TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: HUMOR: I Need Help From:Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- progeny -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 19 Feb 2001 15:48:34 -0800
Jeff Hanvey wrote:
> Nope. Wrong again. You're drawing a line that doesn't exist. Using the ideas of others without asking permission is just as wrong as using a template without asking permission.
Not legally. That's not the same as morally or ethically, of course,
since the law is often only peripherally and accidentally associated
with morals or ethics.
However, in general, I think most writers would agree that borrowing
an idea is only wrong if you don't rework it or modify it for your
own purposes. Otherwise, with only 2, 7 or 12 basic stories
(depending on which pundit you cite), we wouldn't have several
thousand new novels published in English every month. Not that that
wouldn't be a good idea in some ways, but you get my point.
> Again, it's a waste of time to spend time redeveloping templates if others exist. I'm all for anything that will allow me more time researching, writing, and editing the current document.
But you're only saving your own time by asking others to donate
theirs. Whether you realize it or not, you're implying that the time
of other busy professionals is worth less than yours.
--
Bruce Byfield 317.833.0313 bbyfield -at- progeny -dot- com
Director of Marketing and Communications,
Progeny Linux Systems
"As through this world I travel, I've met with many men,
Some will rob you with a six gun and some with a fountain pen,
But as through this world you travel, as through this world you
roam,
You won't ever see an outlaw drive a family from its home."
-Woody Guthrie, "The Ballad of Pretty Boy Floyd"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-Based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver 4 ($100 STC Discount)
**WEST COAST LOCATIONS** San Jose (Mar 1-2), San Francisco (Apr 16-17) http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Sponsored by ForeFront, Inc., maker of ForeHelp Help authoring tools
for print, WinHelp, HTML Help, JavaHelp, and cross-platform InterHelp
See www.forehelp.com for more information and free evaluation downloads
---
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.
