Re: Oh those tender users

Subject: Re: Oh those tender users
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2000 14:38:02 -0800

Bonnie Granat wrote:

>
> It's saying that if an end user is a nontechnical person, a nontechnical
> technical writer is a good test subject for the adequacy of documentation
> for nontechnical users and specifically,

Isn't the writer is supposed to produce the documentation, not be
the subject of usability testing?

> that a nontechnical technical
> writer is ideal to present technical information to nontechnical users.

This position seems to assume that people can only understand or
emphathize with their own positions. Personally, I pride myself on
being able to write for non-technical users or hardcore techies as
the need arises. In truth, I'm neither, but I do know how to tailor
my work to the needs of the audience without actually being part of
it. Once I know what the audience needs, then I can either decide
what to leave out or educate myself in what I need to add.


> You have a nearly pathological need to mock other people's seriously stated
> concerns.

Warning: you're getting far too personal here. I appreciate that
Andrew's style can be hard to take sometimes, but that doesn't
justify your comments about him. You've got a valid point when you
say that he exaggerates other people's points, but you're doing the
exactly the same back to him.

--
Bruce Byfield, Outlaw Communications
Contributing Editor, Maximum Linux
604.421.7189 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com

"The Queen was in her chamber, a-combing of her hair,
There came Queen Mary's spirit and It stood behind her chair,
Singing, 'Backward and forward and sideways may you pass,
But I will stand behind you till you face the looking-glass.'"
- Rudyard Kipling, "The Looking-Glass"

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver! (STC Discount.)
**NEW DATE/LOCATION!** January 16-17, 2001, New York, NY.
http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.

Sponsored by an
anonymous satisfied subscriber since 1994.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Previous by Author: Re: Oh those tender users
Next by Author: Re: Misguided VCs (Was: ...stinking...)
Previous by Thread: Re: Oh those tender users
Next by Thread: Misguided VCs (Was: ...stinking...)


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads