Cancel contract for proofreading due to escalating vulgarity?

[h_steinfadt]

The book I’m proofreading started out with some vulgarity. No biggie. It’s now vulgarity for the sake of vulgarity. I’m done. Can I cancel?  I want out of this mess.  

[tlsanders]

Sure, you can, but not without consequences. Your client will have the opportunity to rate you, and you probably will receive a negative rating or bailing out mid-project. Even if you haven't been paid anything or refund all of the money, the client will be able to leave private feedback, which hurts your JSS.

Your best hope would be to talk to the client and apolegetically explain that you didn't realize the type of content you were getting into and are not comfortable moving forward and hope that he/she will agree to end the contract on good terms and not hit you too hard in the ratings.

[prestonhunter]

Heidi:

As a client, if I need Project X completed, then the main things I'm interested in are that it is completed in a way that fits my schedule and completed with the level of quality I require.

I don't ACTUALLY CARE that you specifically are the one who completes Project X.

So if you let me know as soon as you realize it that you won't be able to finish the task, then I appreciate your candor and professionalism.

Somebody else can complete the project for me.

I would rather work with additional freelancers who have the availability and willingness to complete my project on schedule, then have you NOT tell me, and have the project delayed.

In your particular situation, I'm not convinced that you NEED to tell the client WHY you can't complete the project. It IS an option. But not saying why is ALSO a valid option. If you can't complete it, then you can't complete it. If you don't tell me why, how much does it matter? Maybe I'll assume your dog is sick. I don't know.

[feed_my_eyes]

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Preston H wrote:

In your particular situation, I'm not convinced that you NEED to tell the client WHY you can't complete the project. It IS an option. But not saying why is ALSO a valid option. If you can't complete it, then you can't complete it. If you don't tell me why, how much does it matter? Maybe I'll assume your dog is sick. I don't know.

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Agreed - cancel the project if you need to, but I wouldn't go telling the client that you think their book is vulgar. That's not going to end well. You were hired to proofread, not provide a critique.

[jr-translation]

You could say that you are conserned that the job violates the ToS:

Seeking, offering, promoting, or endorsing and services, content, or activities that:

• are defamatory, illegal, profane, vulgar, threatening, unlawfully discriminatory, illegal, pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit in nature;

But next time you should make sure what  you get into before accepting an offer.