s also the Sandbox, so you can play and experiment.
**Or “enemies”, in case you prefer that kind of fun. A good skirmish might sometimes be healthy and bracing, as long as the parties involved do not start calling each other names or cocking snooks at one another.