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.
> That's funny. I have noticed the same thing. It seems places with the most
> regimented standards also seem to be in a constant state of "updating them".
>
> We all know why this happens. People get into positions of power and they don't
> want to be dirtied with the mundane work of actually writing. They have to
> justify their paycheck somehow, so they constantly develop styles and
> templates. Its just a way to avoid their real job and look more important.
Also, some people seem to crave the security of definite standards
and precedents - so much so that they won't make a move on their
own. I first noticed this tendency in grad school, where some of my
fellow students could average a citation every ten words or so, and
reacted in horror to an original thought unbacked by a reference.
More recently, I've seen the same thing in tech writers. One writer
I met was terrified a the thought of a job where no previous style
guide existed; she literally broke into tears and started shaking.
Another one didn't quite cry, but came close, and complained loudly
and bitterly about the responsibility. Yet another writer, told that
part of the job would be to develop standards, disqualified herself
in the middle of an interview.
These people are exasparating, but I suppose that they're more to be
pitied than anything else. I suspect that they have massive
self-doubts and insecurity.
Still, I admit that they're easier to pity when you don't have to
deal with them.
--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- progeny -dot- com
"Wild wood, bush and briar, it makes your feet to stumble,
Wise blood,the sky's on fire: away, away,
Wild wood, bush and briar, it makes your heart to tremble;
Love, you mustn't tire at the dying of the day."
-OysterBand, "We Shall Come Home"
*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available 4/30/01 at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com
Sponsored by DigiPub Solutions Corp, producers of PDF 2001 Conference East,
June 4-6, Baltimore, MD. Now covering Acrobat 5. Early registration deadline
April 27. http://www.pdfconference.com.
---
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.
